They Say, I Say: Home

This guide will help you understand writing, research, and information using the ideas found in They Say / I Say (TSIS) by Cathy Birkenstein and Gerald Graff.

In their book They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Birkenstein and Graff provide many templates that anyone can use to help organize their thought and writing. You can find a copy of the book in the HCC Libraries. You can also find examples of the templates online -- see the Templates box below on this page for some links to selections.

My guide expands on Birkenstein and Graff by showing how understanding "They Say, I Say" will also help you:

• understand research and research projects; 
• improve your information searches; 
• read and understand sources; and 
• gain a positive understanding of why we cite sources.

Style Guides
The Online Writing Lab at Excelsior College
The Owl at Purdue
EasyBib
Citation Machine
bibme
Research Quick-Start Guide
Zotero Tutorials

Many videos available online that present the original They Say, I Say templates.