“They Say, I Say” is a book that provides templates to help you respond to what others have said or written. The book was written by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, and was first published in 2004.
In “They Say/I Say,” the authors provide templates throughout the first six chapters of the book, beginning with the introduction. These templates were created specifically to make it easier for you to compose a good and professional paper. It organizes and expresses your own writing in terms that you couldn’t have imagined.
The book goes into full detail on how to use these templates and what each template is for. As a reader, you are able to see examples of the templates in use by real writers. The book also provides helpful tips and guides on other aspects of writing such as body paragraphs, openings, and closings.
One of the most important things I took away from this book was the idea of “entering the conversation” that is already happening about your topic. When you are writing about something, chances are there are already many people who have written about it before you. It’s important to familiarize yourself with what others have said before you start writing your own paper. That way, you can address any opposing arguments and show how your argument is stronger.
Overall, “They Say/ I Say” was a very helpful book. It not only gave me templates to use in my future writing, but it also taught me how to be a better writer in general. If you are struggling with academic writing, I would highly recommend this book.
The way they display the templates is another interesting aspect. It allows you to enter a world of successful thinking and organization in your work. The most crucial formula given to use was “they claim…; I suggest…”, which gave the book its name. This formula simply implies that you should not only express your thoughts using “I say…,” but also respond to other people’s comments by adding “they claim…” This phrase doesn’t just summarize our ideas; it also listens carefully to what others have to say about them.
After we have both our own opinion and what others say about the matter, we are able to engage in a discussion and create something new.
In the book, they provide many templates on how to use this formula in order to strengthen our writing skills. For example, when introducing an idea, they suggest that we start with “they say…” in order to grab the readers’ attention by providing a contrast. Another template is using “I say…but they also say…” which can introduce additional perspectives to the argument. By doing so, not only are we providing our own opinion but other people’s as well which can make our argument more convincing.
This book is essential for academic writers because it provides a guideline on how to enter the discussion. It also helps us better our writing skills by providing templates that we can use in different scenarios. If you’re looking to improve your writing or want to learn how to enter the world of academic discussions, I highly recommend this book.
The most essential thing in writing is to not just state your thesis, but also to explain what the big picture the thesis implies. The meaning of order in a passage and how to write a well-written passage became clear after reading chapter one “They Say.”
I also understood that I can use what others are saying to help me write because it will give my writing more credibility. Credibility is important when you are writing an essay or having a discussion. When you sound credible, people are more likely to listen to you and be interested in your discussion.
The book “They Say, I Say” is all about how to have a conversation with someone and still get your point of view or thesis heard. The book goes into detail on how to start with what the other person is saying so that they feel like they are being listened too, and then going into what you have to say on the matter.
It is important to remember that when you are trying to get your point of view or thesis heard, you need to be respectful and listen to the other person first. This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to have a discussion or debate with someone without it turning into a yelling match.
If you are looking for a book on how to improve your writing, this book is not for you. “They Say, I Say” is focused on how to have a conversation with someone and make sure that your point of view is heard. This book is not about grammar or improving your writing style. However, if you are interested in learning how to have a discussion with someone, this book is a great resource.
You must connect with the audience and explain what you are responding to in the writer’s argument. If you can’t do this, your readers’ train of thought will be lost. The reader’s attention will wander away from your essay quickly. Starting a piece with an argument, as opposed to starting off by stating what others have said, is the best method. In chapter two of The Art of Summarizing, entitled “Creating a Good Summary,” Winifred Gallagher teaches us how to write a good summary.
A summary is finding the main points in what the other person is saying and repeating it back to them in your own words. This can be helpful because, sometimes people will try to put their own beliefs in what you are trying to say. Summarizing what they said back to them, lets the audience know that you understand them.
Another thing I learned from this chapter is, introducing your idea with phrases such as “I think” or “In my opinion” shows that you are not just stating facts but your own thoughts and feelings on the matter which can make your argument more relatable. People are more likely to agree with you, if they feel like they can relate to what you are saying on a personal level.
Chapter three “As They See It” The Art of Quoting, talks about when and how to use quotes in your essay. I learned that you should use quotes when the person you are quoting is an expert on the topic or what they said is really important to your argument. When using quotes you want to make sure you are not just repeating what the other person is saying but adding your own analysis to it. This shows that you understand what you are talking about and also lets the reader know that there is more to your argument then just someone else’s opinion.
Overall, “They Say, I Say” provides excellent guidance on how to engage with others’ arguments and effectively incorporate them into your own writing.