Josu Roln Andino

INGL3103 section 036

Page 15 exercise 2
In the Introduction to They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in
Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates
designed to help students who are unsure about what to say, or who have
trouble finding enough to say. Specially, Graff and Birkenstein argue that
the types of writing templates they offer provide concrete prompts that can
stimulate and shape thought. The templates also are direct with the
students about the key rhetorical moves that it comprise. As the authors
themselves put it, putting in your oar. Although some people believe that
this is plagiarism, Graff and Birkenstein insist that they are asking us to use
a language in our writing that isnt our own-language that we borrow or, to
put it less delicately, steal from other writers. In sum, then, their view is that
is not plagiarism to recycle conventionally used formulas.
I agree. In my view, the types of templates that the authors recommend are
very helpful because is a guideline that we can use so we can write in a
correct way and also help us to get ideas if we have problems finding what
to write. For instance if I dont know what to write about, is just have to read
the template and with the information that the template have I can get the
ideas that I need for my writing. In addition, if I have all my ideas but I dont
know how to put them together I just follow the template and it will help me
put my ideas correctly. Some might object, of course, on the grounds that is
just filling the information that I have on the blanks. Yet I would argue that
ok is just filling the blanks but is a help that we have and can use to do our
writing. Overall, then, I believe that from now on I would use the templates
to do my writings an important point to make given by Gerald Graff and
Cathy Birkenstein.

Page 28 exercise 1
A. Our experiment suggest that there are dangerous levels of chemical
X in the Ohio groundwater.
In discussion of the water quality, one controversial issue has been
that people are getting sick by drinking water. On the one hand, the
authorities of the state argues that there are no problems with the
groundwater, that they are completely fine. On the other hand,
scientist that have made test on the water contends that the
chemicals in the water can absolutely make people sick. Others even
maintain that the chemicals in the water can cause serious stomach
damage. My own view is if people are getting sick by drinking water,
theres no doubt that the water have something on it. It doesnt matter
what the authorities said, I stay on the side of the scientist because
their experiment suggest that there are dangerous levels of chemical
X in the Ohio groundwater.
B. Material forces drive history.
When it comes to the topic of what have caused the changes in
history, most of us will readily agree that this is all about money and
powerful people. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on
the question of many historians if this statement is true or if there
were other factors involved. Whereas some are convince that all of
this happen by powerful people such as dictators, others maintain
that the society is the one that have been changing by their own will.
My own point of view is that money is an important issue because if
someone have a lot of money it sure will have power, so with that in
mind I think we can say that material forces drive history.
C. Proponents of Freudian psychology question standard notions of
rationality.
When it comes to the topic of rationality, most of us will readily agree
that it is the ability that allows thinking, assess, understand and act
according to certain principles of optimality and consistency. Where
this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of the
proponents of Freudian psychology to investigate how this really

works. Whereas some are convince that is subject to principles of

optimality and consistency, others maintain that is a distinct logical
mechanical structure of reasoning. But thats why proponents of
Freudian psychology question standard notions of rationality.
D. Male students often dominate class discussions.
In discussions of gender domination in classrooms, one controversial
issue has been that the male often dominate the discussions. On the
one hand, some students argues that the males are usually more
competitive that the women. On the other hand, other students
contend that in most of the cases the male are the minority of the
class so they tend to speak more to make their presence felt. Others
even maintain that is just that the males are not scare to say
something even if its wrong. My own view is that I think that is
relative to the class. For example males usually are better in math
that girls but on the other hand, usually womens are better on
literature so each gender will speak more in the area that they know
better. But in general male students often dominate class
discussions.
E. The film is about the problems of romantic relationships.
When it comes to the film Like Crazy, the people that have watch it
will readily agree that is a beautiful love story, passionate, romantic,
and things like that. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is
on the question of the viewers. Whereas some are convince that the
problem in the movie is just act, others maintain that the problem can
happen to anyone because the film is about one of the problems in
some relationships.
F. Im afraid that templates like the ones in this book will stifle my
creativity.
In discussion of the templates of this book, one controversial issue
has been that it will give a restriction to our writing. On the one hand,
few students say that they like it because it help them to write in a
structured way. On the other hand, other students contends that they

dont like using the templates because they cant use their creativity
and have to follow the form of the templates. My own view is that this
is a great way to write because is a guideline to us so we could write
in a correct form and dont have problems while writing. But at the
same time, Im afraid that templates like the ones in this book will
stifle my creativity.