“They Say, I Say” Response Journal 2

Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, in their book They Say, I Say, assert that the best way to formulate an argument is to start with the opposing argument and then state your own viewpoint on the subject. First, according to the authors, a good writer should clearly address their thesis and also the larger issue at hand. I agree with this point because it is important for a reader to understand why your point needs to be made. If that is not made clear at first, the reader has nothing to keep them engaged in your writing. They go on to say that anticipating the opposite argument by putting yourself in their shoes will help you to develop a stronger, more compelling argument. Furthermore, a good writer will set up quotations from other sources and then explain why they agree or disagree with the point made from the quotation. It is also important to address the “so what” aspect, according to the authors, so the reader has a good grasp of the importance of your writing. (They also explored the idea that you must reiterate ideas in different words, as I just have with the idea of the “larger issue” that I addressed twice).

In my own experiences of learning to write, I have been taught many of these same principles, which is why I agree with what Graff and Birkenstein are trying to get across through their book. After reading this book I have realized that I now do many of these things without even consciously thinking about it. In my comp III class, however, we wrote many argumentative papers with exactly this approach and we even read Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” which Graff and Birkenstein reference. He sets up such a strong argument by addressing every criticism that by the end of the letter, it is very difficult to not feel compelled to take King’s side. I believe, from practice, that by stating the argument of the opposition, your argument does stand a lot stronger than if you were simply to state your side of the story.

This book nicely compliments the other articles we have read because it addresses another type of learning, which Bruffee would refer to as internalized thought re-externalized. Bruffee addressed how students will learn more effectively in a group setting, and by not only conversing, but also conversing about writing and the writing process. Graff and Birkenstein focused on the writing process and formulating a good argument. The revision process, then, will be even more effective because the argument in the paper will already be well supported. Overall, I think Graff and Birkenstein’s book is a useful tool for our class because it will help me to help the 105 students such that we can have a more effective conversation and dialogue about their argument.