The Rhetoric Templates for Argumentative Writing

In the Introduction to "They Say / I Say": The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates, that were created from fundamental writing moves, that writers usually pick up along the way without realizing it. Those moves are so common that the authors turned them into templates in their book. The authors consider the main template “They Say / I Say” to be the foundation for all successful dialogue. Specifically, Graff and Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates they offer help less experienced writers, as well as accomplished writers guidance and direction, to structure and generate their own writing. As the authors themselves put it “One of our key premises is that these basic moves are so common that they can be represented in templates that you can use right away to structure and even generate your own writing.” In other words, the authors offer a simplified tool to create writing on an academic level.

The authors noticed and accent that creating the templates, did not just help the students to turn what they have learned into well written, well organized texts, but it also drew the students attention, subconsciously, to the eloquent patterns that are fundamental but rarely perceived by the students.

Cathy Birkenstein learned from her experience working with students that in general, students understand the concepts and processes of gathering information and entering a written conversation but they find it challenging to utilize that knowledge. After the students received the templates, they finally had the tools to utilize what they have learned, and create beautifully written argumentative conversations. Moreover, Graff and Birkenstein insist, that the templates pro...

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...thout being able to present their own, original view. To put it in another way, my opinion is that writers, who have doubts about the templates, are missing out on a great opportunity to improve their writing and build on their writing skills. Since the templates are created for writers as a sort of a map or a point of orientation, they are not there to hinder writers or their freedom to express themselves. The templates in the book are there to help the writing to become more original and creative. The authors did not provide guidelines as to what has to be in the writing, it is only a tool, to help struggling writers make themselves understood. Of course I understand that some writers might hesitate and might not feel comfortable using the temples. Those writers don't have to use the templates, but it would be advisable to give it a chance. One might be surprised.