The title may be misleading about the tone of the text, but it actually presents an appropriate title for the content of this section. Tannen not only grabs your attention from the beginning by using a question, but she also focuses this section on the difference between these two words. She precedes a step further by showing the reader through her own experience how the difference between thought provoking and provocative can make a large impact. By beginning this section with a question, Deborah Tannen immediately grabs the reader's attention. Questions automatically recognize a dispute or some sort.
People generally like being involved and are anxious to take a stand on one side or the other.
Tannen focuses attention on this section by not deviating into other topics. Throughout the section, she presents only the problem of how to address an issue appropriately. She points out that different words and phrases can lead people to approach a situation another way. The difference between the intentions of thought provoking or provocative can alter the outlook on a subject. Deborah Tannen reveals this by explaining an instance where she, herself, was almost misinterpreted when someone tried to communicate her intentions as provocative.