Writing well

Means entering a conversation, summarizing others (“they say”) to set up one’s own argument (“I say”).

All claims are relative

For decades, we’ve worked under the assumption that mass culture follows a path declining steadily toward lowest-common denominator standards, presumably because the “masses” want dumb, simple pleasures and big media companies try to give the masses what they want. But…the exact opposite is happening: the culture is getting more cognitively demanding, not less.

STEVEN JOHNSON, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter”

Explicitly responding to claims

For decades, we’ve worked under the assumption that mass culture follows a path declining steadily toward lowest-common denominator standards, presumably because the “masses” want dumb, simple pleasures and big media companies try to give the masses what they want. But…the exact opposite is happening: the culture is getting more cognitively demanding, not less.

STEVEN JOHNSON, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter”

Implicitly responding to claims

I remember the day I became colored.

ZORA NEAL HURSTON, “How It Feels to Be Colored Me”

Templates Of course some might object that _________. Although I concede that __________, I still maintain that __________.

Template: Summarizing a widely-held belief Many Americans assume that ___________.

Template: Summarizing and responding to a widely-held belief Many Americans assume that ___________. However, I believe that __________.

Template: Entering a conversation One the one hand, __________. On the other hand, __________.

Author X contradicts herself. At the same time that she argues ________, she also implies _______.

I agree that ________.

Template: Responding to others This is the single most important template that we will focus on in this course.

They say __________; I say __________.

This is because the best academic writing is deeply engaged with other peoples’ views.

Demystifying academic writing At its core, good academic writing consists of carefully considering what others are saying and engaging with other views.

You do this every day when you have good conversations with friends and family.

Homework for 8/27 1. Read the Preface & Introduction of They Say/I Say.

2. In your journal, respond to the prompt posted on the blog.