Paradox

A statement that appears

to contradict itself.
 Warm Up
 With your partner, look up the word contradiction
in the dictionary.

 Write a sentence using the word contradiction or

contradictory in your journal.

 Example: Your opinion today is a contradiction to

the opinion you gave yesterday.

 Synonym-different

 You opinion today is different than the opinion

you gave yesterday.
 Definition
 Paradox is a statement containing
seemingly contradictory (different) or
incompatible (they don’t go together)
elements.

 Example:
 “Cowards die many times before their
death.”

 This is a paradox because you can only die

one time.
 Warm Up Cont.
 Tell
your partner what you think this
means.

 “Cowards die many times before their

deaths.”

I think this paradox means________.

 Example
 "I know that I know nothing.“

 Ifyou know nothing, how can you

know something? How can you know
that you don’t know?
 Example
 You can save money by spending it.

 This
is a paradox because saving and
spending are different.

I think this paradox means that you

can save money by making
investments (by a house or stocks)
 Whiteboards
 Write the paradox on the whiteboard.
Hint: Look for the two things that are
opposites.

 “Pablo is such a jerk. Deep down he is

really shallow.”

 The paradox is, “Deep down he is really

shallow.”
 What does this paradox mean?
 Whiteboards
I understand the President’s position.
We must go to war to make peace. It
is the only answer.

What is the paradox in this text?

What does the paradox mean?

 Partner Work
 With your partner, find the paradox in the
text below and write it in your journal.
Then write one sentence explaining what
you think the paradox means.

1) Jason and I got into another fight

yesterday. I couldn’t believe what he told
me. He said “I always tell lies.” How can I
trust him?
 Partner Work Cont.
2) As a child my family would spend a
lot of time at the lake. My mom was
always protective of us, even at the
lake. When we were little she would
say “Don’t go near the water until
you know how to swim.”
 Paradox
 "They have ears but hear not."

 Turnto your partner and tell him/her

what you think this means.

 Withyour partner, write a similar

paradox using the words eyes and
see.
 On your own
 Independently write two sentences
explaining how you know that "Less
is more" is a paradox and what the
paradox means.

 “I
know that less is more is a
paradox because ________. This
paradox means______________.”