Writing Resources

Agreeing, Disagreeing and Standing Your Ground

Agreeing

  • I agree that (blank).
  • X is right about (blank) because (blank).
  • X's theory of (blank) is extremely useful because it sheds light / provides insight on the problem of (blank).
  • I agree that (blank), a point that needs emphasizing because (blank).
  • If X is right that (blank), as I think he is, then we need to reassess the popular assumption that (blank).
  • I endorse what X calls (blank).
  • These conclusions, which X discusses in (blank), add weight to the argument that (blank).

Disagreeing

  • I think X is mistaken because she overlooks (blank).
  • X's claim rests upon the questionable assumptions that (blank).
  • I disagree with X's view that (blank), because (blank).
  • X contradicts herself / wants to have it both ways. On the one hand, he argues (blank). On the other hand, he also says (blank).
  • By focusing on (blank), X overlooks the deeper problem of (blank).
  • X overlooks what I consider an important point about (blank).
  • My own view is that what X is arguing (blank) is actually (blank).

Agreeing and Disagreeing

  • Although I agree with X up to a point, I do not accept his overall conclusion that (blank).
  • Although I disagree with much that X says, I endorse the final conclusion that (blank).
  • Though I concede that (blank), I still maintain that (blank).
  • Whereas X provides ample evidence that (blank), Y's research on(blank) convinces me that instead (blank).
  • X is right that (blank), but she seems on more dubious ground when she claims that (blank).
  • Wrule X is probably wrong when he claims that (blank), he is right that (blank).
  • I am of two minds about X's claim that (blank). On the one hand, I agree that (blank). On the other hand, I am not sure if (blank).
  • My thoughts on the issue are mixed. I do support X's position that (blank), but I find Y's argument about (blank) to be equally persuasive.

Entertaining Objections

  • At this point, I would like to raise some objections that have been prompted by (blank).
  • Yet some readers may challenge the view that (blank).
  • Of course, many will probably disagree with the assertion that (blank).
  • Here many (blank) would probably object that (blank).
  • But would certainly take issue with the argument that (blank).
  • (blank), of course, may want to question whether (blank).
  • Nevertheless, both followers and critics of (blank) will probabl y argue that (blank).
  • Although not all (blank) think (blank), some will probably dispute my claim that (blank).
  • (Blank) are so diverse in their views that it is hard to generalize about them , but some are likely to object on the grounds that (blank).

Standing Your Ground

  • Although I grant that (blank), I still maintain that (blank).
  • Proponents of X are right to argue that (blank). But they exaggerate the claim / neglect to consider that (blank).
  • While it is true that (blank), it does not necessarily follow that (blank).
  • On the one hand , I agree with X that (blank). But on the other hand, I still insist that (blank).

Establishing Why Your Claims Matter

  • X matters /is important because (blank).
  • Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today's concern over (blank).
  • Ultimately, what is at stake here is (blank).
  • These finding have important consequences for the broader domain of (blank).
  • My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger issue of (blank).
  • These conclusions /This discovery will have significant applications in (blank) as well as (blank).
  • Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of (blank), it shouid in fact concern anyone who cares about (blank).

Adapted from "They Say / I Say" (Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein).