Madison Rathburn

October 7, 2015
UWRT 1102

They Say, I Say

Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkensteins book They Say, I Say, discusses the idea of how
templates can be used in academic writing to help create original, deep-thinking, intelligent
writers. Graff and Birkenstein begin by comparing writing to any activity that you can learn and
master, such as playing piano or driving a car. Their argument here is that writing is much like
those activities, where you learn basic steps or moves, perfect them, and then build upon them.
They Say, I Say exists solely to provide a short, user-friendly guide to basic moves of
academic writing(1).
One of the most interesting points in Graff and Birkensteins writing is that in the real
world you dont make arguments without being provoked. (3) This led me to look at my own
writing, specifically, my inquiry paper. Why am I writing about my standpoint on feminism if I
am not giving precise and clear examples of who or what I am arguing against? My writing
serves no point if I cannot create a conversation in my paper. For example, the authors point out
that making statements that no one can disagree with is flat and lifeless(8). William
Shakespeare wrote many famous plays and sonnets.(8) is a perfectly true statement but what is
the point in saying it if there are no grounds for debate, argument, or conversation?