Graff,Birkenstein vs syllabus

Authors Graff and Birkenstein argue in the introduction of their text, They Say I Say, that the best way to engage in argumentative writing is to follow a tried and true conversational template (i.e. the They say I say model). The authors state that to truly be a master at anything you need to have learned the basics - hence to be a great rhetorician you need to find a way of entering into a conversation with the other persons views (they say) and then tell them how and why you differ or agree (I say) with their opinions.

Our syllabus however, implies that rhetoric invites the average person to take up a platform in any manner necessary to try and convince a person, group, etc. to agree with the speakers opinion. Rhetoric appears to be an either or type of conversation; there is no middle ground and even though the speaker may have looked at the issue from both sides and may have compelling arguments for pros and cons the speaker takes a side and in so doing is asking the reader to share his/her views.

Their is not alot of overlap that I have come across so far in these inital readings except for the fact that both Graff and Birkenstein and the syllabus share the idea of rhetoric and academic writing in the following way:
1. Enter the conversation using what others say as a platform to then assert your own ideas and opinions.
2. The goal is to not only state your own ideas but to listen closely to others
around you - summarizing their views in a recognizable manner - and
responding with your own ideas.