PB2B

Moves-a-thon

The They Say, I Say Appendix gives an overview to the typical moves that authors tend to use in their writings. In class we established that moves are important to understand, because often they have underlying functions. It is also beneficial to analyze other writers’ moves, to improve and expand the ways of writing.

They Say, I Say  moves

Introducing Something Implied or Assumed

In Navigating Genres, Dirk says, “I would surmise with near certainty that at least one of these headlines made you laugh”. The truth is that I did not laugh as a I read any of the headlines, I thought some of the headlines were amusing but not enough for them to solicit a laugh. The reason for this strategy is to connect to the reader. If Dirk had been right, and I did laugh it would have formed a connection between the two of us. Although it can also be dangerous to assume, because assumptions are not always right.

Capturing Authorial Action

Bunn in How to Read like a Writer utilizes the move of capturing authorial action. The sentence reads, “Charles Moran, a professor of English at the University of Massachusetts, urges us to read like writers because…” (pg.84). Using words such as urges, argues, and declares can be more powerful than simply using the word states. Words with action often give a tone to the sentence. In this case the word urges suggests that Charles Moran is adamant about reading like a writer instead of being passive about reading like a writer.

Explaining Quotations

Seven’s “So What? Who Cares” uses an example of how explaining quotations can be beneficial to an essay. Seven explains, “Notice how Grady’s writing reflects the central advice we give in this book, offering a clear claim and also framing that claim as a response to what someone else has said” (pg.94). Sometimes a quote that is used is unclear. In order to make an argument clear it is often necessary to reiterate what a quotation is saying to tie it into the main argument.  

Commonly Used Transitions

Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis by Laura Bolin Carroll uses a variety of common transitions in her writing. For example she transitions from one idea to the other by saying, “However, when this same teacher hands you an advertisement, photograph or article and asks you to write a rhetorical analysis of it, you might have been baffled or felt a little overwhelmed (pg.48).” Transitions are a simple way to indicate to the reader that you are shifting between ideas. A transition such as however suggests that there is going to be a different idea than the one that was previously stated.

Adding Meta Commentary

Dirk also uses meta Commentary in Navigating Genres. The article states, “ In other words, knowing what a genre is used for can help people to accomplish goals, whether that goal be getting a job by knowing how to write a stellar resume, winning a person’s heart by writing a romantic love letter, or getting into college by writing an effective personal statement (253). Meta Commentary seems to just be a kind of re-explaining a claim that has already been mentioned, but expanding on it. It is another way to clarify a topic and make the argument more reader friendly.

Other moves

I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham

Elbow’s chapter, “Teaching Two Kinds of Thinking by Teaching Writing”, discusses his ideas on first and second order thinking. Within the chapter he argues that, “I’m not trying to disparage spoken discourse or nonverbal back-burner work” (59). He mentions what he is not trying to do. Many assumptions can arise by a reader when a writer presents an argument, so explaining what he is not trying to do can clear up confusion. Most papers include what a writer IS trying to say, but leave out what they’re NOT trying to say, and I think they are both helpful.

Thank you Dictionary

Often times for a reader it is difficult to decipher what certain terms mean, or what the main argument is. In Murder!(Rhetorically Speaking) by Janet Boyd she helps out the readers by giving out definitions for terms. For examples she states, “Here I offer my definition: rhetoric is what allows you to write (and speak) appropriately for a given situation, one that is determined by the expectations of your audience, implied or acknowledge, whether you are texting, writing a love letter or bleeding a term paper” (100).

She includes the definition at the end of the paper to emphasize what she means throughout the paper when she uses the word rhetoric. Also, the reader is left a helpful tool to use when reading other essays.

Not Bullet Proof

“Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis”, by Laura Bolin Carroll goes into lists to identify examples of her claims. She lists the different types of examples of rhetoric in bullet points (56). The bullet points add organization and structure to the essay. On some occasions when lists are too long it can be confusing to just read a list of words divided by commas. The bullet points are an alternative and more noticeable way of listing important points.

Lab Rat

Murder! (Rhetorically Speaking) by Janet Boyd includes many instances in which the writer tells the reader what to do. For example she demands that reader to, “Take a moment to visualize the five facts, and then pick up a pen or turn your keyboard and write for five or so minutes as if you were a detective”(88). Boyd encourages an interactive relationship between the reader and the writer by telling the readers what to do. The readers serve as lab rats to prove the points that the author explains afterwards.

Scandal

An easy way to appeal to college students is by presenting them with scandalous ideas or titles. “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott is a perfect example of that. At first the title may induce giggles, and grab a person’s attention. The reaction of the word shitty may be different depending on the reader, but it is likely that people will pick up the article and read it because of the eye-grabbing title. It is an effective title for college students, but other more professional readers may dismiss the piece based on the title.