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

Gerald Graff (Author), Cathy Birkenstein (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 039393361X | ISBN-13: 978-0393933611 | Publication Date: December 22, 2009 | Edition: Second Edition

The book that demystifies academic writing, teaching students to frame their arguments in the larger context of what else has been said about their topic–and providing templates to help them make the key rhetorical moves.

The best-selling new composition book published in this century, in use at more than 1,000 schools, They Say / I Say has essentially defined academic writing, identifying its key rhetorical moves, the most important of which is to summarize what others have said (“they say”) to set up one’s own argument (“I say”). The book also provides templates to help students make these key moves in their own writing.

The Second Edition includes a new chapter on reading that shows students how to read for the larger conversation and two new chapters on the moves that matter in the sciences and social sciences. line drawings

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A brilliant book. . . . It’s like a membership card in the academic club.” (Eileen Seifert, DePaul University )

“Clear, fun to read, and students like it.” (Morani Kornberg-Weiss, University at Buffalo )

“They Say / I Say provides the keys to successful academic writing. I’ve seen this book transform mediocre college students into academic thinkers and writers.” (Benjamin Fischer, Northwest Nazarene University ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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: 245 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Second Edition edition (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039393361X
• ISBN-13: 978-0393933611
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Education & Reference > Writing

More 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adults returning to school, August 2, 2010

By 

KiKi "gold fingers" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing (Paperback)

My English 101 professor had us use this book to make our papers pop! Some may say that this book is elementary, but I think that it is perfect for those that were never taught how to build an argument in an essay/research paper. I find the templates useful, and I will use them until the ideas start to kick in naturally. This is an excellent book, and I will always have a copy on hand.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy to use framework for writing a critically thought out scholarly argument, October 22, 2010

By 

pyero (Newbury, MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing (Paperback)

In `"They Say/I Say": The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing', Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates that are designed to help students in college and beyond formulate scholarly arguments.
Specifically Graff and Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates that they offer provide a framework for the development of critical thinking skills. As the authors themselves put it "Perhaps the most distinctive feature of this book is its presentation of many such templates designed to help you successfully enter not only the world of academic thinking and writing but also the wider worlds of civic discourse and work".
Although some people believe that critical thinking and writing are more complex than any set of linguistic templates, Graff and Birkenstein insist that these deeper thought processes cannot be used without the means to express them in a clear, organized way.
For the most part I agree with their approach. In my view the types of templates that the authors recommend provide a good framework for constructing academic arguments. For instance this book review has been constructed using one of their templates! In doing so it has allowed me to put their approach to a practical test, which has proven to be worthwhile. Some might object on the grounds that I have used their words as my own, and therefore I am not being creative. Yet I would argue that the words that I have contributed are my own and have allowed me to express my own ideas.
Overall I believe that Graff and Birkenstein's approach is extremely useful and provides a simple framework upon which to build a critically thought out scholarly argument - an important point to make given the simplicity and ease of use of this "how to" manual.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great organizational tool for writers, June 12, 2011

By 

S. Adams-Lanham (West Dundee, Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing (Paperback)

This was on the 'optional' list for my Practical Criticism class, but the 3rd time the prof mentioned it during lecture, I decided to buy it. I found it very worthwhile, and curiously, reading templates about how other people share their opinions made me more confident about using a strong voice in my papers. I went from B+ and A- papers to A and A+ ones...and feel as though my papers are MORE my own.