Michelle Kuecks
Journal #4
January 22, 2009
COMP 2000
In the Introduction to They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates designed to ________.
Specifically, Graff and Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates they offer simplify writing. As the authors themselves put it, “all writers rely on certain stock formulas that they themselves didn’t invent...” Although some people believe that templates create robotic writers Graff and Birkenstein insist that templates help students improve their writing and their comprehension by getting them off to the right start at communicating ideas. In sum, hen, their view is that templates are clues to prompt students to write with substance.
I agree with Graff and Birkenstein. In my view, the types of templates that the authors recommend guide my thoughts succinctly and with a general purpose. For instance, templates help organize the main point a writer is going to make. A writer does not have to circle the block several times: he just crosses straight through by taking the most direct route. In addition, the templates require the writer to state their opinion and own it. At the same time, the template guides the writer to reflect upon views of others. Some might object, of course, on the grounds that templates are very straightforward and they have problems recognizing that the templates are just teasers to get the appetite of the writer rolling. Yet I would argue that the hardest part of writing is always getting started. Templates help get me started. Overall, then, I believe Graff and Birkenstein lay out the templates so that writers have purpose, direction, and a meaningful connection to what they create. This is an important point to make given that factual dissertations are boring – what makes a piece of writing is interjecting the “why” behind what one writes about.
Journal #4
January 22, 2009
COMP 2000
In the Introduction to They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates designed to ________.
Specifically, Graff and Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates they offer simplify writing. As the authors themselves put it, “all writers rely on certain stock formulas that they themselves didn’t invent...” Although some people believe that templates create robotic writers Graff and Birkenstein insist that templates help students improve their writing and their comprehension by getting them off to the right start at communicating ideas. In sum, hen, their view is that templates are clues to prompt students to write with substance.
I agree with Graff and Birkenstein. In my view, the types of templates that the authors recommend guide my thoughts succinctly and with a general purpose. For instance, templates help organize the main point a writer is going to make. A writer does not have to circle the block several times: he just crosses straight through by taking the most direct route. In addition, the templates require the writer to state their opinion and own it. At the same time, the template guides the writer to reflect upon views of others. Some might object, of course, on the grounds that templates are very straightforward and they have problems recognizing that the templates are just teasers to get the appetite of the writer rolling. Yet I would argue that the hardest part of writing is always getting started. Templates help get me started. Overall, then, I believe Graff and Birkenstein lay out the templates so that writers have purpose, direction, and a meaningful connection to what they create. This is an important point to make given that factual dissertations are boring – what makes a piece of writing is interjecting the “why” behind what one writes about.
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I think your statements above are a good reminder that too many students see their first draft as their only draft. If, as you say, students use the templates to get "rolling," they can continue revising and writing so that they can focus on developing their own views (rather then just getting words on the page). Eventually, their final essay will look very different from the template. But if they don't have a way to get started, then they'll never get to this point.
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