This document discusses three ways to respond to arguments: agreeing, disagreeing, and agreeing/disagreeing simultaneously. It provides templates for each type of response. Agreeing directly helps readers understand your position. Disagreeing requires stating the reasons for disagreement. Agreeing/disagreeing at the same time allows for a more nuanced argument by agreeing with some parts of an argument while disagreeing with others. Using templates can help develop complex yet clear responses.

1. “YES/NO/OKAY,BUT”: THREE
WAYS TO RESPOND
Chapter 4

2. “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.

3. Agreeing, disagreeing, or
both
1. Why is it better to use a direct, no-nonsense
formula such as “I agree” when responding to
a “they say”?

4. 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.

5. Disagreeing
2. Though disagreeing with an argument has
been considered easier to do, what are some
of its inherent difficulties?

6. 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
______...

7. 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.

8. Agreeing
3. Why is simply agreeing a difficult move to
make?

9. 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.

10. Agreeing and disagreeing at
the same time
 “Yes and no,” or “Yes, but”
 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.

11. 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________________.

12. Other 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.

13. A little of each=superstar
 Naturally, writers lean towards one side or
the other on an issue and will decide to
whole-heartedly agree or disagree.
 But if writers can find a way to agree and
disagree with an author’s argument, they are
much more likely to develop a unique,
nuanced argument that really separates
theirs from the rest.