They Say, I Say: Part 3

CHAPTER 8: “As a Result”: Connecting the Parts

In this chapter, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein address the issue of how to connect all of different parts of your writing. The authors underline the importance of connecting each idea and sentence in order for the writing to flow smoothly and to be understood easily. After, they give some strategies in order to connect the ideas and sentences. They include using transition words and “pointing words”. Like transition words, “pointing words” allow an effortless flow of the words so the readers can understand your writing easily. However, the overuse of these words can be an issue. The authors also highlight the importance of repeating certain terms by using synonyms in order for the readers to fully grasp what the author is explaining.

WHAT I LEARNED: Before reading this chapter, I was unaware of “pointing words”. They will definitely help me in my writing in the future.

CHAPTER 9: “Ain’t So / Is Not:: Academic Writing Doesn’t Always Mean Setting Aside Your Own Voice

In this chapter, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein explain how college writing is not all about using big words and complex ideas. The authors describe how the writing should be fun to read and a mixture of informal and formal writing. This makes the writing not too complicated and makes the readers more interested. They also write that normal conversational language and academic language can intermingle perfectly to create a concrete claim. The authors end with saying that the certain style of writing is dependent on the writer’s audience and the purpose of the language in the piece they are writing.

WHAT I LEARNED: Before reading this chapter, I thought all college writing needed to have complex vocabulary and ideas. This will help me combine formal and informal writing styles more efficiently.

CHAPTER 10: “But Don’t Get Me Wrong”: The Art of Metacommentary

In this chapter, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein define metacommentary and explain its use in writing. Metacommentary is explaining your points and illustrating how your readers should interpret them. The authors explain it in comparison to a narration of your writing. You explain what is occurring. Using metacommentary helps your readers understand your writing better and helps your claims connect easier. The use of metacommentary allows your readers to answer any questions they might have and helps create stronger claims.

WHAT I LEARNED: Before reading this chapter, I did not know what metacommentary was. From now on, I will use it in my writing to help my readers understand my points.

CHAPTER 11: “He Talks About Deplores”: Using the Templates to Revise

In this chapter. Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein explain the revision process of your writing.  They give some questions you should ask during your revision process if you have no idea what to do. They make sure the writers how they explain their information, the importance of their argument, the connections between their claims, and if all of their ideas are clear. After, they also note other questions to follow the other main questions. The author’s main purpose of writing this chapter it to help all writers revise their pieces. They even give an example of a revised essay to help their readers understand their points thoroughly.

WHAT I LEARNED: Before reading this chapter, I was not aware of these different ways to revise your own essay. Now I will be able to catch my mistakes better and help make my writing pieces more understandable.