The Argument Culture
Reading Qustions for "The Arguments Culture" by Deborah …show more content…
What are Tannen's suggestions for ending the argument culture? Instead of asking, "What is the other side?", we might ask, "What are the other sides"?
Reflection Questions
1. What discussions have you observed-in the media or in the clasroom-that are structured as a debate with two sides and absolutes? What impact does the structure have on the discussions? Presidential election debates.
2. What different approaches to resolving disputes have yo observed? Which approaches have been successful? Communication resolves disputes.
Practice Question
In her essay "The Argument Culture', Deborah Tannen claims that the argument culture influences people to "(approach)" any issue, problem or public person in an adversarial way". Do you find Tannens observtion to be accurate? Support your position using examples from your own experience, observations, or studies. I believe that Tannen's claims are accurate because the opposition is the best way to get things done, the best way to discuss a debate, and the best way to gain knowledge and information. Tannen's arugument states that conflict can't be avoided in our public lives any more than we can avoid conflict with people we love. Meaning any issue, problem, or public person can be approaches accordingly but is usually in a adversarial