Introduction to Disagreeing with a Reading

Chapter Home

Definition

Writer's Goal or Assignment

Visual Structure

Focusing Methods

            Welcome!  This introduction offers a simple, brief summary.  For more, go to "The Basics."   "Sample Papers" by students also is quite helpful.  If you understand this type of paper already, you might prefer to read "Advanced Methods."

Definition of a Disagreement with a Reading

            A disagreement with a reading or text is a response to something intelligent you have read, often a short, argumentative essay--a response in which you disagree in a logical, organized way (with some agreement possibly allowed).  It is not a simple report on what an author has said, but rather an argument that goes beyond the author's own thoughts.  It also is not an emotional speech against a text or a friendly, uncritical review of why the author is right or good; rather, it is a strong but calm, logical, and fairly argued series of statements and supports about why the author is wrong (and/or right).  If there is agreement allowed (by your instructor), it is a minor part of your response; the majority of your response usually should be disagreement.  Some examples of disagreements to texts are longer, high-quality editorials in newspapers that respond to what some other author has written; and fairly and reasonably given speeches that argue against what someone has written or said.  The Gettysburg Address, for example, is in part a disagreement with the gloom-and-doom editorial writers of the time who were suggesting that the Union was bound to lose the Civil War.

Return to beginning.

     

Writer's Goal or Assignment

            The goal of writing a disagreement is to choose an argumentative text with which you disagree in whole or in part, and then to write your disagreement so that it appears as a calm, logical, and strong argument to readers.  If you need an online text, go to links.  If your instructor requests it, you may have a brief first section, after the introduction, that summarizes the text.  Then you should write the body of your disagreement by responding to several of your text's points or ideas. Depending on what your instructor expects, you may organize your paper in three or four topic sections or as several point-by-point responses.  In the beginning of each topic section or point, first offer your own disagreement briefly.  Then support your disagreement in one or more paragraphs with quotations from your text/source and other details.  Your other details may include one or more of the following: personal-experience examples and stories; the experiences of others you know; and facts, details, and/or experiences from documented sources.  In your introduction and conclusion, clearly indicate the type of paper you are writing--a disagreement--and the author's overall argument, your own overall disagreement, and an interesting quotation, stories, and/or set of facts in each.   

            If you are writing a research paper, each body section must include quotations and/or paraphrases from additional sources.  These quotations and/or paraphrases should support your own points of analysis, should be  substantial in quality and quantity, and should come from authoritative sources.  Also attach a bibliography appropriate to your field, discipline, or profession.

Return to beginning.

     

Summary/Outline of the Visual Structure

              Here is a typical structure or organization for a disagreement.  More development of this structure is shown in the "Basics" section.      

(These and other organizational parts are labeled in this chapter's sample paper.) 

Return to beginning.

    

Focusing Methods

             A "focus" in writing helps you at any given moment to concentrate on writing.  Here are several helpful, important focuses people use to develop a disagreement. 

FIRST & SECOND DRAFTS: Start with one or two methods that work best for you, but develop the others in later drafts. Read critically: take your text apart so that you understand its contents and structure thoroughly (see "How to Read Critically").  Free-write: write as much as you can quickly on what you know or have collected about your text or your disagreements. Gather details: mark or type the quotations in your text that best summarize the points with which you disagree and agree.  Write descriptions or a list of the proofs you have for your disagreements--facts, quotations, and/or experiences. Write for your audience: visualize it.  What details does it need to take seriously your disagreements? Organize: make an outline using the structure above or whatever your instructor suggests. Research: if required, mix research of your disagreements with the above methods to develop a first draft during your research.

STYLE, TONE, and WRITER'S ROLE: Develop (in early or late drafts) an academic style and tone of calm, reasoned, fair, balanced logic.  In your role as a writer, it may be acceptable to include strong or even dry disagreement (ask your instructor), but you must give the impression of being emotionally fair, balanced, and logical.

AUTHENTICITY: Be as real and meaningful as you can to your audience, your content, and yourself.  First, respect your audience: try as fully as you can to consider its own beliefs about your text.  Second, find the heart of the meaning in both your text and your own disagreements, and write about them honestly and clearly using high-quality supporting details.  Third, make your disagreements your own:  develop them in a way as meaningful to you as possible.

Return to beginning.

----------
     

Contents and Page Design © 2002-2004 by Richard Jewell.  Nonprofit copying for education is allowed. Images courtesy of Barry's Clip Art, Clip Art Warehouse, The Clip Art Universe, Clipart Collection, Microsoft Clip Art Gallery and Design Gallery Live, School Discovery, and Web Clip Art Most recent update: 1-29-04 Home page:  http://collegewriting.info   Contact the author by going to www.Richard.Jewell.net.  I welcome questions, suggestions, and notes about links.

color scheme for "structure" already updated 10-15-03

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.