They Say/I Say

They Say/I Say presents a framework for academic writing and argumentation based on templates and key rhetorical moves. The book teaches students how to engage with other writers' ideas while developing and expressing their own perspectives. The text breaks down common patterns in academic discourse into straightforward formulas that students can adapt for their own writing. Through numerous examples and exercises, readers learn to summarize others' views, quote effectively, and transition between different voices and arguments. The authors demonstrate how academic writing operates as an ongoing conversation where writers respond to and build upon existing ideas. Beyond mechanical templates, the book shows how to develop nuanced arguments by acknowledging different viewpoints while maintaining one's own position. This guide speaks to fundamental questions about knowledge creation and the relationship between individual thought and collective discourse in academic writing. The text's approach suggests that effective argumentation comes not from isolated genius but from strategic engagement with an existing community of ideas.

Readers value this writing guide for its templates and practical approach to academic writing. Students report that it helped them structure arguments and engage with sources more effectively. Many note it teaches a writing framework that transfers across disciplines. Positive comments focus on: - Clear explanations of how to transition between ideas - Examples that demonstrate proper citation and source integration - Templates that give students concrete starting points Common criticisms include: - Too basic for advanced writers - Repetitive content that could be condensed - Templates can lead to formulaic writing - High price for a slim volume Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (13,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2,900+ ratings) "Finally explains the unwritten rules of academic discourse," notes one student reviewer. Another writes, "The templates became a crutch - I had to unlearn some habits." Multiple instructors mention success using it with freshman composition courses but find it less useful for upper-level classes.

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📚 Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein are not just co-authors but also marriage partners who have been teaching writing together for over 25 years. 🎓 The book's templates were inspired by real student writing samples that the authors collected over decades of teaching at various universities, including the University of Illinois at Chicago. 💡 The phrase "they say/i say" was originally conceived as a way to help students understand academic writing as a conversation rather than a one-sided monologue. 📖 Since its first publication in 2006, the book has sold over 2 million copies and has become one of the most widely adopted writing textbooks in North American universities. 🔄 The book's core concept of "entering the conversation" was influenced by Kenneth Burke's metaphor of academic writing as entering a never-ending conversation at a party that began long before you arrived.