Customer Reviews

They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This book really kicked up my academic writing skills. Previously, I'd let quotes speak for themselves or me. This short reference shifted my perspective to incorporate quotes that reinforce my analysis or incorporate quotes that I would like to dispute. Result: fewer quotes, clearer understanding on my analysis of the theory, concept, or idea, and a more thoughtful paper that represents my voice rather than a parrot.

I begrudgingly bought this book for my senior seminar. I thought it would be a bit childish for the class and the expected maturity level of the students therein. As a result, it sat on my bookshelf, ignored for most of the semester. That is, until I was having problems writing my final paper.

At a loss, I turned to this book, and immediately started kicking myself for not doing so sooner. Every other writing guide and style book I have come across has been largely useless and rough reading. Graff and Birkenstein's efforts succeed where these others have failed. Their book is not only accessible, but well divided into manageable parts that are rich in advice, but not overwhelmingly so.

I started the book doubtful of their strategies, particularly the use of templates. However, I was quickly won over. I soon came to see that rather than stifling, the templates helped arrange what I was trying to say in a way that made it much easier to make my points.

Most of all, this book helped me by reminding me and proving to me how a good literary paper comes about. Professors always say that you need to explain why the topic is important for it to be a good paper. This book shows exactly how to do that: by making the paper become a conversation between yourself and other critics, and avoiding summarizing the topic or what has been said about it overmuch.

This is one book that I expect I will use time and time again in the years to come.

Recently, I wanted to include some excerpts from this book in a handout that I was writing for my advanced juniors and seniors, and I couldn't find any excerpts because I couldn't figure out which parts *not* to quote. I wanted to quote the book in its entirety. I am just going to have to assign the whole thing and forget the handout.

I agree with past reviewers that this little book is appropriate for many ages, but I think it would be especially suited to the students who have fully mastered the conventional five-paragraph essay but have not been able to move beyond it.

It's also a better introduction to sophisticated academic *reading* than anything else I've found, as it explains the logic and pattern behind the shifts in perspective that authors so often employ in order to make their points more convincingly.

Fully recommended. Indispensable.

As an eleventh grader in high school this book has helped me develop my writing for both the AP Language and Composition Exam and for the essay portion of the SAT exam. It is captivating,concise, and most important: easy to read.