THEY SAY / I SAY
What is the purpose of introducing what “they say” before presenting what “I say”?
To establish the existing conversation or opposing perspective before introducing your own argument.
What is a claim?
A statement or position that an argument attempts to support with evidence and reasoning.
What is Montag's occupation at the beginning of the novel?
He is a fireman whose job is to burn books.
In “Politics and the English Language,” what does George Orwell argue can happen when language becomes vague and meaningless?
Vague language can obscure meaning and make it easier for people to accept unclear or misleading ideas.
Who is Louise Mallard?
The protagonist of “The Story of an Hour,” a woman who is initially told that her husband has died.
A student writes: “Many people believe that social media negatively affects teenagers. However, recent research suggests that its effects depend on how it is used.”
What argumentative move is the student making?
They are introducing a common or opposing view and then responding to it.
What is the difference between evidence and reasoning?
Evidence is the information used to support a claim; reasoning explains how that evidence proves or supports the claim.
What do books represent to Montag as he begins questioning his society?
Knowledge, ideas, reflection, and the possibility of understanding life more deeply.
What does Nicholas Carr question in “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”
He questions whether frequent internet use is changing the way people read, concentrate and think.
What unexpected emotion does Louise experience after learning of her husband's reported death?
A sense of freedom and independence.
Why does 'They say/I Say authors' (Graff and Birkenstein) encourage writers to summarize an opposing argument fairly before responding to it?
Because accurately representing the opposing position makes the writer's response more credible and demonstrates understanding of the larger conversation.
A student argues, “Schools should start later because research shows that teenagers who get more sleep perform better academically.”
What is the evidence in this argument?
Research showing that teenagers who get more sleep perform better academically.
Why is Clarisse important to Montag's transformation?
Her curiosity and willingness to question society cause Montag to begin examining his own life and beliefs.
Orwell argues that unclear thinking can lead to unclear language, while unclear language can also influence thinking.
What relationship is he describing?
A relationship in which language and thought influence one another.
What does the open window symbolize for Louise?
Freedom, possibility, and a new life beyond the restrictions of her marriage.
What is the main element needed in an argument?
Evidence
A source is written by a researcher who has spent 20 years studying adolescent sleep and is published by a respected scientific organization.
Which aspect of source evaluation does this information most directly establish?
The source's credibility or authority.
What does the Mechanical Hound primarily symbolize?
The use of technology as a tool of control, surveillance, and punishment.
Carr describes struggling to maintain concentration while reading long texts. What concern does this experience support?
That constant exposure to short, quickly accessible online information may affect people's ability to sustain deep concentration.
Why is the ending of “The Story of an Hour” ironic?
The doctors believe Louise died from happiness when she saw her husband alive, but the reader knows that Louise had actually been embracing the freedom she believed she had gained from his death.
A writer says, “Critics argue that school uniforms limit students' individuality. While uniforms do restrict clothing choices, they may also reduce social pressure surrounding expensive clothing.”
What makes this a stronger argument than simply saying “School uniforms are good”?
The writer acknowledges a counterargument and qualifies it with reasoning, creating a more nuanced argument.
A writer uses a statistic that supports the claim but comes from a website with no author, no citations, and no explanation of where the statistic originated.
What is the biggest problem with using this evidence?
The evidence has questionable credibility and cannot easily be verified.
The society in Fahrenheit 451 is filled with entertainment, screens, and constant stimulation, yet many characters experience loneliness and dissatisfaction.
What larger theme does this contrast develop?
Constant entertainment and technological stimulation can distract people from meaningful thought, human connection, and self-reflection.
Both Orwell and Carr are concerned with the relationship between communication and thought. How do their specific concerns differ?
Orwell focuses primarily on how degraded or manipulative language can affect political thought, while Carr examines how digital information habits may affect reading and concentration.
Louise repeatedly thinks about being “free” after learning of her husband's death. What does this reveal about her marriage?
It suggests that Louise experienced her marriage as restrictive enough that she viewed her husband's death as an opportunity for independence.