Nothing But the Truth Study Guide

PREDICTION: How will Ms. Narwin react to Philip's request for extra work to improve his grade so that he can participate in track?

I think she will blow him off because he is making her look bad or he'll try to get him to like her by giving him the work.

Explain Seymour's statement, "It's what people are saying that's important."

People don't care about the truth if they don't know the truth.They only care about what they know.

What are the final ironies of the book?

Philip doesn't know the words to the national anthem. Philip and Ms. Narwin both move. Washington Academy doesn't have a track team.

What is the basic conflict which the author is setting up?

Philip doesn't like English or Ms. Narwin.

On page 46, Philip writes in his diary, "Today was rotten." What happened to make him feel that way?

Philip gets in trouble by Ms. Narwin and his parents keep bugging him.

What is the focus of the memos Dr. Palleni sends about the suspension?

Philip is transferred to Mr. Lunser's class after his two day suspension.

How does the national anthem humming escalate in homeroom?

Philip keeps doing it and eventually gets kicked out of homeroom.

How does Philip react in homeroom after getting support from his parents?

Philip still hums because he says there is nothing wrong with being patriotic. He gets kicked out to Dr. Palleni's office.

What do you think is the real reason for Philip humming during the National Anthem in Ms. Narwin's homeroom?

Philip wants to make her mad so that he will get kicked out of her homeroom.

PREDICTION: How will the reporter change the course of the events in the story?

Philip's story will go viral and get the attention of lots of people.

Who is Ted Griffin?

Ted Griffen is going to get Philip to talk to a reporter because he is running for the school board.

What is the AAP Wire Service? How does Philip's situation change when the story is picked up by the AAP?

The AAP Wire Service is the American Affiliated Press. Philip's story becomes bigger and more people hear about it.

How has the school policy changed about the national anthem?

The Harrison School District is pleased to encourage appropriate displays of Patriotism. All students are encouraged to sing.

What do you learn from he Manchester Record school election returns?

The budget was defeated. Ted gt elected to the school board. Only 22% of eligible voters voted.

How do Ms. Narwin and Philip have a similar reaction in this chapter?

They both don't want to go to school. They are worn down and tired.

How is March 26 similar for Margaret Narwin and for Philip Malloy?

They both get bad news and there is something they want to do that they can't die.

What is Philip especially interested in during March?

Track

Explain Mr. Malloy's advice to Philip, "If God gives you a ticket, you better use it."

When an opportunity is presented to you, you take it.

1) How does Dr. Palleni react to seeing Philip twice a week for disciplinary matters? 2) What does he offer to Philip?

1) He is surprised and annoyed. 2) He promises Philip that if he apologizes nothing will happen.

1) How does Philip answer his English exam four? 2) What was his attitude and manner?

1) He says dogs are dumb. 2) He was snarky and rude.

What significant details do the following characters give to Dr. Doane about the national anthem incident? 1) Ken Barchet 2) Cynthia Gambia 3) Allison Doresett

1) He says that Philip didn't stop singing until he was kicked out of the room. 2) She says he quietly hummed in a rude way and was loud only on the last time. 3) She says that Philip doesn't like Ms. Narwin and he was trying to get mad at her.

How does each person react during the interview? 1) Dr. Seymour 2) Dr. Doane 3) Dr. Palleni 4) Ms. Narwin

1) He says there is no rule against singing the national anthem? 2) He says he didn't know about Philip's suspension? 3) He gets mad and says he doesn't want to be involved. 4) She says that Philip broke a rule and created a disturbance.

1) What is his father's advice to Philip? 2) How do you think that advice will affect the rest of the story?

1) His dad tells him to stick up for his rights. 2) Philip will create bigger problems.

What do the following phrases mean? 1) "My job is to make sure that these kids get educated. Whatever it takes." 2) "You can't blame yourself." 3) "People will misconstrue." 4) "You've got a problem there. 5) "A rule is a rule."

1) I think he is going to fire Ms. Narwin because he want positive publicity so the budget isn't rejected. 2) Dr. Doane says Ms. Narwin isn't the only one to blame for the situation. 3) When they move Philip to another class, people will assume they think that they are wrong. 4) If they can't get good publicity, the budget will fail. 5) You can't bend the rules. This is ironic because rules have been bent since the beginning of the book.

1) What kind of teacher is Mr. Lunser? 2) Compare Mr. Lunser to Ms. Narwin.

1) Laid back and snarly. 2) Strict and Uptight.

1) Should Philip have apologized? 2) What would you have done?

1) Philip should not apologize because he didn't do anything wrong. 2) I wouldn't apologize for that reason.

1) Who are the main characters in the book? 2) From what viewpoint is the book written?

1) Philip, Allison, Mr.Lunser, Ms. Narwin, Dr. Doane, Dr. Palleni 2) Diary entries, memos, dialogue

1) What role does Ted Griffen play in this chapter? 2) What kind of work does he do to promote himself and bring attention to Philip?

1) Ted gets Philip's story out. 2) This makes Philip go viral.

1) What is the primary concern of Philip's father? 2) What is the primary concern of Philip's mother?

1) Track 2) Job and health plan

Why isn't Ms. Narwin's story told?

A bigger story came up. There was breaking news in South America and her story got cut.

Why does the superintendent turn on Ms. Narwin?

Dr. Seymour thinks that she is bringing bad publicity so the budget will fail.

She is telling Dr. Seymour's message in his 8:30 A.M. call to Dr. Doane?

Dr. Seymour wants a report of what happened because Ted Griffen and others are exaggerating the situation.

How has the whole thing gotten out of hand?

Everyone is spreading different versions of the same story.

Why is the date especially significant?

Everyone will think that it is an April fools day joke.

How does the plot really take a change in this chapter?

Everything becomes real and everything goes against Ms. Narwin. Philip doesn't want any more publicity. No one at school is with Philip. The story gets bigger.

Describe the setting of the story.

Harrison High School, New Hampshire

What is Philip's attitude in English class and why does he feel the way he does?

He hates it because Ms. Narwin doesn't like him and it's keeping him from trying out for track.

What is Dr. Doane's answer to Margaret Narwin's grant request?

He says the school doesn't have enough money.

What wishes does Philip write into his diary entry for March 23?

He wants to be as fast as Steve Hallick, wishes people would say what they mean, and wishes he kept his English exam.

What does Ms. Narwin say Philip needs to use?

His full potential.

Reread the conversation between Doane, Narwin, an Palleni on pages 117-119. Why do they "need to tell the same story"?

If they all tell different versions of the story, everyone will think they all are lying.

1) What is a hyperbole? 2) What is an example of a hyperbole?

1) An extreme exaggeration. 2) I'd give anything to be like Steve Hallick.

Give two examples of foreshadowing in this chapter.

1) Dr. Seymour and Dr. Doane say they hope no one reads about Philip, so Philip is going to go viral. 2) Mrs. Malloy says Ted knows how to get things done, so Ted will win.

What is Ms. Narwin's sister's name?

Anita

Why does the coach turn on Philip?

Coach is friends with Ms. Narwin. Since Philip got Ms. Narwin fired, he is mad at Philip.

What does Mr. Lunser do during daily announcements?

He commentates everything Dr. Doane says.

What happens to Philip at the end of the book?

He goes to Washington Academy.

Why do you think the events on Friday, March 23 , may be significant to the rest of the book?

He got a D in English, which will prevent him from trying out for track.

Why couldn't Philip's dad do track in college?

He had to drop out.

Why does Philip call Allison Doresett?

He has a crush on her.

How does Dr. Seymour react?

He is talking about doing something with Ms. Narwin. He is getting worked up about the budget.

Who is Jake Barlow?

He is the host of a talk show. He talks about Philip a lot.

Philip writes in his diary, "It really hit the fan today." What is his message?

He means that he is tired and everything is escalating.

What is the importance of the memo Philip receives from Dr. Joseph Palleni?

He moved to Ms. Narwin's homeroom.

When Philip's dad talks to him about grades, especially the English mark, and track team tryouts, how does Philip manage to hide the truth?

He says he doesn't want to try out and he only runs because his dad couldn't.

PREDICTION: What will Philip's winter term grade be and how will he react?

He will get a D- and be mad.

PREDICTION: 1) How will homeroom be tomorrow for Philip? 2) What will his attitude and feelings be?

He'll hate it and be snarky.

What is the tone of the article about Philip in the Manchester Record?

It is shaming the school and educators and is supporting Philip.

What is your opinion of Ms. Narwin's comment on Philip's exam paper?

It was smart. She passed him and roasted him at the same time.

How does Philip's first day in Ms. Narwin's homeroom work out?

It wasn't good. Ms. Narwin yelled at him for humming during the National Anthem.

How does Ms. Narwin's style differ from Mr. Lunser's?

Mr. Lunser doesn't really follow the rules. Ms. Narwin enforces the rules very literally.

What homeroom is Philip transferred back to?

Mr. Lunser's

What will Ms. Narwin do now?

Ms. Narwin is going to Florida to be with her sister and her husband. She will be there for the rest of the term.

PREDICTION: Will Philip talk to Ms. Narwin? How will she react? What will be the outcome?

Ms. Narwin will approach Philip during English class. She will get mad at him.

Ms. Narwin says she pleaded to Dr. Palleni not to suspend Philip. Is that "nothing but the truth"?

No, she mildly disagreed with him AFTER Philip was already suspended. She never fought hard for Philip.

How are students supposed to stand during the National Anthem?

Respectful, silent attention.

Why is Gloria Harland calling Dr. Seymour at 8:07 A.M.? How does Dr. Seymour react?

She is telling Dr. Seymour about how part of Ted's speech was attacking the board. Dr. Seymour gets defensive and annoyed.

How does Ms. Narwin describe her frame of mind to Robert Duval? Is she justified?

She says she isn't stupid and she feels mugged.

What do you learn of Margaret Narwin from her application for a grant?

She's having trouble connecting with her students.

Why does Dr. Seymour describe the mood among the people as outraged?

The school is getting hate mail and there is bad publicity. Ted Griffen is firing people up.

What do you learn of the Harrison School District from the memo on pages 16 and 17?

The school is struggling financially.

Notice how the truth of humming in homeroom incident changes slightly with retelling and exaggeration creeps in. Where do you see the truth changing?

The situation went from humming quietly to singing loudly.

How might Dr. Palleni's statement "We're into solving problems, not making them" be foreshadowing?

The story will spread across the country.

How many telegrams came to Ms. Narwin and the school.

There were almost 200 telegrams.

How do Philip and Ms. Narwin seem similar at the end of the chapter?

They are both annoyed and sick of the attention. They are alone.

How many times does Philip say "I don't know" in his conversation with Coach Jamison?

Three times.