1. Warrants Solving Warrants through Proverbs

2. The Exercise Put students in groups. Give each group a list of proverbs like the one below. Tell students that their first task is to rewrite each proverb as a warrant, a larger principle about how the world works. (Sometimes it's easiest to do this in an "If x, then y" or "Whenever x, then y" statement. )

3. How to Do It Give them an example: "If the cat's away, the mice will play " becomes "Whenever there's no obvious authority figure, then people are liable to goof off." Rewrite the first proverb as a class.

4. Next Task The second task for each group is to decide whether or not they think the warrant (and the proverb) is always true. If not, they should come up with an alternative warrant that would take into account the exceptions.

5. The Rewrite For example: "If people really love what they're doing, they won't care about whether there's an authority to make them do it. Or, if an authority figure is really really scary, she doesn't even need to be there to make people work."

6. 1st Proverb No man can paddle two canoes at the same time. (Bantu)

7. Answer Key 1. If people want to do something well, then they must concentrate.

8. 2nd Proverb The block of wood should not dictate to the carver. (New Zealand)

9. Answer Key 2. If you want to make a difference, then you must not let circumstances/the powerless dictate your plans.

10. 3rd Proverb The church is near, but the way is icy. The tavern is far, but I will walk carefully. (Ukraine)

11. Answer Key 3. When people want to avoid something, then they will make any excuse to get out of it; when people want to do something, they will overcome any obstacle.

12. 4th Proverb Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.

13. Answer Key 4. If people are optimistic, then their problems will disappear.

14. 5thProverb Speak the truth, but leave immediately after. (Slovenia)

15. Answer Key 5. If you tell a person the truth, then that person will get angry with you.

16. 6th Proverb When the sun rises, it rises for everyone. (Cuba)

17. Answer Key 6. When something beautiful happens, then everyone is entitled appreciate it.

18. 7th Proverb You eat an egg, but you don't understand how painful it was for the chicken. (Netherlands Antilles

19. Answer Key 7. Whenever one person experiences pleasures, another person experiences pain.

20. 8th Proverb When the bee comes to your house, let her have beer; you may want to visit the bee's house some day. (The Congo)

21. Answer Key 8. If you treat people kindly, then one day they may return the favor.

22. 9th Proverb A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (China)

23. Answer Key 9. Beauty and happiness don't just come from solving problems; it's our nature to create beauty and to be happy. Or, art exists for it's own sake, not to solve the world's problems. Or, people have the right to speak. Or, the world does not exist to solve your problems (the bird's just singing, not singing to you).

24. 10th Proverb When you go to a donkey's house, don't talk about ears. (Jamaica)

25. Answer Key 10. If someone has a flaw, then you shouldn't talk about it (if the donkey is embarrassed by his ears). Or, if there is an expert, then you will look foolish talking about the expert's specialty (if the donkey is the king of ears).