Review:
They Say I Say: The Moves That Matter In Academic Writing By Gerald Graff & Cathy Birkenstein
overall review score: 4.5
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score is between 0 and 5
They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein is a widely-used instructional guide designed to help students and writers develop essential argumentative skills. The book emphasizes the importance of engaging with other people's ideas through common rhetorical moves such as summarizing, quoting, and responding. It provides practical templates and strategies for constructing compelling academic texts, making complex writing techniques accessible to a broad audience.
Key Features
- Clear and accessible templates for academic writing
- Focus on the importance of engaging with existing ideas ('they say') before presenting one's own argument ('I say')
- Emphasis on rhetorical moves like summarizing, quoting, and responding
- Practical exercises and examples to reinforce learning
- Suitable for students across various disciplines and levels
- User-friendly structure that simplifies complex writing concepts
Pros
- Provides practical, easy-to-understand strategies for academic writing
- Helps students develop confidence in engaging with scholarly conversations
- Use of templates accelerates learning and application
- Widely adopted in educational settings, indicating effectiveness
- Enhances critical thinking and argumentative skills
Cons
- May be somewhat formulaic for advanced writers seeking more nuanced techniques
- Focuses primarily on argumentative writing, less on other styles or genres
- Requires habitual practice to fully internalize the moves suggested
- Some users may find the templates too prescriptive or limiting