(1)
I overslept and missed my train,
slipped on the sidewalk
in the pouring rain,
sprained my ankle,
skinned my knees,
broken my glasses,
lost my keys,
got stuck in the elevator,
it wouldn’t go,
kicked it twice and stubbed my toe,
bought a pen that didn’t write,
took it back and had a fight,
went home angry,
locked the door,
crawled into bed,
couldn’t take any more.
(2)
The bread was stale,
it was four days old.
The milk was sour.
The coffee was cold.
The butter was rancil.
The steak was tough.
The service was dreadful.
The waiter was rough.
My bill was huge.
His tip was small.
I’m sorry I went to that place at all.
(from Jazz Chauts, by Carolyn Graham)
Monday, January 5, 2009
In Other Words
The Art of Metacommentary
Use Metacommentary to Clarify and Elaborate
Try to inserting the following types of metacommenatry:
· In other words, ______.
· What ______ really means is ______.
· My point is ______.
Titles as Metacommentary
Use Other Moves as Metacommentary
· Entertaining objects
· Adding transitions
· Framing quotations
· Answering “so what?” and “who cares?”
Templates for Introducing Metacommentary
To Ward Off Potential Misunderstandings
· Essentially, I am arguing that ______.
· My point is not that we should ______, but that we should ______.
· What ______ really mean is ______.
To Alert Readers to an Elaboration of a Previous Idea
· In other words, ______.
· To pull it another way, ______.
To Provide Readers with a Roadmap to Your Text
· Chapter 2 explores ______, while Chapter 3 examines ______.
· Having just argued that ______, let us now turn our attention to ______.
To Move From a General Claim to a Specific Example
· For example, ______.
· ______, for instance, demonstrates ______.
· Consider ______, for example.
· To take a case in point, ______.
To Indicate that a Claim is Especially Important or Less Important
· Even more important, ______.
· But above all, ______.
· Incidentally, ______.
· By the way, ______.
To Help You Anticipate and Respond to Objection
· Although some readers may object that ______, I would answer that ______.
To Guide Reader to Your Most General Point
· In sum, then, ______.
· My conclusion, then, is that ______.
· In short, ______.
Use Metacommentary to Clarify and Elaborate
Try to inserting the following types of metacommenatry:
· In other words, ______.
· What ______ really means is ______.
· My point is ______.
Titles as Metacommentary
Use Other Moves as Metacommentary
· Entertaining objects
· Adding transitions
· Framing quotations
· Answering “so what?” and “who cares?”
Templates for Introducing Metacommentary
To Ward Off Potential Misunderstandings
· Essentially, I am arguing that ______.
· My point is not that we should ______, but that we should ______.
· What ______ really mean is ______.
To Alert Readers to an Elaboration of a Previous Idea
· In other words, ______.
· To pull it another way, ______.
To Provide Readers with a Roadmap to Your Text
· Chapter 2 explores ______, while Chapter 3 examines ______.
· Having just argued that ______, let us now turn our attention to ______.
To Move From a General Claim to a Specific Example
· For example, ______.
· ______, for instance, demonstrates ______.
· Consider ______, for example.
· To take a case in point, ______.
To Indicate that a Claim is Especially Important or Less Important
· Even more important, ______.
· But above all, ______.
· Incidentally, ______.
· By the way, ______.
To Help You Anticipate and Respond to Objection
· Although some readers may object that ______, I would answer that ______.
To Guide Reader to Your Most General Point
· In sum, then, ______.
· My conclusion, then, is that ______.
· In short, ______.
As a Result
Connecting the Parts
1. Using transition terms (like “therefore” and “yet” );
2. Adding pointing words (like “this” or “such”);
3. Using certain key terms and phrases throughout your entire text;
4. Repeating yourself, but with a difference
Use Transitions
· Addition
Also, and, besides, furthermore, in addition, indeed, in fact, moreover, so too
· Example
After all, as an illustration, for example, for instance, specifically, to take a case in point
· Elaboration
Actually, by extension, in short, that is, in other words, to put it another way, to put it bluntly, to put it succinctly, ultimately
· Comparison
Along the same lines, in the same way, likewise, similarly
· Contrast
Although, but, by contrast, conversely, despite the fact that , even though, however, in contrast, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, regardless, whereas, while yet
· Cause and Effect
Accordingly, as a result, consequently, hence, since, so, then, therefore, thus
· Concession
Admittedly, although it is true, granted naturally, of course, to be sure
· Conclusion
As a result, consequently, hence, in conclusion, in short, in sum, therefore, thus, to sum up, to summarize
Use Pointing Words:
The most common of these pointing words include “this,” ”these,” “that”, “those,” “their,” and “such” (as in “these pointing words” near the start of this sentence ) and simple pronouns like “his,” “he,” “her,” “she,” “it,” and “their.”
Repeat Key Terms and Phrases
A third move you can make to connect the parts of your argument is to develop a constellation of key terms and phrases, including their synonyms and antonyms, that you repeat throughout your text.
A series of contrasting words and phrases:
· Rebel against/ submit
· Told we were equal/ told we were subordinate
· Told we could change history/ told we were trapped by history
· Infuriated/ seduced
· I adore/ I despite
· I want/ I think wanting … is about the most dumb-ass goal
· Stokes my desire/ trigger my bile
· On the one hand/ on the other hand
Repeat Yourself ---But with a Difference
1. Using transition terms (like “therefore” and “yet” );
2. Adding pointing words (like “this” or “such”);
3. Using certain key terms and phrases throughout your entire text;
4. Repeating yourself, but with a difference
Use Transitions
· Addition
Also, and, besides, furthermore, in addition, indeed, in fact, moreover, so too
· Example
After all, as an illustration, for example, for instance, specifically, to take a case in point
· Elaboration
Actually, by extension, in short, that is, in other words, to put it another way, to put it bluntly, to put it succinctly, ultimately
· Comparison
Along the same lines, in the same way, likewise, similarly
· Contrast
Although, but, by contrast, conversely, despite the fact that , even though, however, in contrast, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, regardless, whereas, while yet
· Cause and Effect
Accordingly, as a result, consequently, hence, since, so, then, therefore, thus
· Concession
Admittedly, although it is true, granted naturally, of course, to be sure
· Conclusion
As a result, consequently, hence, in conclusion, in short, in sum, therefore, thus, to sum up, to summarize
Use Pointing Words:
The most common of these pointing words include “this,” ”these,” “that”, “those,” “their,” and “such” (as in “these pointing words” near the start of this sentence ) and simple pronouns like “his,” “he,” “her,” “she,” “it,” and “their.”
Repeat Key Terms and Phrases
A third move you can make to connect the parts of your argument is to develop a constellation of key terms and phrases, including their synonyms and antonyms, that you repeat throughout your text.
A series of contrasting words and phrases:
· Rebel against/ submit
· Told we were equal/ told we were subordinate
· Told we could change history/ told we were trapped by history
· Infuriated/ seduced
· I adore/ I despite
· I want/ I think wanting … is about the most dumb-ass goal
· Stokes my desire/ trigger my bile
· On the one hand/ on the other hand
Repeat Yourself ---But with a Difference
So What? Who Cares?
Saying Why It Matters
“Who Cares?”
Templates for Indicating Who Cares
· ______ used to think ______. But recently [or within the past few decades] ______ suggest that _______.
· This interpretation challenges the work of those critics who have long assumed that ______.
· These findings challenge the work of earlier researchers, who tended to assume that ______.
· Recent studies like these shed new light on ______, which previous studies had not addressed.
· But who really cares? Who besides me and a handful of recent researchers has a stake in these claims? At the very least, the researchers who assumed that fat ______ should care.
· Researchers have long assumed that ______. For instance, one eminent scholar of cell biology, ______, assumed in ______, her seminal work on cell structures and functions, that fat cells ______. As ______ herself put it, “______”(200-). Another leading scientist, ______, argued that fat cells “______” (200-). Ultimately, when it came to the nature of fat, the basic assumption was that ______. But a new body of research shows that fat cells are far more complex and that ______.
· If sports enthusiasts stopped to think about it, many of them might simply assume that the most successful athletes ______. However, new research shows ______.
· These findings challenge dieters’ common assumption that ______.
· At first glance, teenagers might say ______. But on closer inspection ______.
“So What?”
Templates for Establishing Why You Claims Matter
· X matters /is important because ______.
· Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over ______.
· Ultimately, what is at stake here is ______.
· These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of ______.
· My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of ______.
· These conclusions/ This discovery will have significant applications in ______ as well as in ______.
·
· Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of ______, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about ______.
“Who Cares?”
Templates for Indicating Who Cares
· ______ used to think ______. But recently [or within the past few decades] ______ suggest that _______.
· This interpretation challenges the work of those critics who have long assumed that ______.
· These findings challenge the work of earlier researchers, who tended to assume that ______.
· Recent studies like these shed new light on ______, which previous studies had not addressed.
· But who really cares? Who besides me and a handful of recent researchers has a stake in these claims? At the very least, the researchers who assumed that fat ______ should care.
· Researchers have long assumed that ______. For instance, one eminent scholar of cell biology, ______, assumed in ______, her seminal work on cell structures and functions, that fat cells ______. As ______ herself put it, “______”(200-). Another leading scientist, ______, argued that fat cells “______” (200-). Ultimately, when it came to the nature of fat, the basic assumption was that ______. But a new body of research shows that fat cells are far more complex and that ______.
· If sports enthusiasts stopped to think about it, many of them might simply assume that the most successful athletes ______. However, new research shows ______.
· These findings challenge dieters’ common assumption that ______.
· At first glance, teenagers might say ______. But on closer inspection ______.
“So What?”
Templates for Establishing Why You Claims Matter
· X matters /is important because ______.
· Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over ______.
· Ultimately, what is at stake here is ______.
· These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of ______.
· My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of ______.
· These conclusions/ This discovery will have significant applications in ______ as well as in ______.
·
· Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of ______, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about ______.
Skeptics May Object
Planting a Naysayer in Your Text
Anticipate Objects
Templates for Entertaining Objections
· As this point I would like to raise some objections that have been inspired by the skeptic in me. She feels that I have been ignoring ______. “______,” she says to me, “______.”
· Yet some readers may challenge my view that ______. After all, many believe that ______. Indeed, my own argument that ______ seems to ignore ______ and ______.
· Of course, many will probably disagree with this assertion that ______.
Templates for Naming Your Naysayers
· Here many feminists would probably object that ______.
· But social Darwinists would certainly take issue with the argument that ______.
· Biologists, of course, may want to dispute my claim that ______.
· Nevertheless, both followers and critics of Malcolm X will probably suggests otherwise and argue that ______.
The way to minimize the problem of stereotyping, then, is not to categorically reject labels but to refine and qualify their use.
· Although not all Christians think alike, some of them will probably dispute my claim that ______.
· Non-native English speakers are so diverse in their views that it’s hard to generalize about them, but some are likely to object on the grounds that ______.
Templates for Introducing Objects Informally
· But is my proposal realistic? What are the chances of its actually being adopted?
· Yet is it always true that _____? Is it always the case, as I have been suggesting that _____?
· However, does the evidence I’ve cited prove conclusively that ______?
· “Impossible,” you say. “Your evidence must be skewed.”
Represent Objection fairly
Answer Objections
Templates for Making Concession While Still Standing Your Ground
· Although I grant that ______, I still maintain that ______.
· Proponents of X are right to argue that ______. But they exaggerate when they claim that ______.
· While it is true that ______, it does not necessarily follow that ______.
· On the one hand, I agree with X that ______. But on the other hand, I still insist that ______.
Anticipate Objects
Templates for Entertaining Objections
· As this point I would like to raise some objections that have been inspired by the skeptic in me. She feels that I have been ignoring ______. “______,” she says to me, “______.”
· Yet some readers may challenge my view that ______. After all, many believe that ______. Indeed, my own argument that ______ seems to ignore ______ and ______.
· Of course, many will probably disagree with this assertion that ______.
Templates for Naming Your Naysayers
· Here many feminists would probably object that ______.
· But social Darwinists would certainly take issue with the argument that ______.
· Biologists, of course, may want to dispute my claim that ______.
· Nevertheless, both followers and critics of Malcolm X will probably suggests otherwise and argue that ______.
The way to minimize the problem of stereotyping, then, is not to categorically reject labels but to refine and qualify their use.
· Although not all Christians think alike, some of them will probably dispute my claim that ______.
· Non-native English speakers are so diverse in their views that it’s hard to generalize about them, but some are likely to object on the grounds that ______.
Templates for Introducing Objects Informally
· But is my proposal realistic? What are the chances of its actually being adopted?
· Yet is it always true that _____? Is it always the case, as I have been suggesting that _____?
· However, does the evidence I’ve cited prove conclusively that ______?
· “Impossible,” you say. “Your evidence must be skewed.”
Represent Objection fairly
Answer Objections
Templates for Making Concession While Still Standing Your Ground
· Although I grant that ______, I still maintain that ______.
· Proponents of X are right to argue that ______. But they exaggerate when they claim that ______.
· While it is true that ______, it does not necessarily follow that ______.
· On the one hand, I agree with X that ______. But on the other hand, I still insist that ______.
And Yet
Distinguishing What You Say from What They Say
Determine Who Is Saying What in the Texts You Read
Templates for Signaling Who Is Saying What in Your Own Writing
· X argues ______.
· According to both X and Y, ______.
· Politicians, X argues, should ______.
· Most athletes will tell you that ______.
· My own view, however, is that ______.
· I agree, as X may not realize, that ______.
It is a good idea to mix first-person assertions with ones like the following:
· X is right that ______.
· The evidence shows that ______.
· X’s assertion that ______ does not fit the facts.
· Anyone familiar with _____ should agree that ______.
· But ______ are real, and are arguably the most significant factor in ______.
Templates for Embedding Voice Markers
· X overlooks what I consider an important point about ______.
· My own view is that what X insists is a ______ is in fact a ______.
· I wholeheartedly endorse what X calls ______.
· These conclusions, which X discusses in _____, add weight to the argument that ______.
When writers fail to use voice-marking devices like these, their summaries of others’ views tend to become confused with their own ideas---and vice versa.
Determine Who Is Saying What in the Texts You Read
Templates for Signaling Who Is Saying What in Your Own Writing
· X argues ______.
· According to both X and Y, ______.
· Politicians, X argues, should ______.
· Most athletes will tell you that ______.
· My own view, however, is that ______.
· I agree, as X may not realize, that ______.
It is a good idea to mix first-person assertions with ones like the following:
· X is right that ______.
· The evidence shows that ______.
· X’s assertion that ______ does not fit the facts.
· Anyone familiar with _____ should agree that ______.
· But ______ are real, and are arguably the most significant factor in ______.
Templates for Embedding Voice Markers
· X overlooks what I consider an important point about ______.
· My own view is that what X insists is a ______ is in fact a ______.
· I wholeheartedly endorse what X calls ______.
· These conclusions, which X discusses in _____, add weight to the argument that ______.
When writers fail to use voice-marking devices like these, their summaries of others’ views tend to become confused with their own ideas---and vice versa.
Yes/ No / Okay, But
Three Ways to Respond
Disagree --- and Explain Why
Templates for Disagreeing, with Reasons
· I think X is mistaken because she overlooks ______.
· X’s claim that ______ rests upon the questionable assumption that ______.
· I disagree with X’s view that ______ because, as recent research has shown, ______.
· X contradicts herself/ can’t have it both ways. On the one hand, she argues ______. But on the other hand, she also says ______.
· By focusing on ______. X overlooks the deeper problem of ______.
· X claims ______, but we don’t need him to tell us that. Anyone familiar with ______ has long known that ______.
Agree --- But with a Difference
Templates for Agreeing
· I agree that ______ because my experience ______ confirm it.
· X is surely right about ______ because, as she may not be aware, recent studies have shown that ______.
· X’s theory of ______ is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the difficult problem of ______.
· I agree that ______, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe ______.
· Those unfamiliar with this school to thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to ______.
Templates for agreeing with one view while challenging another
· I agree that ______, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe ______.
· If group X is right that ______, as I think they are, then we need to reassess the popular assumption that ______.
Agree and Disagree Simultaneously
Templates for Agreeing and Disagreeing Simultaneously
· Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that ______.
· Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion that ______.
· Though I concede that ______, I still insist that ______.
· X is right that ______, but she seems on more dubious ground when she claim that ______.
· While X is probably wrong when she claims that ______, she is right that ______.
· Whereas X provides ample evidence that ______, Y and Z’s research on ______ and ______ convinces me that ______ instead.
“I’m of two minds” or “mixed feelings”
· I’m of two minds about X’s claim that ______. On the one hand, I agree that ______. On the other hand, I’m not sure if ______.
· My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support X’s position that ______, but I find Y’s argument about ______ and Z’s research on _____ to be equally persuasive.
Disagree --- and Explain Why
Templates for Disagreeing, with Reasons
· I think X is mistaken because she overlooks ______.
· X’s claim that ______ rests upon the questionable assumption that ______.
· I disagree with X’s view that ______ because, as recent research has shown, ______.
· X contradicts herself/ can’t have it both ways. On the one hand, she argues ______. But on the other hand, she also says ______.
· By focusing on ______. X overlooks the deeper problem of ______.
· X claims ______, but we don’t need him to tell us that. Anyone familiar with ______ has long known that ______.
Agree --- But with a Difference
Templates for Agreeing
· I agree that ______ because my experience ______ confirm it.
· X is surely right about ______ because, as she may not be aware, recent studies have shown that ______.
· X’s theory of ______ is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the difficult problem of ______.
· I agree that ______, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe ______.
· Those unfamiliar with this school to thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to ______.
Templates for agreeing with one view while challenging another
· I agree that ______, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe ______.
· If group X is right that ______, as I think they are, then we need to reassess the popular assumption that ______.
Agree and Disagree Simultaneously
Templates for Agreeing and Disagreeing Simultaneously
· Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that ______.
· Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion that ______.
· Though I concede that ______, I still insist that ______.
· X is right that ______, but she seems on more dubious ground when she claim that ______.
· While X is probably wrong when she claims that ______, she is right that ______.
· Whereas X provides ample evidence that ______, Y and Z’s research on ______ and ______ convinces me that ______ instead.
“I’m of two minds” or “mixed feelings”
· I’m of two minds about X’s claim that ______. On the one hand, I agree that ______. On the other hand, I’m not sure if ______.
· My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support X’s position that ______, but I find Y’s argument about ______ and Z’s research on _____ to be equally persuasive.
As He Himself Puts It
The Art of Quoting
Quote Relevant Passages
Frame Every Quotation
Templates for Introducing Quotations
· X states, “______.”
· As the prominent philosopher X put it, “______.”
· According to X, “______.”
· X himself writes, “______.”
· In her book, ______, X maintains that “______.”
· Writing in the journal Commentary, X complains that “______.”
· In X’s view, “______.”
· X agrees when she writes, “______.”
· X disagrees when he writes, “______.”
· X complicates matters further when she writes, “______.”
Templates for Explaining Quotations
· Basically, X is saying ______.
· In other words, X believes ______.
· In making this comment, X argues that ______.
· X is insisting that ______.
· X’s point is that ______.
· The essence of X’s argument is that ______.
Blend the Author’s Words with Your Own
How Not to Introduce Quotations
Quote Relevant Passages
Frame Every Quotation
Templates for Introducing Quotations
· X states, “______.”
· As the prominent philosopher X put it, “______.”
· According to X, “______.”
· X himself writes, “______.”
· In her book, ______, X maintains that “______.”
· Writing in the journal Commentary, X complains that “______.”
· In X’s view, “______.”
· X agrees when she writes, “______.”
· X disagrees when he writes, “______.”
· X complicates matters further when she writes, “______.”
Templates for Explaining Quotations
· Basically, X is saying ______.
· In other words, X believes ______.
· In making this comment, X argues that ______.
· X is insisting that ______.
· X’s point is that ______.
· The essence of X’s argument is that ______.
Blend the Author’s Words with Your Own
How Not to Introduce Quotations
Her Point Is
The Art of Summarizing
On the one hand, put yourself in their shoes.
On the other hand, know where you are going.
Summarizing Satirically
Use signal verbs that fit the action
Templates for Introducing Summaries and Quotations
· She demonstrates that ______.
· In fact, they celebrate the fact that ______.
· ______, he admits.
Verbs for Introducing Summaries and Quotations
Verbs for Making a Claim
· Argue
· Asset
· Believe
· Claim
· Emphasize
· Insist
· Observe
· Remind us
· Report
· Suggest
Verbs for Expressing Agreement
· Acknowledge
· Admire
· Agree
· Celebrate the fact that
· Corroborate
· Do not deny
· Endorse
· Extol
· Praise
· Reaffirm
· Support
· Verify
Verbs for Questioning or Disagreeing
· Complain
· Complicate
· Contend
· Contradict
· Deny
· Deplore the tendency to
· Disavow
· Question
· Refute
· Reject
· Renounce
· Repudiate
Verbs for Making Recommendations
· Advocate
· Call for
· Demand
· Encourage
· Exhort
· Implore
· Plead
· Recommend
· Urge
· Warn
On the one hand, put yourself in their shoes.
On the other hand, know where you are going.
Summarizing Satirically
Use signal verbs that fit the action
Templates for Introducing Summaries and Quotations
· She demonstrates that ______.
· In fact, they celebrate the fact that ______.
· ______, he admits.
Verbs for Introducing Summaries and Quotations
Verbs for Making a Claim
· Argue
· Asset
· Believe
· Claim
· Emphasize
· Insist
· Observe
· Remind us
· Report
· Suggest
Verbs for Expressing Agreement
· Acknowledge
· Admire
· Agree
· Celebrate the fact that
· Corroborate
· Do not deny
· Endorse
· Extol
· Praise
· Reaffirm
· Support
· Verify
Verbs for Questioning or Disagreeing
· Complain
· Complicate
· Contend
· Contradict
· Deny
· Deplore the tendency to
· Disavow
· Question
· Refute
· Reject
· Renounce
· Repudiate
Verbs for Making Recommendations
· Advocate
· Call for
· Demand
· Encourage
· Exhort
· Implore
· Plead
· Recommend
· Urge
· Warn
They Say
Starting with What Others Are Saying
Templates for Introducing What “They Say”
· A number of sociologists have recently suggested that X’s work has several fundamental problems.
· It has become common today to dismiss X’s contribution to the field of sociology.
· In their recent work, Y and Z have offered harsh critiques of Dr. X for ______ .
Templates for Introducing “Standard Veiws”
· Americans today tend to believe that ______.
· Conventional wisdom has it that ______.
· Common sense seems to dictate that ______.
· The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that ______.
· It is often said that ______.
· My whole life I have heard it said that ______.
· You would think that ______.
· Many people assume that ______.
Templates for Making What “They Say” Something You Say
· I’ve always believed that ______.
· When I was a child, I used to think that ______.
· Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that ______.
· At the same time that I believe ______, I also believe ______.
Templates for Introducing Something Implied or Assumed
· Although none of them have ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me the impression that ______.
· One implication of X’s treatment of ______ is that ______.
· Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that ______.
· While they rarely admit as much, ______ often take for granted that ______.
Templates for Introducing an Ongoing Debate
· In discussion of X, one controversial issue has been ______. On the one hand, ______ argues ______. On the other hand, ______ contends ______. Others even maintain ______. My own view is ______.
· When it comes to the topic of ______, most of us will readily agree that ______. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of ______. Whereas some are convinced that ______, others maintain that ______.
Keep What “They Say” in View
· In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of ______ can’t have it both ways. Their assertion that ______ is contradicted by their claim that ______.
Templates for Introducing What “They Say”
· A number of sociologists have recently suggested that X’s work has several fundamental problems.
· It has become common today to dismiss X’s contribution to the field of sociology.
· In their recent work, Y and Z have offered harsh critiques of Dr. X for ______ .
Templates for Introducing “Standard Veiws”
· Americans today tend to believe that ______.
· Conventional wisdom has it that ______.
· Common sense seems to dictate that ______.
· The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that ______.
· It is often said that ______.
· My whole life I have heard it said that ______.
· You would think that ______.
· Many people assume that ______.
Templates for Making What “They Say” Something You Say
· I’ve always believed that ______.
· When I was a child, I used to think that ______.
· Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that ______.
· At the same time that I believe ______, I also believe ______.
Templates for Introducing Something Implied or Assumed
· Although none of them have ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me the impression that ______.
· One implication of X’s treatment of ______ is that ______.
· Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that ______.
· While they rarely admit as much, ______ often take for granted that ______.
Templates for Introducing an Ongoing Debate
· In discussion of X, one controversial issue has been ______. On the one hand, ______ argues ______. On the other hand, ______ contends ______. Others even maintain ______. My own view is ______.
· When it comes to the topic of ______, most of us will readily agree that ______. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of ______. Whereas some are convinced that ______, others maintain that ______.
Keep What “They Say” in View
· In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of ______ can’t have it both ways. Their assertion that ______ is contradicted by their claim that ______.
They Say I Say
The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing
The book “They Say I Say” was written by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein.
The main goal of the book is to introduce basic moves that matter in academic writing.
Table of Contents
Part 1. “They Say”
1. “They Say”: Starting with What Others Are Saying
2. “Her Point Is”: The Art of Summarizing
3. “As He Himself Put It”: The Art of Quoting
Part 2. “I Say”
4. “Yes/ No/ Okay, But”: Three Ways to Respond
5. “And Yet”: Distinguishing What You Say from What They Say
6. “Skeptics May Object”: Planting a Naysayer in Your Text
7. “So What? Who Cares?”: Saying Why It Matters
Part 3. Tying It All Together
8. “As a Result”: Connecting the Parts
9. “Ain’t So/ Is Not”: Academic Writing Doesn’t Mean Setting Aside Your Own Voice
10. “In Other Words”: The Art of Metacommentary
The book “They Say I Say” was written by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein.
The main goal of the book is to introduce basic moves that matter in academic writing.
Table of Contents
Part 1. “They Say”
1. “They Say”: Starting with What Others Are Saying
2. “Her Point Is”: The Art of Summarizing
3. “As He Himself Put It”: The Art of Quoting
Part 2. “I Say”
4. “Yes/ No/ Okay, But”: Three Ways to Respond
5. “And Yet”: Distinguishing What You Say from What They Say
6. “Skeptics May Object”: Planting a Naysayer in Your Text
7. “So What? Who Cares?”: Saying Why It Matters
Part 3. Tying It All Together
8. “As a Result”: Connecting the Parts
9. “Ain’t So/ Is Not”: Academic Writing Doesn’t Mean Setting Aside Your Own Voice
10. “In Other Words”: The Art of Metacommentary
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