They Say, I Say

Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein

9780393933611

The book that demystifies academic writing, teaching students to frame their arguments in the larger context of what else has been said about their topic–and providing templates to help them make the key rhetorical moves.

The best-selling new composition book published in this century, in use at more than 1,000 schools, They Say / I Sayhas essentially defined academic writing, identifying its key rhetorical moves, the most important of which is to summarize what others have said (“they say”) to set up one’s own argument (“I say”). The book also provides templates to help students make these key moves in their own writing.