They Say/I Say: A Model for Developing Arguments and Thesis Statements - Essay Example

Reading Response al Affiliation) Reading Response Apparently, the book “They Say/I Says” asserts that a credible accommodates criticism to establish a solid and persuasive argument. Indeed, the authors stated, “We are urging you to tell readers what others might say against you, but our point is that by doing so will actually enhance your credibility, not undermine it” (Birkenstein & Graff, 2009, p. 79 ). The inclusion of counterclaims facilitates debates, allows the writer to speak more, makes a two-sided argument, brings a conversational tone, and enables the writer to present an interesting and strong argument.

Nevertheless, a writer should have the capacity to overcome the counterclaims on his argument.Olsson argues that Wal-Mart is one of the multinational companies that underpays, mistreats, and overworks its employees. She also argues that Wal-Mart has been fighting off unions that advocate for workers’ rights. Olsson argues that Wal-Mart employees must have a second job to survive unless an employee is a manager or has been working at the company for more than 20 years. According to Olsson, the company has been pushing employees to maximize all their potential to reap maximum benefits and cut costs without hiring more employees.

The author supports the former and current Wal-Mart employees’ right to fight the company for violating wage-and-hour laws. Olsson accommodates counterclaims by recognizing Wal-Mart’s policies and views on employees’ treatment, compensation, and right to join unions. She also accommodates the company’s response to complaints of unpaid overtime. She stated, “Wal-Mart blames unpaid overtime on individual department managers, insisting that such practices violate company policy” (Olsson, 2003).

Olsson also considers the dominant complaints about understaffing and low pay as well as the company’s response on training and promoting female managers. However, Olsson addresses all the counterclaims by treating Wal-Mart as a unique case by considering its size and potential as well as the employees’ right to fair pay and treatment. She also refutes the counterclaims by quoting the wage-and-hour laws.In the reading “Progressive Wal-Mart. Really,” Mallaby argues that the anti-Wal-Mart campaign brewing in Maryland and across America is trivial, ironic, and comic.

He argues that preventing the company from opening new branches will bring suffering to poor Americans since it will limit ordinary families from sharing the health benefits and food relief offered by the company. Mallaby argues that Wal-Mart is seeking to contain health costs, enrich its shareholders, and crush its competitors. He also points out that the company is offering discounts on food that generates a huge economic boost to American shoppers. He stated, “Set against these savings for consumers, Wal-Marts alleged suppression of wages appears trivial” (Mallaby, 2005).

Nevertheless, Mallaby accommodates counterclaims by considering the views of different critics and anti-Wal-Mart campaigners. He agrees that Wal-Mart is facing a hostile campaign that portrays the company as bad for poor Americans and taxpayers. He also considers Arindrajit Dube’s calculations on the annual losses of wages for workers caused by the company. However, he addresses the counterarguments by disputing the Arindrajit Dube’s calculations and analyzing the resultant gains derived by Wal-Mart for poor Americans.

He also reads irony in Wal-Mart rival’s attack on its health policy. Indeed, he stated, “In other words, they attack Wal-Mart for having 5 percent of its workers receive health care courtesy of taxpayers when the policy that they support would increase that share to 100 percent” (Mallaby, 2005).From the views presented in the two readings, I believe Wal-Mart workers should have the opportunity to unionize. Indeed, if the company has set the right policies, it should support the unionization and establish internal mechanisms to address employee issues.

Moreover, the wage-and-hour laws allow Wal-Mart workers to have the opportunity to unionize. Only a union can address the workers’ complaints comprehensively and without any conflict of interest.ReferencesBirkenstein, C., & Graff, G. (2009). They Say/I Say": The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.Mallaby, S. (2005). Progressive Wal-Mart. Really. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/27/AR2005112700687.htmlOlsson, K. (2003). Up Against Wal-Mart.

Retrieved from http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2003/03/against-wal-mart