They Say, I Say: Chapter Summary

PART 1- “They Say”
CHAPTER 1
Graff and Birkenstein talk about a few key elements to help you become a more effective writer. The first aspect they talk about is to write about what others are saying; this will help frame and clarify the issue that you are talking about. After you have stated what “they say,” then you can reply with your own thoughts afterwards and declare your argument. Graff and Birkenstein also said that stating your own position as quickly as possible is also a key tool; this will give the reader a quick preview about what is motivating your argument. They say that using writing templates are something that will help an introduction; some people think that it takes away from the creativity of a writer, but it helps you get started and lay the ground work of your paper. Using return sentences is also important to return to the original “they say” statement to help remind the reader of what ideas you’re responding to.

CHAPTER 2
In chapter two of the book the main focus is how to write a good summary. When you use information from another person you should summarize the information to what interests you the most. Summarizing helps you understand the information better without using too much of their information. You should also paraphrase the “they say” into your own words to prevent plagiarism and to personalize your message. Paraphrasing should be balanced throughout the writing with what someone else has said and your own interests as a writer. You must also talk about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes to believe the other person’s side to make your argument more appealing. You can also summarize satirically; which is when you put your own spin on someone else’s writing to place a balance on what they say, and what you say. When starting a summary, use verbs that have action; as a writer you should stay away from using phrases such as “she says.” Use phrases such as “she encourages,” to keep from putting the audience to sleep.

CHAPTER 3
Chapter threes main focus is “The art of quoting.” Quoting exact words from other people is the best way to launch an effective argument because it gives credibility to your summary. When using quotations it is important to build a frame around them with your own words to keep them from “dangling” without an explanation. The explanation after a quote helps build a bridge between what the quote is saying and how the writer interprets the quote. The writer can also blend his thoughts together with the “they say,” and his or her own words to keep from repeating word for word. Quotations must be picked carefully to ensure they support the argument. The writer must also be careful not to introduce the quotation the wrong way; this can mislead the reader as to who is making the quote.

PART 2- I Say
CHAPTER 4
Chapter four introduces the “I Say” stage to where you offer your own argument as to what they have said. The three most common ways of using “I Say” are agreement, disagreement, and a combination of the two. When you disagree you must say why you disagree with persuasive reasons of your particular view. There are different types of disagreeing; you can disagree by using the “duh” comment or even the “twist it” move, but you must give credible evidence to support why you disagree. When agreeing with something it is also important to bring something new and fresh to the table. Agreeing seems a lot simpler than it really is. Many readers simply agree by being a copy cat, and using no extended information. When you agree with something you should use a template and follow it up with supporting information. The combination of the two can be used when you are unsure of what side you are taking.

CHAPTER 5
Chapter five expresses the importance of how to use dialogue properly. It is very important to ensure that the reader is able to easily to distinguish the “they say” from the “I say.” To avoid confusion the writer must use “voice markers” to make it easy for the reader to distinguish the different perspectives in the essay. Without using these voice markers the information presented in the essay may be confusing to who is saying what. This can be cleared up by using voice identifying devices. Voice Identifying devices are templates that can help the reader easily determine what the writer is saying and what the author is referencing. The use of voice markers will keep the reader from having to stop and think. This also keeps them from becoming confused of the writer’s stance in the argument.

CHAPTER 6
Most writers don’t like having somebody criticize our work, but it can actually work in our advantage. Using criticism from others as they read your writings will actually increase your writing skills and give your writings more credibility, it also helps others engage in the dialogue or debate. Implanting a naysayer in your work will help you think about what others will say against your claims. You should implant a naysayer to show the readers that your view is not the only one that matters; however, if you don’t implant a naysayer then you may find that you have very little to say. If you use a naysayer’s reference it is important to use their specific ideology, but in some cases this is not always so. There are also templates that can be used to introduce the naysayer. Sometimes introducing naysayers can be stereotypical, so to avoid this you can introduce them in a question form. You must also represent objections into your writing and be able to explain them and agree with them in parts.

CHAPTER 7
A lot of times writers put certain facts in their papers without explaining afterwards why the reader should care or why it is important. Most of the time the reader may be an outsider of the subject you are talking about, which is why you need to explain to them why it is important. The “who cares” asks you to identify a person or a group while the “so what” asks about the real-world applications and consequences of the claims. To answer the “who cares” it helps to name specific people or groups who have a stake in your claims and to go into some detail about their views. Although you may answer the “who cares” questions it is also crucial to answer the “so what” question as well. When expanding on the “so what” it is important to make it sound eager and convince the reader that this is important, and hook them into the discussion. Even if you are writing to an audience that is familiar with the subject, it is still important to use the “who cares” and “so what” questions.

PART 3- TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
CHAPTER 8
Chapter eight introduces the proper way to connect and flow your sentences together to make it easily readable. Many readers make the mistake of thinking about something to say about the topic then writing it down, then thinking about another topic and writing it down until the paper is filled. When this happens there are multiple thoughts that don’t flow together, each sentence starts a new thought rather than expanding. When you write a sentence you create an expectation in the readers mind that in some way you will expand on the first sentence. In order to keep from making this mistake it is important to re-read what you have written to make sure it makes sense. You also need to make it easy for the reader to follow by using transitions to slowly move from one subject to the other. An effective way to use a transition is by using pointing words, which is referring back to some concept in the previous sentence. Also you can repeat yourself, but in a way that avoids sounding monotonous, and be careful not to leap from one point to another. You need to firmly ground what you’ve said while simultaneously moving forward.

CHAPTER 9
Writing should be relaxed, easy to follow and a bit fun. While writing it is encouraged that you write with the types of expressions that you would use in everyday life with the combination of educated writing skills that you learn in college. Blending your own personal writing style along with the academic style gives your writing more punch. You must always take in account the audience to who you are writing to and the purpose of your writing. There is a specific time to use your own style and when to be formal. If you are writing to a business then you need to be more formal, but if you are writing to an audience then you can write more creatively.

CHAPTER 10
Metacommentary is a way of commenting on your claims and telling readers how and how not to think about them. As a writer you need metacommentary to tell readers what you mean and guide them through your text. When you use matacommentary you will develop your ideas and generate more text and depth to your writing. When you think you’ve said everything possible use a metacommentary template to expand on your writing a little further.