Homa 1

Oliver Homa

COMP 105

18 September 2017

Writing Assignment #1

In the Introduction to They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing,

Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates designed to teach the basic moves, or

foundations, of successful writing that stimulate academic and critical thinking in students, and

prepare them for interpretation and expression at the college level. Specifically, Graff and

Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates that they offer will shape writers into more

attentive and intellectual people, who write in an evaluative manner. As the authors themselves

put it, though the immediate goal of this book is to help you become a better writer, at a deeper

level it invites you to become a certain type of person: a critical, intellectual thinker who, instead

of sitting passively on the sidelines, can participate in the debates and conversations of your

work in an active and empowered way.(13) Although some people believe that the use of

templates in order to structure writing will greatly inhibit creativity, Graff and Birkenstein insist

that their templates will cause students to be even more creative, as the most creative forms of

expression depend on established patterns and structures. In sum, then, their view is that their

patterns represent the stock in trade of sophisticated thinking and writing; however, only with a

much practice and guidance.

I disagree. In my view, the types of templates that the authors recommend are much too simple

and specific to allow for extensive creativity. For instance, the she argues ___, and I agree

because ___(8) template unnecessarily simplifies a statement that could be said in much more
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thoughtful and creative ways. In addition, setting up words for writers prevents them from

discovering new vocabulary and styles. Some might object, of course, on the grounds that the

simplicity of templates still allows for sufficient expression. Yet I would argue that any type of

required form simply does not. Overall, then, I believe that true creative writing can not be

formulated, which is an important point to make given that style and delivery of thoughts is such

a unique and individual aspect of each writer.