They Say I Say summaries of chapter’s 8-11

In chapter 8, Birkenstein and Graff are trying to explain how to direct on how to connect the parts of our writing. One way to connect our ideas and sentences together is to use transition words. Transition words are words that help start and connect your sentences and paragraphs together. Some words that are used are, however, for example, but, and, and in conclusion. Another way to connect our ideas and sentences are pointing words, for example: they, these, those, that, and their. Pointing words help readers convey who or what the writer is talking about.

In chapter 9, the authors are trying to explain to us, is a common misconception that is has always been used by student’s. They should not try to write in a way to make yourself look smart but to write it in a way that you have understood it in a straightforward, and familiar way of writing, like how you would speak to a friend. You also should know that you shouldn’t always write like that, it’s also good to mix in the academic and familiar styles in your paper.

In chapter 10, the author’s are talking about Meta commentary, and the definition is the “Term used to describe a narrative which directs the reader’s attention to the text’s purpose and positioning.” Now, the ways to use meta commentary is to be clear and interpret your paragraphs or sentences well. Another way for meta commentary to be put to use to make sure your claim is fairly and equally important, and you should give some sort of guidelines or instructions about the idea you are giving.

Last but not least, chapter 11 explains how to use templates to revise your papers. When you revise an essay or any type of writing assignment you have to ask yourselves these type of questions: How do you represent what others say? Meaning, did you quote from other people work, and does it support your argument? Have you tied it all together? Meaning, checking your use of transition words can help you give a good understanding of how your ideas relate to one another, and pointing words “can help lead readers from one sentence to the next.”