What is the purpose of the book they say I say?

Q: What is the thesis of they say I say?

The I say” thesis states your opinion on the issue you have presented in your they say” thesis. You can agree, disagree, or partially agree and disagree. You can use a simple I agree…” type structure, a bit fancier” compound sentence structure or a super fancy” subordinate clause structure.

Q: What is the introduction of they say I say about?

In the introduction of They Say, I Say,” the author provides effective templates as a way of structuring essays. The authors believe that not only should you (the writer) express your ideas and beliefs but you should say what other says as well.

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What is the purpose of they say I say?
What is the principal aim of the book they say I say?
What is the thesis of they say I say?
What is the introduction of they say I say about?

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1.0 out of 5 stars Missing Pages!
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2019

My book has blank pages. I bought this as required reading for a class. Chapter 8 is missing 7 out of 17 pages alone! I have no issues with the content (at least what I'm able to read), but the print quality is sub-par, to say the least. And I don't see where I can contact the seller for a replacement. Awesome :( Guess this week's homework will be completed on a wing and a prayer.

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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 22, 2022

Call me old-fashioned (thank you, Dame Edna), but I always browse a book before reading it. Leafing through this book really annoyed me. I always understood that authors of a high-school book or popular guides to some language didn't need to be exemplary in sensitivity or tolerance. Nevertheless, I often was repulsed by those who teach translating: The girl is beautiful, The boy is smart, and Boy, take my luggage to room 16. It was clear to me that you needlessly make learning a language harder when you give examples that probably remind many students of traumas they went through! However, I expected something much better from a guide to improve academic writing, written by two university teachers, reprinted five times, last time in 2017, third edition, sold over a million copies. I was in for some big disappointment.

Take this example (I'm still browsing): "Think how your heart sinks when someone, immediately after praising you, begins a sentence with "but" or "however." No matter what follows, you know it won't be good." For the same money, it would have read: " Think how you revive when someone, immediately after criticizing you, begins a sentence with "but" or "however." No matter what follows, you know it will be good."

Worse, I found a long, excellent story from the 60s that uses the N-word multiple times per page. Why? Don't the authors believe in a safe classroom? Yes, the piece painfully describes a boy going against his mother's bigotry, which could be instructive for White students. The mother gets so angry (spoiler alert) that in the end, she dies of her high blood pressure, giving a whole new meaning to the truism that racism kills. But, are the non-Arian students supposed to not see this or not mind? Did they ask for this? Why not change the language? There are [sic], Black, dark-brown, not-pale-faced—be creative.

The first illustration after the Introduction shows a speaker going "And then he says … then also he points out … … and then another thing he says is … and then …" with the listeners all fast asleep. Yet, the speaker is a woman. Why? Then, a cartoon that points out a family being Italian-America for no reason. Leave out their roots, and you get the same idea. Then another lengthy reading piece about cartoon figures making oppressive jokes. The authors are educators intending to help or hinder their students? When discussing informal language, the first examples are from black [sic] Americans. Why? Every State and age group in the US has its own informal talk but the first to mention are those exotics?

Lastly, making an intelligent Index costs lots of time and, yes, intelligence. Time is money. But after a million copies in print, there's still no index. That's stealing from the students' time.

Maybe, one day, when I'm desperate or bored enough, I'll turn to what they want to teach. Meanwhile, my browsing has annoyed me enough. How can we ever get to a better world when apparently popular university teachers are so inconsiderate?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 16, 2018

I bought this for a class. It's okay, but I'd rather read some good fiction, or nonfiction about something I'm really interested in. On page 192 they give 4 questions to ask when evaluating a work of literature. Those questions might work for highbrow literary experts, but they don't work for me. I evaluate a story based on whether the beginning establishes an objective, a strong middle where the characters attempt to achieve their goal, and an ending where the objective is achieved.

If you like reading try some of my favorite fantasy and sci-fi authors: Richard Adams, Palo Bacigulupi, Suzanne Collins, Abe Evergreen, Diana Gabaldon, Hugh Howey, George Martin, Brandon Sanderson, John Scalzi, and Andy Weir.

If you’re looking for good stuff to watch consider miniseries like The Astronauts Wives Club (2015), Band of Brothers (2001), Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000), Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune (2003), Into the West (2005), Lonesome Dove (1989), Manhattan (2014-2015), Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), Pride and Prejudice (1995), Taken (2002), and The 10th Kingdom (2000), which are all terrific because they have clear beginnings that establish an objective, then strong middles and conclusive endings where the goal is achieved, like a good novel.

Other shows I’ve really enjoyed include Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009), Breaking Bad (2008-2013), Cowboy Bebop (1998), Downton Abbey (2010-2015), Firefly (2002), Game of Thrones (2011-2019), Granite Flats (2013-2015), The IT Crowd (2006-2013), Jericho (2006-2008), Lost (2004-2010), Merlin (2008-2012), The Prisoner (1967-1968), Rome (2005-2007), Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010), Stargate: SG-1 (1997-2007), Stargate: Atlantis (2004-2009), Star Trek (1966-1969) and Star Trek Voyager (1995-2001). I didn’t list any contemporary series I’m following that don’t have an end date yet, not conducive to binge watching from beginning to finish.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 22, 2016

This book rocked my world last quarter. Because of it, I feel I am a better writer.

According to my professor, when I entered class I was one of the best students they had encountered (after teaching for nearly a decade). I write creatively as a hobby, and had several years competitive forensics under my belt so civil discourse has become second nature. This book has short and tolerable chapters that helped even an "advanced" student like myself improve their work. I couldn't imagine someone reading 5 chapters of this book and walking away at the same level of skill. It's impossible. This book explores more than just technique, they elaborate on reasoning. These days, with current trends in social media, folks often forget we are writing our comments, essays, and reviews for a PURPOSE. "They Say / I Say" brings the author back to that purpose and teaches the writer empathy in addition to giving guidance on how to transition, how to support your claims, and so much more. It's a treasure I purchased to keep with me for life - so I can look back on it every now and then.

Get it. Stop thinking about it, and you could find yourself as grateful as I am today.

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Used this book to help a friend studying economics and it was useful but not as much as it was for me

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 2, 2018

4 years of studying at undergrad and MA level and this book is the only one (out of manyyyyyy) that I used and used and scrawled all over! Would definitely say it helps for essay writing - especially in social sciences/argumentative essays. Used this book to help a friend studying economics and it was useful but not as much as it was for me.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read for study

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 2, 2018

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool beans

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 3, 2015

Book arrived a little late but in perfect condition. Great book by the way, really helpful for writing essays.

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 8, 2015

Delivered in good time and the book is a good read and helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great writer's tool, poor publishing quality.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 12, 2016

Great book for all levels. Numerous "common sense" insights throughout, but many that we often forget to pay close attention to in our writing.

Only complaint, which I find major, is actually the publishing quality. The words wrap too close to the spine and make it difficult to read without prying the book open to its limits. Quite irritating for reading quickly in one sitting.

What is the purpose of they say I say?

Graff and Birkenstein encourage students to use their templates (you do not have to quote or cite They Say/I Say when using them). The concept of They Say/I Say is that a writer needs to put their ownopinions (I Say) in context with what others have written on this topic (They Say).

What is the principal aim of the book they say I say?

The goal of this short book is to take the mystery out of academic writing. Gerald Graff says students sometimes make writing harder than it needs to be. “Somebody needs to explain to students that, difficult as it might be, it's not as hard as you're making it.”

What is the thesis of they say I say?

The “I say” thesis states your opinion on the issue you have presented in your “they say” thesis. You can agree, disagree, or partially agree and disagree. You can use a simple “I agree…” type structure, a “bit fancier” compound sentence structure or a “super fancy” subordinate clause structure.

What is the introduction of they say I say about?

In the introduction of “They Say, I Say,” the author provides effective templates as a way of structuring essays. The authors believe that not only should you (the writer) express your ideas and beliefs but you should say what other says as well.