Note: information is taken from They Say, I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein
Notes on Writing Academic papers
An essential skill in academic writing is to respond to a published source. Essentially
what you are doing is explaining what the source says (“They Say”) and stating your
response to it (“I say”). Sometimes you do this by summarizing and/or paraphrasing
someone else’s argument (and citing it!). Often you choose to quote from that person’s
argument because it gives a great deal of credibility to your summary and makes sure that
it is fair and accurate.
Issues with quoting:

Quote too little (perhaps don’t want to bother to find quotes)

Quote too much (may lack confidence in ability to comment or may not fully
understand quotation)

Assuming that quotes speak for themselves and that you don’t need to
comment/explain.
Important things to do when quoting:
1. Choose quotations wisely, with an eye for how they support a particular point you
are making.
2. Set up every major quotation with a frame that explains:

Whose words these are (where quotes come from)

What the quotation means

How the quotation relates to the point you are making
Templates for introducing quotations:

X states, “not all steroids should be banned from sports.”

As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “__________”

According to X, “__________”

In her book, _________, X maintains that “__________”

Writing in the journal Commentary, X complains that “__________”

In X’s view, “__________”

X agrees when she writes, “__________”

X disagrees when he writes, “__________”

X complicates matters further when she writes, “__________”
Templates for explaining quotations
The one piece of advice about quoting that students say they find most helpful is to get in
the habit of following every major quotation by explaining what it means, using a
template like one of the ones below.

Basically, X is warning that the proposed solution will only make the problem
worse

In other words, X believes….

In making this comment, X urges us to…

X is corroborating the age-old adage that….

X’s point is that ……..

The essence of X’s argument is that …….
Templates for how the quotation relates to the point you are making:
This is the part where you are developing the “I say.” You are explaining what your
ideas are regarding the quote/evidence. This is probably the most important, and possibly
the most difficult, step. You are entering into a conversation with the writer of the quote.
You are explaining how and why you disagree, agree or have a mixed response to his/her
quote.
Templates for disagreeing, with reasons:

X is mistaken because she overlooks recent fossil discoveries in the South.

X’s claim that ___________ rests upon the questionable assumption that
___________.

I disagree with X’s view that ____________ because, as recent research has
shown, ____________.

By focusing on ________________, X overlooks the deeper problem of
___________.
Templates for agreeing (but with a difference – don’t just echo the views, add something)

X is surely right about _______________ because recent studies have shown…

X’s theory of ____________ is extremely useful because it shed light on the
difficult problem of _______________

Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it
basically boils down to _______________.
Templates for agreeing and disagreeing Simultaneously:

Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion
that…

X is right that ____________, but she seems on more dubious ground when she
claims that _____________

Whereas X provides ample evidence that _________, X and Z’s (another source
of information) research on ________________ convinces me that ____________
instead.
Example of “They Say/I Say” format with deCrevecoeur’s writing:
DeCrevecoeur’s passage:
We are all animated with the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained,
because each person works for himself. If he travels through our rural districts he views
not the hostile castle, and the haughty mansion, contrasted with the clay-built hut and
miserable cabbin, where cattle and men help to keep each other warm, and dwell in
meanness, smoke, and indigence. A pleasing uniformity of decent competence appears
throughout our habitations. The meanest of our log-houses is a dry and comfortable
habitation.
My response:
DeCrevecoeur was instrumental in creating a glorified view of America as the land of
freedom and opportunity. Writing in epistolary form, deCrevecoeur exclaims that “We
are all animated with the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained,
because each person works for himself.” In other words, deCrevecoeur creates a
universal portrait of extremely hard-working Americans, each self-employed and
dedicated to self-enrichment. Furthermore, in deCrevecoeur’s view, a traveler through
the United States would “view not the hostile castle, and the haughty mansion, contrasted
with the clay-built hut and miserable cabin where cattle and men help to keep each other
warm.” DeCrevecoeur’s point is that as a result of Americans’ hard work and selfemployment, class differences are eradicated, and there is no longer the housing of the
ultra-rich nor the substandard housing of the very poor. DeCrevecoeur’s optimistic claim
of opportunity and equality has not held up well in recent times. While indeed,
deCrevecoeur is correct that many Americans are extremely hard-working, and recent
immigrants are especially dedicated to success, there are also indications that this value is
fleeting. Take a gander through the television line up and watch the antics of the Jersey
Shore crew. While the group is infamously busy with tanning, gym, and laundry, this
hardly seems to be what deCrevecoeur had in mind by an “unfettered and unrestrained”
work ethic. Although deCrevecoeur might have been correct in noting less class
differences in late 18th century America as compared to Europe, a drive through any
American city today would disprove his optimistic views. The “hostile cabin[s]” he
speaks of have turned into veritable slums, and the “haughty mansion[s]” have indeed
proliferated to a such a degree that there is even a special word for the architectural
monstrosity: McMansion. Sadly, in today’s America, many of deCrevecoeur’s
overwhelmingly optimistic views read more as mere propaganda than as a blueprint for a
hopeful reality.
…
Assignment: Write a paragraph explaining your reaction to one of deCrevecoeur’s views
of America and Americans. Pick one specific idea from deCrevecoeur, quote it, and then
explain to what extent the belief is still relevant to today’s America. Follow the format
below in writing your response.
From They Say, I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein
Step One: Templates for introducing quotations:









X states, “not all steroids should be banned from sports.”
As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “__________”
According to X, “__________”
In her book, _________, X maintains that “__________”
Writing in the journal Commentary, X complains that “__________”
In X’s view, “__________”
X agrees when she writes, “__________”
X disagrees when he writes, “__________”
X complicates matters further when she writes, “__________”
Step Two: Templates for explaining quotations






Basically, X is warning that the proposed solution will only make the problem
worse
In other words, X believes….
In making this comment, X urges us to…
X is corroborating the age-old adage that….
X’s point is that ……..
The essence of X’s argument is that …….
Step Three. State your position about this evidence.
Templates for disagreeing, with reasons:



X is mistaken because she overlooks recent fossil discoveries in the South.
X’s claim that ___________ rests upon the questionable assumption that
___________.
I disagree with X’s view that ____________ because, as recent research has
shown, ____________.
By focusing on ________________, X overlooks the deeper problem of ___________.
Templates for agreeing (but with a difference – don’t just echo the views, add something)

X is surely right about _______________ because recent studies have shown…


X’s theory of ____________ is extremely useful because it shed light on the
difficult problem of _______________
Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it
basically boils down to _______________.
Templates for agreeing and disagreeing Simultaneously:



Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion
that…
X is right that ____________, but she seems on more dubious ground when she
claims that _____________
Whereas X provides ample evidence that _________, X and Z’s (another source
of information) research on ________________ convinces me that ____________
instead.