Comparing and contrasting essays

1. What happened when Sakamoto first began participating in Japanese conversations? Why?
She would get wierd looks from people because it was considered rude to join conversations you were not included in.

2. What does she compare a Western style conversation to?
She compares it to a game of tennis.

3. How is a Western style conversation like a game of tennis?
You hit the ball and you expect the person to hit the same ball back.

4. What does she compare a Eastern style conversation to?
She compares it to a game of bowling.

5. Explain the differences:
A. Taking turns: In Japan you don't take turns. You just wait till you get a chance to talk.
B. Approach the topic: It is rude in Japan.
C. Pausing: Everyone in Japan pauses after a comment and then start a new topic.
D. Reactions to participants: In Japan, if you aren't included in a conversation then they will look at the person as a rude person.
E. Determining the scores:

6. What is the author's thesis? Where in the essay is it stated?
The author's thesis is when she would include herself into the conversations of her husband. It is in the first paragraph.

7. In what ways does Sakamoto establish her authority to speak on this topic?
She has lived a real experience.

8. Why are "just listen" and "just relax" in quotation marks?
That is what she has to do even though she was raised another way.

9. Have you ever experienced conversing with Asians, especially Japanese? Do you agree with Sakamoto's experience? Is her analysis of Eastern style conversations accurate?
I never had this experience. It is true that our style of communication is playing a game of tennis.

10. Have you ever been in different "conversational ballgames"? What rules were you following? What rules was the person following? What happened in the conversation?
When I was younger and wanted to speak to an adult when they were speaking to another adult, I had to say excuse and ask persmission if I can speak to that adult.

11. Are the conversational rules more similar to the Western style or the Eastern style described here?
They are more similar to the Western style. When two adults are talking, they are talking back and forth. People can join the conversation if wanted to.