2. Why We’re Here
This presentation will address some of the difficulties
that writers face when agreeing, disagreeing, or
doing both.
It will also provide a suggestion or “pro tip” for
agreeing and disagreeing simultaneously.
3. “Will a template stifle my creativity?”
• Arguments are complex and can be difficult to write in a couple of
sentences.
• The more complex an argument, chances are, the more complex the
communication.
• However, using a template to agree, disagree, or both is one way of
solving these problems.
4. Take note: Templates are
everywhere
• Remember, you use templates in your everyday lives all
of the time. Consider a recipe for making cake, a scale
for playing piano, or a pattern for making a shirt. These
are all templates that teach you the fundamentals of
that skill.
5. Challenge 1: Being Direct
Let’s attempt to answer this question:
Why is it better to use a direct, no-nonsense formula such as “I agree”
when responding to a “they say”?
6. Answer:
By using a direct, no-nonsense formula,
your readers can get a strong grasp of
your position and then be able to
appreciate how your argument unfolds.
Having a baseline for your argument will
help your readers follow you better.
7. Challenge 2: Disagreeing
Let’s attempt to answer this question:
Though disagreeing with an argument has been considered easier to
do, what are some of its inherent difficulties?
8. Answer:
It’s easy to state you disagree with something,
but the true problems arise if you don’t state
why you disagree.
A strong argument that disagrees provides
reasons to support this stance.
Think “because” to complete your statement.
Example: I disagree that … because …
9. Templates for Disagreeing
• Ex: I disagree with Geier’s view that people can drive and talk on
their cell phones simultaneously because as research shows, the
human brain cannot consciously process doing two activities at once.
• Ex: By focusing solely on education budget cuts in the Fine Arts
department, Bradfield overlooks the deeper problem of a school’s
fiscal responsibilities.
10. Challenge 3: Agreeing
Let’s attempt to answer this question:
Why is simply agreeing actually a very difficult move to make?
11. Answer:
Agreeing can be difficult
because it’s important to
bring something new and
fresh to the table.
When you agree, this can
be hard to do.
You want to add something
that makes you a valuable
participant in the
conversation.
12. Pro-Tip: Agree and disagree at the same time
• Agreeing and disagreeing at the same time allows writers to tailor
their argument to make it more complicated and nuanced.
• A writer can agree with one part of an argument while disagreeing
with another.
• Moreover, with this option a writer can subtly tip her argument by
placing stress on one part and not the other.
13. Templates to agree and disagree simultaneously
Although I agree
with X up to a
point, I cannot
accept his
overriding
assumption that...
Though I concede
that …, I still insist
that….
X is right that …,
but she seems on
more dubious
ground when she
claims that….
14. Other template favorites
I’m of two minds about X’s
claim that … On the one
hand, I agree that … On the
other hand, I’m not sure if…
My feelings on this issue are
mixed. I do support X’s
position that …, but I find Y’s
argument about … and Z’s
research on … to be equally
persuasive.
