Using the Writing Process Essay Example for Free

Using the Writing Process Essay In the article that researcher Deborah Tannen wrote entitled ‘How Male and Female Students Use Language Differently,’ she relates her experiences about linguistic research and then indicates that, in the different regional, ethnic, and class backgrounds, there is great difference with the way males and females use their own languages. This paper revolves around the article written by Deborah Tannen, which was originally published in the Chronicle of Higher Education in the year 1991. In the end, it proves how males and females differ in their use of language, and that males tend to speak more when in public, while females speak more when in private. Thus, open class discussions are more apt to the male gender, while small group discussions are more apt to the female gender. Females are more shy and withdrawn when drawn to the public. Main Body Summary In the article, Tannen (1991) distinguishes some of the apparent differences when it comes to males and females’ use of language. One of the differences is that, females who come from single-sex schools â€Å"do better in later life† (Tannen, 1991, p. 38). Apart from that, males usually talk more whenever they sit next to females in classrooms. Tannen (1991) also relates how sociologists J. Lever, M. H. Goodwin, and D. Eder proves that both males and females learn to use language differently in their peer groups. Tannen (1991) recalls, Typically, a girl has a best friend with whom she sits and talks, frequently telling secrets. It’s the telling of secrets, the fact and the way that they talk to each other†¦ For boys, activities are central: their best friends are the ones they do things with. Boys also tend to play in larger groups that are hierarchical. (Tannen, 1991, p. 38) Males have a lot of experiences being with larger crowds and this entails them to talk more. Tannen (1991) mentions how males and females around the world differ in linguistic styles, their verbal rituals usually engage males in a contest or war of words, while females usually engage in ritual laments through rhyming couplets that express their feelings (p. 39). In American conversation, however, Tannen (1991) relates her teaching experiences, and comes to the conclusion that male teachers do â€Å"verbal sparring† (p. 39); female teachers, however, usually do verbal touching that makes the discussion more hospitable to many students in the class. The latter, however, appear to be uninteresting and boring to the males. Tannen (1991) mentions three reasons on why males speak more in class than females: first is because the setting appears to be public, which males find more interesting; second is because the setting is more conducive to debate-like communication; third and final is because the setting reflects different attitudes toward speaking, which males have had more experiences with (p. 40). Females appear to be more shy or withdrawn, as compared to males. Response In relation to the main topic that is: there is a great difference with the way males and females use their own languages, I personally agree to this because I always experience what she just mentioned about male students speaking more in class. In most of the classes that I attended to, it is always the male side that opens up new topics to discuss, for example, and then the females are usually the ones that stretch the topic to new horizons or angles of discussion. This makes it more lively and entertaining. However, I do not agree about what Tannen (1991) mentioned about females that come from single-sex schools doing better in life. In fact, my experiences relate that females that come from single-sex schools appear to be more withdrawn and shy when mixed in classes that are composed of both males and females. It appears that they are more apt only in communicating with females, which is opposed to what they should have learned in school. Thus, what Tannen (1991) finds, that based on her experiment in class it is better to put males and females in smaller groups, females that come from single-sex schools are more apt to this type of discussion style. There are certain styles that this type of females find obscure and incomprehensible, since they are more comfortable only with their own gender. About male teachers doing verbal sparring, while female teachers do verbal touching, this is not always the case. I have had teachers that do the opposite thing: males that do verbal touching and females that do verbal sparring. It is always better to mix male and female teachers because it makes the class more rounded when talking of discussions. Females stretch out to new horizons, while males make the topic more interesting: one that would stick to the mind of the students. Yet, as a whole, I personally agree that more females are shy and withdrawn when compared to males that are more adventurous and daring. Lastly, in relation to the three reasons that Tannen (1991) mentioned that are the following: first is that male students speak more in class because they have had more experiences to public speaking. In relation to this, it is true that speaking in class is speaking in public, especially if the class is new and the students have not yet known one another. The second reason that Tannen (1991) mentioned, about male students speaking more in class because they are more conducive to debate-like communication, in general this may be true although a lot of females also tend to debate with other students, so this is not yet closed as it is. With the third reasons that Tannen (1991) mentioned, about males speaking more in class because they have had more experiences with dealing with different attitudes, this is also not closed as it is, since there are lots of males that do not have much experiences being with the public, such as one of my associates in class. He is a male; yet, he is shy and withdrawn. Conclusion In the different regional, ethnic, and class backgrounds, Tannen (1991) finds that there is great difference with the way males and females use their languages. Nevertheless, it is never good to put both genders in closed doors. There are always exceptions to the case. Reference Tannen, D. (1991). How male and female students use language differently. In Learning at school (pp. 38-43). Place: publisher.