Raise Your Voice!

Do you know that one person in class who always something to say? How about the person who never speaks? Have you ever wondered why these people are so different? Or why participation even matters so much in class?

Well I did. And so I went on a hunt to find out why I have such a hard time speaking up in class while it comes naturally to others. And why participation even matters. I mean why grade participation, it seriously affects my grades! Well, here’s what I found.

3 Benefits of Participation:

1. Good Discussions- No one likes one-sided arguments or discussions, it just seems so unfair to only hear one side of the story. With good participation comes good discussions. Also, it’s no fun listening to your professor/teacher talk the whole class period, that gets boring really fast.
2. Your Voice is Heard- When you participate, your voice is heard. Your thoughts and your opinions are the center of attention. This point relates back to the good discussion point also. Your thoughts help in making good discussion, because your thoughts add to the conversation. They give the discussion a new perspective that others might not have thought about. Also, when you speak up, your professor/teacher notices you and how involved you are in class. This attention from your professor/teacher can have good effects in your future, like your grades and/or letters of recommendations.
3. You Learn More- The more involved you are in the topic of your study, the more better you will remember what your reading and/or discussion. The longer things stay in your head, the more you learn. Participation has been shown as an effective way to get students to learn better, because students have to use the information they have read and apply it to class discussions.

3 Reasons Why People Don’t Participate

1. They’re Shy- A lot of people are just shy and can’t raise their voice in discussions or classrooms. They need time to get use to the class and break out their shells.
2. What Will My Peers Think- To some people, what other people will think about them, is enough to stop them from participating.
3. What I Have To Say Doesn’t Matter- A surprising finding was that a lot of people don’t participate because they feel like what they have to say doesn’t matter. This isn't true. Every person’s opinion matters and only adds to the conversation. Picture:www.deviantart.com