This chapter discusses strategies for agreeing and disagreeing in writing. It notes that arguments can be complex and difficult to communicate concisely. However, using templates provides a way to clearly outline positions. Templates are like common structures used in everyday activities. The chapter then addresses challenges in directly agreeing or disagreeing and not providing reasons. It suggests starting disagreements with "because" to give support. Finally, it recommends that agreeing and disagreeing simultaneously allows for more nuanced arguments that can accept some points while rejecting others. Sample templates are provided for combining agreement and disagreement.

1. Chapter 4

2. This presentation will address some of the
difficulties that writers face when agreeing,
disagreeing, or doing both.
It will also provide a suggest 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.  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.  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.  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. 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 1: 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. 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. 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.