Back to the on-screen lesson ·
Two people can disagree about a fact or about which reason matters more, and neither kind shows that anyone is lying.
Paper packet. Every task here also exists on screen, where it is checked automatically; answers written on paper are not assessed by Nydus. When you are back at a device, enter your answers there.
You will check whether two claims really clash, say whether a disagreement is about a fact that could be checked or about which reason matters more, and answer a claim you disagree with without accusing the person who made it.
You can find a claim, and weigh the reasons for it. Now two people look at the same question and come out with different answers. What is going on?
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| This lesson's terms | Two people disagree when their claims cannot both be true. Someone is mistaken when they believe something false. Someone is lying when they say what they believe is false, to trick you. Two claims clash when they cannot both be true at once. |
| Supported conclusion | The conclusion the stated reasons reach, including the limits on its group, time or conditions. |
Kofi says the library shuts at five. Eva says six. They cannot both be right, so at least one is mistaken. Maybe Eva remembers the summer hours. Nobody is lying: lying means saying what you believe is false, to trick someone, and neither is doing that.
Most disagreements are one of two kinds.
About a fact. The closing time, whether the pond has frogs, what the café sells. Something could be checked: the sign on the door, a look in the pond, a phone call. Check it, and the disagreement ends.
About which reason matters more. Nell and Raj both know the red bike is faster and the blue bike is comfier. Nell cares more about faster; Raj about comfier. Neither has a fact wrong. They can explain their weights to each other, and they may still choose differently.
Before either, check that the claims really clash. The bath is too cold for me and the bath is fine for me can both be true. So can I like cats best and I like dogs best.
Why does this matter? Because you're lying! turns an argument about the library into an argument about a person, and then nobody reads the sign on the door.
Another way: picture
Two people at the same window, one saying it's a heron, the other it's a stork. Neither is lying. One of them needs to look again — or both need binoculars.
Another way: questions
Two people disagree when their claims cannot both be right in the way intended. 'The gate opens at nine on Saturday' and 'The gate opens at ten on Saturday' clash if they name the same gate and day. 'The gate opens at nine on weekdays' can fit with 'It opens at ten on Saturday'. Before deciding why people disagree, check that the place, time and meaning match.
People can disagree because they saw different information. One may have an old schedule. Another may have read a temporary notice. Neither difference proves lying. Lying would involve knowingly saying what one believes false, and a clash of claims alone does not show that. A fair first question is 'Which notice are you using?' rather than 'Why are you lying?'
People can also agree about the facts but care differently about goals. Two children may agree that the park is farther away and has more shade. One chooses shade; the other wants a shorter walk. The disagreement is about what matters more for this outing. More measurement of the distance will not automatically settle the choice unless they agree on the goal.
A useful reply repeats the other claim accurately, states your different claim, gives the reason for it and names a check or trade-off. You may still disagree after doing that. Success here means making the disagreement clear and fair, not forcing everyone to have one opinion. Clear disagreement makes it easier to find any facts or goals you do share.
Ana says the bus to the pool leaves at four o'clock. Ben says it leaves at quarter past four. What is the most sensible thing to think?
The supported answer is: At least one of them is mistaken, and the schedule will settle it.
The two claims cannot both be true: the bus leaves at one time. So at least one of them is mistaken — perhaps one has an old schedule. Being mistaken is not lying. The schedule will settle it. Neither person's confidence can.
Leo says the river froze over last winter. Ama says it did not freeze at all. What are they disagreeing about?
The supported answer is: A fact that could be checked: at least one of them is mistaken.
The distinction in this case is that whether the river froze is a fact about last winter, and photos or weather records would settle it.
Maya and Sam both know the park is closer and the beach is sunnier. Maya wants the park because it is closer; Sam wants the beach because it is sunnier. What are they disagreeing about?
The supported answer is: Which reason matters more: they agree on the facts.
The distinction in this case is that they agree on every fact; they disagree about which reason matters more.
Ria and Tom both agree the blue tent is lighter and the green tent is roomier. Ria wants the blue one for carrying; Tom wants the green one for space. What are they disagreeing about?
The supported answer is: Which reason matters more: they agree on the facts.
The distinction in this case is that neither has a fact wrong; they give different weight to the same two reasons.
Jo and Al both know the early bus is emptier and the late bus lets you sleep longer. Jo prefers the early bus for a seat; Al prefers the late one for sleep. What are they disagreeing about?
The supported answer is: Which reason matters more: they agree on the facts.
The distinction in this case is that they share the facts and weigh a seat against sleep differently.
Omar says the film lasts ninety minutes. Zara says it lasts two hours. What are they disagreeing about?
The supported answer is: A fact that could be checked: at least one of them is mistaken.
The distinction in this case is that the running time is printed on the ticket, so checking it would settle the question.
Kit says the corner bakery sells bread without wheat in it. Sol says it does not. What are they disagreeing about?
The supported answer is: A fact that could be checked: at least one of them is mistaken.
The distinction in this case is that anyone could ask the bakery, and the answer would settle it.
Pia says: we should stop feeding the ducks bread. Sort each reply: does it answer her claim, or attack her?
Bread fills ducks up without giving them what they need to grow. / You just want to spoil everybody's fun. / The ducks here look healthy, and bread is all anyone brings. / You only read that on the internet. You're so gullible. / Uneaten bread rots and makes the pond water green. / answers the claim / attacks the person
Replies about bread, ducks and the pond answer the claim, whether they agree or not. You just want to spoil our fun and you only read that on the internet, you're so gullible talk about Pia, not about bread. A reply can disagree strongly and still answer the claim: the ducks here look healthy, and bread is all anyone brings disagrees and answers.
In a class debate, Finn claims the class trip should be to the science museum. Mark every reply that disagrees with him without accusing him of anything.
The museum is two hours away by coach, and the farm is only twenty minutes. / Finn is lying about how good the museum is. / At the farm everyone can hold the animals, but the museum is mostly behind glass. / Finn only ever wants his own way. / Finn is too young to know what a good trip is.
The museum is two hours away by coach, and the farm is twenty minutes disagrees and gives a reason about the trip. The farm lets everyone hold the animals, and the museum is mostly behind glass also gives a reason about the trip. Calling Finn a liar, saying he only wants his own way, or saying he is too young to know are about Finn, not the trip.
Put these four moves in the order a fair disagreement goes.
Say back the other person's claim and reason. / Say which part of it you disagree with. / Give your own reason. / Ask together what would settle it.
First say back the other person's claim, so you both know what you are disagreeing about. Then say which part you disagree with: a fact, or which reason matters more. Then give your own reason. Last, ask together what would settle it.
A news report: Councillor Hale wants the town's money spent on a new pool; Councillor Ruiz wants it spent on the library roof. Both agree the pool would cost the same as the roof, and both agree the roof leaks. Hale then said Ruiz was lying about caring for the town. What is fair to say?
The supported answer is: They agree on the facts and disagree about which need matters more; that is no sign of lying.
The two councillors agree on every fact given: the costs are the same and the roof leaks. Their disagreement is about which need matters more. Nothing in that is evidence that Ruiz is lying. Hale's last remark is about a person, not about the pool or the roof.
A class is planning a museum visit. Ari says the trip is on the twelfth because that date is on the first letter. Bea says it is on the nineteenth because a later email changed the booking. Both are talking about the same visit. The dates differ by seven days, so their claims cannot both be the final current date.
Start by putting the sources side by side. The first letter was sent on Monday. The email was sent on Thursday and says that the museum confirmed a new date. This gives a possible explanation of the disagreement: Ari may not have seen the update. It does not show that Ari deliberately said something false.
A fair reply is, 'I think the current date is the nineteenth. My reason is this Thursday update. Shall we check with the teacher that it replaced Monday's letter?' This reply answers the date claim. It supplies information and a way to confirm it. 'You never listen' gives no evidence about the museum booking and turns a solvable question into a personal quarrel.
Suppose the teacher confirms the later date. Ari can revise the claim without losing the right to ask questions in future. Bea can be correct without claiming Ari was dishonest. If the email turns out to concern another class, both should reconsider. The point is to let the evidence settle the factual part. Once the date is clear, a separate disagreement about whether the new day is convenient may remain. That is a different question and deserves its own reasons.
Treating disagreement as proof of lying. People disagree honestly all the time.
*Saying we're both right when the claims clash.* A library shuts at one time. Saying both are right stops anyone from checking.
Answering the person instead of the claim. You only want your own way says nothing about which bike is better for the trip.
Dan: the pond has frogs in it. Lin: there are no frogs in that pond.
Dan: the pond has frogs in it. Lin: there are no frogs in that pond.
Do the claims clash? Yes: there are frogs or there are not.
State the result of this reading move.
Do the claims clash? Yes: there are frogs or there are not.
This records the link just identified: Dan: the pond has frogs in it. Lin: there are no frogs in that pond.
Is it a fact or a weight? A fact about the pond, so something could check it: a careful look on a spring evening.
Is it a fact or a weight? A fact about the pond, so something could check it: a careful look on a spring evening.
At least one is mistaken.
State the result of this reading move.
At least one is mistaken.
This records the link just identified: Is it a fact or a weight? A fact about the pond, so something could check it: a careful look on a spring evening.
A fair reply: I heard croaking there last week — shall we go and look? Not: you're making that up.
A fair reply: I heard croaking there last week — shall we go and look? Not: you're making that up.
Check the fact; do not accuse the person.
Uma wants the party in the hall because it is bigger; Pete wants it in the garden because it is prettier. Both agree on both facts.
Uma wants the party in the hall because it is bigger; Pete wants it in the garden because it is prettier. Both agree on both facts.
Do they have a fact wrong? No.
State the result of this reading move.
Do they have a fact wrong? No.
This records the link just identified: Uma wants the party in the hall because it is bigger; Pete wants it in the garden because it is prettier. Both agree on both facts.
So they disagree about which reason matters more: space or looks.
So they disagree about which reason matters more: space or looks.
No checking will end this one.
State the result of this reading move.
No checking will end this one.
This records the link just identified: So they disagree about which reason matters more: space or looks.
A fair next step: say what each cares about. Forty people are coming might make space count for more.
A fair next step: say what each cares about. Forty people are coming might make space count for more.
Honest disagreement, honestly talked through.
Identify the task before answering its parts.
Ari's date: {{b0}}
Corrected date: {{b1}}
Difference in days: {{b2}}
The three labeled spaces ask for different parts of this analysis, so keep their order visible.
Locate the evidence for the first part.
Ari cites the original date 8; that identifies Ari's source without guessing a motive.
This is the supplied information that bears on work out ari's date.
Work out ari's date.
8
Ari cites the original date 8; that identifies Ari's source without guessing a motive.
Work out corrected date.
15
The later message expressly replaces the original with 15, so it is the current date in this case.
Work out difference in days.
7
The seven-day difference explains a genuine clash about one visit; old information alone is not evidence of lying.
Write the completed analysis in its original order.
8 / 15 / 7
Read these entries with their labels: Work out ari's date. / Work out corrected date. / Work out difference in days.
Iris: the museum is free on Sundays. Joe: you have to pay on Sundays. Do the claims clash?
Iris: the museum is free on Sundays. Joe: you have to pay on Sundays. Do the claims clash?
Yes: on Sundays it is free or it is not.
Is it about a fact, or about which reason matters more?
What would settle it, without calling anyone a liar?
Before arguing, check whether two claims really clash. For each pair, say whether both could be true at once. Use these category identifiers: A = they clash; B = both can be true. Select the identifier, not the category's words.
| Do they clash? | |
|---|---|
| Aya: the soup is too hot for me. — Dom: the soup is fine for me. | |
| Aya: the shop opens at nine on Saturday. — Dom: it opens at ten on Saturday. | |
| Aya: I like the red team best. — Dom: I like the blue team best. | |
| Aya: the river is deeper than two meters here. — Dom: it is shallower than one meter here. |
Ari's Monday letter gives the trip date as the 11th. Bea's Friday correction explicitly replaces it with the 18th for the same trip. Write the date Ari claims (number only), the current corrected date, and the number of days between them.
Work out ari's date.
b0
Record the original speaker's stated date.
Work out corrected date.
b1
Use the message that explicitly replaces the earlier source.
Work out difference in days.
b2
Subtract the earlier date number from the later one.
Ari's Monday letter gives the trip date as the 15th. Bea's Friday correction explicitly replaces it with the 22th for the same trip. Write the date Ari claims (number only), the current corrected date, and the number of days between them.
Ari's date: b0
Corrected date: b1
Difference in days: b2
Ari's Monday letter gives the trip date as the 9th. Bea's Friday correction explicitly replaces it with the 16th for the same trip. Write the date Ari claims (number only), the current corrected date, and the number of days between them.
Ari's date: b0
Corrected date: b1
Difference in days: b2
Ari's Monday letter gives the trip date as the 10th. Bea's Friday correction explicitly replaces it with the 17th for the same trip. Write the date Ari claims (number only), the current corrected date, and the number of days between them.
Ari's date: b0
Corrected date: b1
Difference in days: b2
Ari's Monday letter gives the trip date as the 13th. Bea's Friday correction explicitly replaces it with the 20th for the same trip. Write the date Ari claims (number only), the current corrected date, and the number of days between them.
Ari's date: b0
Corrected date: b1
Difference in days: b2
Lesson test: one question per skill, one attempt each, no hints. Your answers are checked when you submit.
Ari's Monday letter gives the trip date as the 12th. Bea's Friday correction explicitly replaces it with the 19th for the same trip. Write the date Ari claims (number only), the current corrected date, and the number of days between them.
Ari's date: b0
Corrected date: b1
Difference in days: b2
You can tell being mistaken from lying, and a disagreement about a fact from one about weights. Say what would settle Ana and Ben's disagreement about the bus. Next: giving a reason on the other side.
17. Your turn: the museum, step 2
Is it about a fact, or about which reason matters more?
First check whether the two claims really clash.
17. Your turn: the museum, step 3
What would settle it, without calling anyone a liar?
First check whether the two claims really clash.