Week 4 Blog #2

In Part 1 of the book “They Say I Say,” by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, a lot was discussed about how to best write what others say. It was discussed how to best intoduce what “they say” and how to do it formally and respectfully. There were guides on how to say what “they say” without exactly copying it. A lot of the templates had to do with introducing thoughts, views, and ideas. The templates helped with teaching how to introduce views that one does not agree with, and how to make it respectful and considerate. It also discussed about how to summarize others writings. In summarizing one needs to have a clear thought on the direction they are going, and understand where the writer is coming from. One needs to use the correct kind of wording so the summary isn’t bland, or so that it’s not a play by play. There is also a section on how to quote in one’s writing. It shows how to make quotes relevant, how to include them in the paper correctly, and how to not add quotations. This section was very helpful in teaching how to focus on what “they say.”