I Say

Lesson:

1.     To reiterate from yesterday, "if there is one thing you learn this year, it is the importance of not only expressing your ideas (“I say”) but of presenting those ideas as a response to some other person or group (“they say”).  It is important to listen closely to others around us, summarizing their views in a way that they will recognize, and responding with our own ideas. To argue well, you need to do more than assert or state your own position. You need to enter a conversation, using what others say as a launching pad for your own views" (Graff). 

2.     Ways of responding on the sentence level. These are "templates." They help you articulate your position as part of a larger conversation. As we look at these templates, what might be some ways we could use these considering Jones and Bushman? 

a.     _________________argues, and I agree because __________________________

b.     _________________’s argument that ____________________ is supported by research showing that ________________________________________.

c.      __________________claims that ___________________, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I agree that ________________________. On the other hand, I still insist that _________________________________________.

3.     Ways of responding on the paragraph level. For this part, I don't want to give you an example, because I don't want to influence you, but let's talk through what might be some ideas to include in this template. :

In recent discussions of ____________________, a controversial issue has been whether _____________________________. On the one hand, some argue that _______________________________. From this perspective, ________________________________. On the other hand, however, others argue  that ____________________________________. In the words of ___________________________, one of this view’s main supporters, “_________________________________________________________.” According to this view, ________________________________. In sum, then, the issue is whether ______________________________or ___________________________.

 My own view is that ________________________. Though I concede that ______________________________________, I still maintain that _________________________________. For example, _________________________________________________________. Although some might object that _____________________. I would reply that ________________________. The issue is important because __________________________________________________________________.

Writing Time: 15 minutes, NO WALK, NO TALK
Using the template, now write what you say.

Share: Author's Chair or Peer Reading