Good Writers

Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C., & Durst, R. (2012). “They say/I say”: The moves that matter in academic writing (2nd ed.). New York, New York: Norton & Company

“Accomplished writers routinely rely on a stock of established moves that are crucial for communicating sophisticated ideas” (p. 1).

Secured an inventory of basic moves by reading a lot.

Basic moves are so common – Graff calls them templates to structure and generate writing.

Putting writing principles into practice – aim of book

Best academic writing “is deeply engaged in some way with other people’s views” (p. 3) – literature review

Templates and Creativity

“Most creative forms of expression depend on established patterns and structures” (p. 11).

Templates do not create the content of what you write but suggest a way of formatting how you write it.

Templates help develop more originality and creativity – your “voice.”