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

Written by Cathy Birkenstein and Gerald Graff

Narrated by Tony Craine and Cyndee Maxwell

The best-selling book on academic writing-in use at more than 1,500 schools.

“They Say / I Say” identifies the key rhetorical moves in academic writing, showing students how to frame their arguments in the larger context of what others have said and providing templates to help them make those moves. And, because these moves are central across all disciplines, the book includes chapters on writing in the sciences, writing in the social sciences, and-new to this edition-writing about literature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ascent Audio
• Release date: Apr 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781469028873

Reviews for They Say, I Say

[wordsampersand · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

On a re-read, I like this a little less the second time around. Still good, though.

[klara333 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This "textbook" is very easy to understand and super easy to read. It gives you helpful tips on how to write better. For example it teaches you to summarize, quote, and so much more. After reading this book I feel like a better writer already.

[randymetcalfe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

They, Graff and Birkenstein, say that writing well is a lot like entering a conversation. It involves listening to what others have said and summarizing it, fairly, prior to stepping up to add your own true, smart, logical statements or opinions (the I say) which may be in agreement with, at odds with, or both in agreement and disagreement with different aspects of what the they have said. The thesis is presented through a sensible division of chapters into the salient points, first, on how to layout what “they say,” e.g. with the art of quoting, moving on to a variety of ways to enunciate and clarify what “I say”, and rounding things off with some useful chapters tying it all together. I say that this is an excellent and helpful book for students, whose advice, if followed could alleviate stress, low grades and tears, as one makes one’s way through academia. The only chapter I found less than convincing was chapter nine on the use of vernacular or argot in academic writing. But perhaps that is due to cultural differences for a non-American reader/student, or because I am now more than 20 years away from direct classroom experience. In any case, the book as a whole should be of great service to students and educators.

[nathanaels_19 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very informative little guide about how to write more effectively. Tools to help you communicate your ideas.

[agentjade · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is fantastic. Argumentation, "entering the conversation," and the basics of academic writing are broken down in manageable ways (and above all, iin direct, approachable language). Much easier to get a student to read a chapter of this book than it is to get them to read many textbooks on writing. Of particular help are the provided sentence templates, which students can use to practice many of these academic moves in their own writing.The second edition breaks down genres particular to the social sciences and the sciences.