They Say, I Say

Chapter 4: Yes/No/Okay, But

Three Ways to Respond

The three most common and recognizable ways to respond are to:

Agree

Disagree

Agree and disagree simultaneously

Doing so will allow your reader to place your response on a mental map of familiar choices.

Why Tell Your Response?

Before giving support for your ideas, it is important to clearly state your position.

A response or interpretation is always responding to other opinions or interpretations.

Disagree–and explain why

It is not enough to simply claim that you disagree; you need to provide persuasive reasons as to why you disagree.

Providing a “why” allows you to prove you have something to contribute to the conversation.

Ways to Disagree

The “duh” response: disagreeing with the assumption that the information provided is a new or stunning revelation.

The “twist it” response: agreeing with the evidence provided, but showing how it actually supports your own opinion.

Agree-but with a difference

It is not enough to simply agree with others; you need to also add something new to the conversation.

It is important to open up some difference between your position and the one your agreeing with (don’t parrot the ideas of others).

Agree and Disagree Simultaneously

Agreeing and disagreeing simultaneously allows you to provide a complex argument.

It allows your reader to easily place your opinion on the mental map of positions, while still allowing a thoughtful response.

Ways to Agree and Disagree

The “stress” response: including agreement and disagreement, but stressing the importance of one over the other.

The “mixed feelings” response: showing the “pros” and “cons” of a position without decisively being for or against.