They Say / I Say (1)

The author seemed to be focused on the fact that average writers can be formed from the illiterate and un-experienced writers by following and learning certain writing templates. His main point in the first half was his "they say / I say" template, where the writer divulges what his opponent or even ally says in the argument and then writes what he has to say himself on the subject. Sadly (at least for me) he started into the second half, where I received the notion that he supported the "on one hand / on the other hand" template more so than the previously stated one. This template is where one states both that one agrees and disagrees with both sides, diffusing the need to say yes or no; technically a flip-flop. When finished with the reading, it looked as though his writing style was mostly in those two templates, mostly the last one. This is proven by the use of his words and phrases, which obviously showed the use of both templates and more of the last one near the end.
I found the pages very intellectual in the first pages (aside from the drawings) in a way that taught me a different way of looking at not only writing, but general speech itself. I had seen writing as a way to propose your argument in such a way that your opponent would have a hard time combating it, whether it be due to facts, ferocity, or non-commitment to any side particularly. I was very disappointed by the second half because his new, and obviously favorite, template seemed almost like a way of writing pure dribble while seeming intellectual. My personal nature prohibits me (usually) from being passive in an argument, and the thought of writing, say, an essay where you take no sides and just bounce around, just makes the person writing a pansy (no offense to you pansies out there). Other than that, the pages in general were informative and intellectual, but some parts were hard to stomach.
Now, after reading that, I currently think that writing is a way to present your argument by following certain grammatical rules and a few templates (not all, just a little) while seeming intellectual, sophisticated, and (hopefully) correct. The templates I would follow would be the "they say / I say" and a combination of forceful facts and non-commitment. Even though I said that I hated that template (on one hand / on the other hand), it is useful in certain situations. The forceful part I said consist or using facts to your full advantage in order to slaughter your opponent (verbally of course). Using these two template types together might seem strange, but actually can create a strong style of writing. The first template (they say / I say) is the bulk of the written work, the flip-flop template helps to cover mistakes and the overwhelming force of "fact attacks", which give the power to you, instead of the opponent.