The following excerpt is from researcher Erin Bryant's "Real Lies, White Lies and Gray Lies:
Towards a Typology of Deception" (2008). Read the excerpt carefully. Then write an essay that
argues your position on the circumstances -if any-under which lying should be considered
acceptable.
To group all lying into one category is misleading.
Some lies
... are trivial and may even
prevent someone from being hurt by an unnecessary truth. These harmless white lies have
been called a communication competence or "social lubricant" because they allow people to
censor negative thoughts and truths.
In your response you should do the following:
• Respond to the prompt with a claim that establishes a line of reasoning.
• Select and use evidence to develop and support your line of reasoning.
Explain the relationship between the evidence and your thesis.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.