They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing [Print] [Paperback]

Gerald Graff (Author), Cathy Birkenstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0393924092 | ISBN-13: 978-0393924091 | Edition: 1st

Identifying the moves that matter in academic writing in ways that students can readily understand and apply.

"They Say / I Say" shows that writing well means mastering some key rhetorical moves, the most important of which involves summarizing what others have said ("they say") to set up one’s own argument ("I say"). In addition to explaining the basic moves, this book provides writing templates that show students explicitly how to make these moves in their own writing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book demystifies rhetorical moves, tricks of the trade that many students are unsure about. It's reasonable, helpful, nicely written—and hey, it's true. I would have found it immensely helpful myself in high school and college.” (Mike Rose, University of California, Los Angeles)

“Brilliantly simple . . . adds to the argumentative strategies students already possess . . . distills the essence of academic discourse in a way that students can understand and employ in their own writing.” (Russel Durst, University of Cincinnati)

“I absolutely love the governing idea of this book. As a teacher and WPA, I'm constantly thinking about how I can teach my students-and how I can help instructors teach their students-to make specific rhetorical moves on the page. This book offers a very powerful way of doing that.” (Joseph Bizup, Columbia University)

“A joy to read . . . like having a private tutorial with gifted teachers.” (Sarah Duerden, Arizona State University)

“I like the way the Graffs pick apart what's really happening in an argument. Many students get to college not knowing how to make the moves necessary to put forth an argument, and this book helps them work through that process.” (Christine Cozzens, Agnes Scott College)

“The argument of this book is important-that there are 'moves' to academic writing . . . and that knowledge of them can be generative. The template format is a good way to teach and demystify the moves that matter. I like this book a lot.” (David Bartholomae, University of Pittsburgh)

“Demystifies academic argumentation. I like this book very much!” (Patricia Bizzell, College of the Holy Cross)

“Graff and Birkenstein's basic argument is both persuasive and congruent with my own experience: these are the moves I needed to learn as a student. A very, very smart book.” (Lisa Ede, Oregon State University)

“The ability to engage with the thoughts of others is one of the most important skills taught in any college-level writing course, and this book does as good a job teaching that skill as any text I have ever encountered.” (William Smith, Weatherford College)

“Especially for beginning writers, "They Say / I Say" offers an excellent roadmap to the new world of academic discourse.” (Daniel Zimmerman, Middlesex County College)

About the Author

Gerald Graff, a Professor of English and Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and 2008 President of the Modern Language Association of America, has had a major impact on teachers through such books as Professing Literature: An Institutional History, Beyond the Culture Wars: How Teaching the Conflicts Can Revitalize American Education, and, most recently, Clueless in Academe: How Schooling Obscures the Life of the Mind.

Cathy Birkenstein is a lecturer in English at the University of Illinois at Chicago and co-director of the Writing in the Disciplines program. She has published essays on writing, most recently in College English, and, with Gerald Graff, in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Academe, and College Composition and Communication.  She has also given talks and workshops with Gerald at numerous colleges and is currently working on a study of common misunderstandings surrounding academic discourse.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (January 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393924092
• ISBN-13: 978-0393924091
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 0.4 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Education & Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Writing > Academic & Commercial

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic approach to teaching persuasive writing July 28, 2006

By Tobin Sparfeld

Format:Paperback

I received this book too late to use it for my persuasive writing class. While I had moderate success with my other book, Everything's an Argument, I would certainly use this book if I had to do it all over again.

They Say/I Say is a short book with a simple premise -- it correctly states that no argument occurs in a vacuum, but must depend upon what others have to say about it. Moreover, the authors believe one of the principle difficulties which students have with persuasive writing is an inability to correctly utilize these necessary ingredients (introduce what others have to say on the subject, and then present their own voice on the matter). Though I am not a writing teacher, I have found this to be the case in my classes.

TSIS summarizes the important aspects of this conversation in persuasive writing and provides templates for students to summarize what others say, introduce their own points, and perform various other techniques. While one may think the use of such templates leads to formulaic writing, the authors suggest the opposite is the case. By understanding how to shape their ideas, students can learn to better express their orginal thoughts, thus making their writing more individual.

While I am inclined to agree, TSIS is not perfect. It certainly cannot be used as a thorough textbook on all persuasive writing, nor am I completely convinced that the exercises provided in the book are the most effective at using the templates in student writing. If teachers can get students to incorporate the ideas of TSIS into student's writing, however, they will accomplish much. Check it out for yourself.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide for beginning college writers October 28, 2006

By Jane E. Wohl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

"They Say/I Say" teaching argumentation through a series of excellent exercises and templates. Generally I don't like templates for writing, but Graff demonstrates ways to use patterns and strategies that are extremely helpful for inexperienced writers. I will use this book or parts of this book in every composition class I teach.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT HELP IN WRITING EVERYTHING!! January 4, 2007

By H. Missry

Format:Paperback

This book is great. We use it in my AP Literature Class in High School and you can tell everyone's writing skills are improving. It's a great way to show people there are differnt styles of expressing yourself. Whether it's writing a 100 page persuasive essay or a short little speech to give to your local community, this book is a great asset to anyone's life.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best endorsement is that my students loved it. May 13, 2008

By Kathleen M. Kemmerer

Format:Paperback

I used "They Say/I Say" with my composition students in the Spring semester of 2008. Frankly, I had some reservations because the department required a fairly expensive handbook, and this would be an add-on. On the plus side, it was brief enough to go over thoroughly and was not too expensive. I thought it would be useful if students read it.

As usual, I made assignments in the book, and we discussed each chapter. I was surprised by student reactions when I surveyed students informally at the end of the semester. My students were very enthusiastic. Most said that they read it and referred back to it while they were writing. There were no negative comments, and most students felt that it was worth reading and had made their writing better. A few said that it made them more confident academic writers because it helped them to express their opinions beyond just agreeing or disagreeing with an author. Most astonishing, most said that they weren't planning to sell it at buy back because they found it so helpful.

It's unusual to find students enthusiastic about a composition text book. I plan to use it again next semester.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars They Say/I Say is a smart and satisfying book. February 26, 2007

By Thomas Costello

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Graff and Birkenstein have written the best book about academic writing I've read. Its
strategies, or moves, extend way beyond the purely academic to all kinds of non-fiction writing and have been put to rigorous classroom tests both by the authors and by many of their peers. They Say/I Say is also a pleasure to read: Graff and Birkenstein practice the very writing lessons they're advocating, so that the book becomes a testimonial to itself, and to the wisdom of its own teachings. Even the interior design of They Say/I Say is pleasing and helps to convey the book's message.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone Can Use This Book! March 31, 2009

By E. Wiant

Format:Paperback

I bought this book for use with a college course on writing a research paper. This book is so versatile, all students and teachers should read it. TSIS broke down, in clear and simple plans, how to construct a valid argument and present it on paper. Yet none of the concepts presented in this book are things that have not been presented thousands of times before by thousands of teachers and professors. The difference is that TSIS diagnoses the issues with academic writing and cures them.
TSIS is an interpreter between a specialist and an amateur. You find yourself analyzing every paper you have ever written and thinking; "Oh, right! I get it now!" For every student who has been told over and over again "Why does your opinion on this topic matter?" or " You have some good ideas but you have no support," this is the book that will change all that. For every teacher with that kid in her class who says "Because its my opinion isn't it?!" or "Thats how I always did it before, why should I change it?" this book is the way to make him think.
The title says it all: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, this book is like a manual to the chess game that is academic essays.