When reading this book I began to question the basics that I learned. I learned to never use the word, "I" and certainly never let you opinion come out. Writing your opinion in your paper was usually a flunking grade. However this book teaches that academic writing is really argumentive writing.
This book throughout gives templates to use when writing. Whether agreeing, disagreeing or both there are good ways to get to the answer to, "so what" and "who cares" questions. Engaging your reader into the paper with certain verbage will help your audience understand what you are trying to say.
Writing a good paper balances what the author is saying along with the writer's focus. Sometimes it is best to not spell out your own beliefs so that the reader is unable to tell if you agree or disagree. But again you must remember to answer the questions so what and who cares. When answering this questions it is important to give enough reasons and not leave something dangling all by itselt.
When entertaining a counter argument it is crucial that you show repect for your audience and be independent critical thinkers. It is also does not have to be an all or nothing argument.
Some of the best words to use when tying everything together is transition or pointing words. These words will let the reader know some important is to follow. Also, it is ok to repeat yourself as in summarizing.
I had never heard of the word metacommentary before. It is just a fancy way of saying something in your own interpretation.
Writing this way will certainly be a challenge for me since it goes against everything that I was taught. But with the templates to help me from the book, it will be easier.
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