Interrupting Rhetorical Analysis
Josh’s father monopolizes the conversation by continually interrupting him almost every time Josh speaks. Interrupting commonly uses language that challenges or disrupts a speaker (Wood, 122). When Josh’s father interrupts and bombards him with questions such as, “What do you mean you’re not me? You think I wasn’t a good student before I joined the fraternity? You think you’re so smart you can party all the time and still make good grades?” he does this to challenge Josh’s judgment (Wood 122, 132). When he cuts Josh off again by exclaiming, “Well, you think wrong!” he does not allow Josh to communicate what he thinks, expressing disregard for his opinion. Whether this disparagement was intentional or not, he has focused the attention away from Josh, resulting in ineffective listening.
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His father’s preconceptions about fraternities also hinder his ability to listen effectively in two ways.
First, because his dad is only acknowledges his opinion as right, he will not be able to understand Josh’s opinion. Second, it makes Josh feel like his opinions are invalid, as his father is disregarding what he says (Wood, 120).
On the other hand, Josh is listening defensively and is taking his father’s advice as criticism. When his father uses his own experiences to explain the negative impact he believes fraternities have on academics, Josh responds, “But Dad, I’m not you. Joining a fraternity wouldn’t necessarily mean that my grades…” (Wood, 132) With this remark, Josh has ignored his father’s advice and, instead, thinks that his father does not value his judgment. He knows his father disapproves and is imposing that disapproval onto his responses when criticism may not be intended (Wood,
123).
First and foremost, Josh’s father should quit interrupting him. Instead of cutting Josh off with his own questions and opinions, he should listen and acknowledge that he is listening with an occasional head nod or “mmhmm.” This encourages Josh to continue and maybe even expand on what he is trying to say. (Wood, 117) If he still has concerns about Sigma Chi, he could ask Josh to describe specific events that make him so sure they are not just about partying, but only ask after Josh has finished talking. When his father responds appropriately, by letting Josh speak and showing attentiveness, Josh is more likely to be open to offering other information on Sigma Chi. (Wood, 117)
His father would also do well to put aside his preconceptions of fraternities, as it hinders his ability to interpret what Josh is saying. Even though his experiences have made him wary of fraternities, Josh’s have given him a very different opinion. To effectively interpret what Josh is saying his father would need to understand his son’s opinion even if he does not agree with it (Wood, 116)
Meanwhile, Josh should also listen to his father when he recounts about his experiences with fraternities, but take it as advice, not criticism. Similar to his father, Josh would do well to simply listen to his advice and respond appropriately. Don’t respond with defensive remarks; instead, use minimal encouragers, such as, “Really?” or “I see.”By doing this, he encourages his father to continue with his advice and will be able to better understand his father’s view on the situation (Wood. 127).
His father’s preconceptions about fraternities also hinder his ability to listen effectively in two ways.
First, because his dad is only acknowledges his opinion as right, he will not be able to understand Josh’s opinion. Second, it makes Josh feel like his opinions are invalid, as his father is disregarding what he says (Wood, 120).
On the other hand, Josh is listening defensively and is taking his father’s advice as criticism. When his father uses his own experiences to explain the negative impact he believes fraternities have on academics, Josh responds, “But Dad, I’m not you. Joining a fraternity wouldn’t necessarily mean that my grades…” (Wood, 132) With this remark, Josh has ignored his father’s advice and, instead, thinks that his father does not value his judgment. He knows his father disapproves and is imposing that disapproval onto his responses when criticism may not be intended (Wood,
123).
First and foremost, Josh’s father should quit interrupting him. Instead of cutting Josh off with his own questions and opinions, he should listen and acknowledge that he is listening with an occasional head nod or “mmhmm.” This encourages Josh to continue and maybe even expand on what he is trying to say. (Wood, 117) If he still has concerns about Sigma Chi, he could ask Josh to describe specific events that make him so sure they are not just about partying, but only ask after Josh has finished talking. When his father responds appropriately, by letting Josh speak and showing attentiveness, Josh is more likely to be open to offering other information on Sigma Chi. (Wood, 117)
His father would also do well to put aside his preconceptions of fraternities, as it hinders his ability to interpret what Josh is saying. Even though his experiences have made him wary of fraternities, Josh’s have given him a very different opinion. To effectively interpret what Josh is saying his father would need to understand his son’s opinion even if he does not agree with it (Wood, 116)
Meanwhile, Josh should also listen to his father when he recounts about his experiences with fraternities, but take it as advice, not criticism. Similar to his father, Josh would do well to simply listen to his advice and respond appropriately. Don’t respond with defensive remarks; instead, use minimal encouragers, such as, “Really?” or “I see.”By doing this, he encourages his father to continue with his advice and will be able to better understand his father’s view on the situation (Wood. 127).