Disagree to Agree.

This reading is all about how to take a side in an argument, whether it is to disagree, agree, or be ambivalent to both sides and neither discredit nor condone one view over the other. The very first thing talked about is declaring your stance early on. It’s always the right idea to make sure your reader knows exactly what you are going to be arguing for at the start of the paper other wise it seems to be just a jumble of facts and views that make little sense. Also declaring a side may in fact be one of the best ways to critically evaluate the perspectives of an issue to really dig deep and find every possible interpretation and angle to work off of, so what side should you choose?
Disagreeing with a view, as stated in the reading, “…May seem like on of the simpler moves a writer can make, but in fact it poses hidden challenges.” It’s exactly right in the sense that one cannot simply disagree to make an effective argument; the reading makes the point get to the heart of disagreement, which is to take a view, disagree with the view, and then back up your counter argument with facts, personal experience, or anything else that strengthens your contradicting view.
Agreement, just like disagreement, sounds easy enough doesn’t it? What could be easier? Just say “I agree” and that’s that right? Not even close. Agreement may be even more challenging than disagreement because agreement means that whatever view is brought to the table, you’ve already side with, so where’s the work to be done? There’s lots of work to be done as an independent researcher. One view will not have every single shred of evidence to support it so that is where your brain needs to start turning the screws and tightening the seals. Bring to the table personal experiences, or studies and surveys that support the view your agreeing with. Dig deeper to figure out just why you agree with the view you agree with.
Of course you can always take the combo approach as given by the reading, the ambivalence approach, but as the reading says, “Some may worry that by expressing ambivalence they will come across as evasive, wishy –washy, or unsure of themselves.” But ambivalence doesn’t have to be an issue of commitment, bringing both sides of the argument to the table can also be engaging for a reader, just as long as they know of your ambivalence in the first place. But you can’t be afraid to take a stance, whatever it is.