They Say/I Say with Readings
--Available in November--
The best-selling text/reader on academic writing.
They Say / I Say demystifies academic writing by identifying its key rhetorical moves, the most important of which is to summarize what others have said ("they say") to set up one's own argument ("I say"). The book also provides templates to help students make these key moves in their own writing. This version includes readings that demonstrate those moves-and provide stimulating conversations for them to enter. The Second Edition includes an anthology of 44 readings that will provoke students to think-and write-about five important issues, including two new ones: Is Higher Education Worth the Price? and Why Does It Matter Who Wins the Big Game?
44 readings cover five important political and social issues—ones that will provoke students to respond
The readings reflect a range of ideological perspectives and can serve as sources for students’ own writing. More than 30 readings are new, including David Foster Wallace’s Kenyon Commencement Speech, Joe Posnanski on steroids and baseball, Tom Bissell on why video games matter, and more. The five issues covered are:
• Is higher education worth the price? (new)
• Is pop culture good for you?
• Is fast food the new tobacco?
• Why does it matter who wins the big game? (new)
• What’s up with the American Dream?
Each reading is followed by study questions focusing on the rhetorical moves that matter. One question prompts students to respond in writing. New to the Second Edition, each chapter includes at least one scholarly piece and one piece written by a student.
Shows that writing is always part of a larger, ongoing conversation
They Say / I Say was the first book to teach students rhetorical moves for joining the conversation, providing templates that show how to develop ideas not in isolation but as a response to what others are already saying.
Two books in one
The rhetoric is up front and the readings are in the back, which makes the book easy to use—and to teach. The two parts are linked by cross-references in the margins, leading students from the rhetoric to specific examples in the readings and from the readings to the corresponding writing instruction. Teachers can thus center their classes on either the rhetoric or readings, and the links will help them draw on the other part.
Reading chapter teaches students to navigate challenging texts
Chapter 12 shows how the rhetorical moves taught in this book can help students read challenging texts—for example, by considering what arguments an author might be responding to and by learning to distinguish what the author is saying from what those he or she quotes are saying.
A new chapter on writing for the social sciences
“Analyze This”: Writing in the Social Sciences shows students that they need to include the opinions of others, not just their own—and provides templates for doing so.
Norton/Write
Norton/Write offers model student papers, exercises, research and documentation guidelines, tutorials on writing and on avoiding plagiarism, and other writing help.
TheySayIBlog
Michal Brody, San Francisco State University and Universidad de Oriente, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico
TheySayIBlog will add up-to-the-minute readings on the topics covered in the book, ones that will inspire students to join the conversation. Each reading includes critical-thinking questions and writing prompts.
