Nothing But The Truth Essay

There are five questions that I want you to answer truthfully. Have you ever lied to someone to get them convinced that you were the victim? Did you take responsibility for the chaos that you’ve created?

Did anybody even stop to think that the attitude towards the person you hate was immature? Did anyone teach you as a child to not lie to others?

Also, did you ever stop to think that the best way to get out of the situation was to tell the truth?

If the answer is no, then don’t worry. You’re not the only. In Nothing But The Truth, written by Avi, the protagonist Philip Malloy lied to his parents about what happened in Miss. Narwin’s class.

Instead of telling them that he was purposely humming the Star Spangled Banner loudly, Philip

claimed that he was singing along to it and Miss. Narwin sent him to the principal’s office for being disruptive.

His lie lead to almost everyone to attack Miss. Narwin and praise Philip for doing what he was doing. No only that everything went downhill from there.

Coach Jamison was unable to Philip when he told him that he got transferred out of Miss. Narwin’s class. , Allison and Todd created a petition to get Philip to tell the people the truth (thanks to Coach Jamison) forcing him to go to an academy and admitting that he doesn’t know the words to the national anthem.

The theme for Nothing But The Truth is immaturity, manipulation of the facts, take responsibility for your actions, never lie, and of course truth.

The reasons for the five themes is that 1) Philip’s attitude towards Miss. Narwin is immature 2) Philip was never responsible for his action until he learned it the hard way 4) when he lied about what he did and made people think that he was the victim and 5) when the lie was at its breaking point, one of the could’ve fixed it by telling the truth..

The first theme for Nothing But The Truth is manipulation of the facts because throughout the book Philip made people think that he was innocent. He claimed that he was just singing along to the national anthem quietly, even though he was being loud and obnoxious on purpose to get kicked out of class. Sadly, almost everyone believe him .

They actually thought that Philip was being patriotic and Miss. Narwin was being unfair. Unfortunately for Miss. Narwin, nobody was there to explain what actually happened. Because of that, she decides to resign from teaching and move to Florida to live with her sister, Anita.

(Ex:“Jake Barlow: And here you are defending this creep of a teacher.

What does the kid know other than his own, natural-born patriotism? And then this creep of a teacher comes along and squelches it.”

“Ted Griffen: I’m shocked that a Harrison student should be expelled from one of our schools for singing the national anthem.”)

The two quotes show that when Philip lied, they believed and accused Miss. Narwin for being a bad teacher. They assume they know everything about what happened based on the fabricated story that Philip told them. It’s actually sad that everyone believes him, but didn’t even bother to get Miss. Narwin’s side of the story.

Even though Philip’s lie made things hard for Miss. Narwin, it became complicated for him too. Why? Well, since some people are applauding him for standing up towards Miss. Narwin there were some that didn’t appreciate what he did. This left Philip no choice but to move to a new school.

The second theme for Nothing But The Truth is take responsibility for your actions because in the book, Philip never took responsibility of his actions. He talked back to Miss. Narwin and he never apologized to her.

This landed him with a two day suspension. Not only that, he didn’t take any responsibility for his lie and that made it difficult for

him.

If Philip had taken responsibility for his actions, maybe it wouldn’t be complicated for Miss. Narwin and himself. If he had apologized to her and try his best in her class, Philip would see that Miss. Narwin isn’t a horrible teacher and pass her class , he would be able to do track, and nobody would go against him (including his love interest Allison), and everything would be just fine. Unfortunately, that never happened.

(Ex:“Coach Jamison: A rule is a rule--to get along you have to play pay along.”

“Dr.Palleni: I call your folks, they come get you--Boom!--two day suspension.”)

The two quotes show what happens when Philip didn’t take responsibility for his actions. Coach Jamison was unable to help Philip when Philip told him that he was transferred out of Miss. Narwin’s class and the second quote show what Dr. Palleni would do if Philip didn’t apologize to Miss. Narwin.

Philip didn’t apologize and that gave him a two day suspension. If Philip had taken responsibility for his actions he wouldn’t have any problems with Miss. Narwin or with anyone else in his school.

The third theme for Nothing But The Truth is immaturity because in the book Philip complains about how Miss. Narwin is too serious and how she has “a thing for him”.

He states how no one likes her even though everyone considers her as a favorite teacher. His immaturity gave him the idea to lie about Miss. Narwin. It is also the main reason why he is doing so poorly in her literature class.

Even though he did pretty decent on his book report, he wrote down a ridiculous answer to what it was about. Let’s not forget he called Miss. Narwin the b-word.

(Ex:“Philip Malloy: I can’t stand to even look at her. I have to find a way to get transferred out.”)

This quote shows how immature his attitude is. Due to his immaturity, he never got the chance to see how good Miss. Narwin is and wasn’t able to get the grade that he needs to join the track team. Also, his only way of getting out her class was to loudly hum the national anthem (which actually worked, but that became problematic for him). His attitude towards Miss. Narwin was immature and it lead him to create lie.

The fourth theme for Nothing But The Truth is never lie because Philip’s lie made everything perplexing for him and Miss Narwin. It’s pretty clear why never lie is the theme of this story. If Philip didn’t lie about what happened that day everything would be going smoothly for him and for MIss. Narwin. But since he decided to lie, things became troublesome for both of them.

(Ex.“Miss. Narwin: Do you know, I feel like I’ve been mugged, assaulted.”)

This quote show the effect of Philip’s lie. His lie caused everyone to nit-pick at Miss. Narwin. The criticism made it feel like that she was being attacked by a bunch of people . Not only that, Philip Malloy begins to lose some of his friends because they disapprove of what he did. His love interest was highly displeased since she loves Miss. Narwin.

Also, this caused Philip not to be able to join the track team. This resulted in him moving to another. Philip going to another school was his punishment for lying and not telling the truth sooner when it started to go downhill for him too.

The last theme for Nothing But The Truth is obviously truth because it was the only way for Miss. Narwin to let the people know that Philip isn’t the target of rude behavior. Everything would’ve gone so smoothly for her and Philip if he told them the truth about what he did. It never happened so things didn’t go terrific for Miss. Narwin and Philip.

The truth was the only way for Philip to be able to have his friends and Miss. Narwin to continue teaching her ELA class.

(Ex:“Philip Malloy: I don’t know the words.”)

This quote show that due to his lie he changed to another school and confess that he doesn’t know the lyrics.. Everything would’ve been easy for him if he just told the media the truth. Since he didn’t, Philip didn’t get the chance to fix his mistakes.

The theme for Nothing But The Truth is manipulation of the facts, take responsibility for your actions, immaturity, never lie, and truth.

The reason why those are the theme for the book because throughout story, Philip never took responsibility for his action when he refused to apologize to his teacher, his attitude towards Miss. Narwin is immature, when Philip lied things got out of hand, Philip twisting the truth about what happened in class everyone believed that he was the victim, and the only way for Miss. Narwin and Philip to get out of the situation would be telling people the truth.

The importance of literary element is that it can help you understand the story much more better. If you pay attention to the elements of the book that you’re reading then you would be able to figure out the theme of the book and find the traits of the main character (Ex: Philip is rude, immature, athletic, etc). Nothing But The Truth reminds me about when I was in Elementary school I lied about how most of the teachers were like at school. But, the only difference is that my sister never made a big deal about it.

At the end of Nothing But The Truth, Philip got what he deserves. If he apologized to Miss. Narwin then he would’ve been able to do the track team. This story shows that lying doesn’t really help you with your problem. It shows that lying can come with a consequences that you have to face.

If that’s not it then what the story show? Does it show that if you work with person you can’t stand then you wouldn’t have any problems? Does it show that there is no point in lying? What does Nothing But The Truth show to the reader? If you’re going to answer the question you have to give out a honest answer..