Foreshadowing: As the Prophecy Foretold
Background
Meredith looks over the contents of the manilla envelope once more - her first case as a real detective. A simple hit-and-run, that’s what everyone kept saying. Still, ...
Philosophy
Oxymoron: An Awfully Good Time!
Background
Recently, Sean’s mother took a working vacation out of state. Sean says it’s a definite maybe that he’ll get to visit the aquarium. The only aquatic creatures he’s seen...
Persona: The Truth Unmasked!
Have You Ever?
Let’s say your friend Josh joined your school’s theater club this year. You didn’t think he would enjoy it: Josh is friendly but very shy and not very expressive. H...
Hyperbole: You’ve Heard a Billion of ‘Em!
Have You Ever?
Your sister just got back from school. “How was your day?” you ask. “It was the worst day of my life,” she replies glumly. “I had to lug my cello with me and it wei...
Bivalence and the Excluded Middle: True, False, or Neither?
Introduction
Are you tall or not tall? You’re probably thinking, “It depends” or “It’s not exactly one or the other.” Tallness doesn’t seem to be something you either have or don’...
Alternative Explanations: Exploring Other Whys
Introduction
Think of the last time you were rejected for something—a scholarship, an internship, or a spot on a sports team. How did you explain it to yourself? Did you blame it...
Cacophony: Exploding Sounds
Introduction
“Cock-a-doodle-do!”
Unless you love early mornings on farms, you probably don’t really enjoy hearing that phrase. In fact, the sound of the rooster is often used...
Ambiguity: That’s Not What I Meant
Have You Ever?
Have you ever seen a person in a building with a dinosaur? Chances are, you’re baffled that I’d even ask that. After all, dinosaurs went extinct long before humans ...
Anthropomorphism: Human Traits for Non-Humans?
Have You Ever?
Have you ever heard the fable of The Tortoise and the Hare? Do the characters from the story remind you of any people in your life? Please explain why.
Here’s Why
...
Slippery Slope: Jumping From A to Z
Introduction
Piera is firmly against legalizing marijuana. “After all,” she argues, “if we legalize marijuana, it follows that restrictions on other substances would also loosen. ...