Lesson Plan: Want to be Happy? Try Being Honest
Reading Comprehension
- jot |jät| verb (jots, jotting, jotted) [ with obj. ]write (something) quickly: when you’ve found the answers, jot them down.
- prosocial |prōˈsōSHəl| adjective–relating to or denoting behavior that is positive, helpful, and intended to promote social acceptance and friendship.
- encourage |inˈkərij| verb [ with obj. ]give support, confidence, or hope to (someone): we were encouraged by the success of this venture | (as adj. encouraged) : I feel much encouraged.
- rejection |rəˈjekSH(ə)n| noun-the dismissing or refusing of a proposal, idea, etc.: the union decided last night to recommend rejection of the offer.
- brutal |ˈbro͞odl|adjective-direct and lacking any attempt to disguise unpleasantness: the brutal honesty of his observations
- spark |spärk| verb-provide the stimulus for (a dramatic event or process): the severity of the plan sparked off street protests.
- compulsion |kəmˈpəlSHən| noun the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint: the payment was made under compulsion.
- consistent |kənˈsistənt| adjective-(of a person, behavior, or process) unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time: manufacturing processes require a consistent approach.
- fudge |fəj| adjust or manipulate (facts or figures) so as to present a desired picture.
- media |ˈmēdēə| noun-(usu. the media) [ treated as sing. or pl. ] the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet), regarded collectively: their demands were publicized by the media | [ as modifier ] : the campaign won media attention.
Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
True /False/NA-Statements
- T-The author’s plan was to jot down different instances throughout the day where she had to make a choice about honesty.
- F-Her 6-year-old daughter asked about the death of her cat.
- F-Her 8-year-old son asked what the word pimp meant.
- F-The author figured that if she didn’t answer her children they would ask Siri.
- T-A recent study showed that we are likely to tell a prosocial lie when we feel compassion toward someone.
- F-Over all, the author struggled more with the small instances of honesty.
- NA-The author wrote a book about the questions of honesty.
- T-McDonald’s gave the author an extra dollar by mistake.
- NA-The author and her family prefer to eat at restaurants.
- F-The author pulled way back from posting on Facebook.
Grammar: Identifying Articles
Still, I wondered about those little lies we tell to avoid hurting people’s feelings. Researchers at the University of California San Diego Emotion Lab are looking at “prosocial” lies — the white lies we tell to benefit others, like telling an aspiring writer their story is great because you want to be nice and encourage them, when in reality you know it needs work and will meet rejection.
I also quickly came to realize that the Facebook version of Judi Ketteler, whose life was so together and children so well behaved, was a very particular version of me. My social media self wasn’t a lie.
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