Grade 8 Fall — Multi-Source Synthesis, Formal Academic Style, and the Verbals/Voice/Mood Suite
English · RH G8 eng.g8.f.res.they_say_i_say_framework

Apply the They-Say/I-Say framework to enter academic conversation (Graff & Birkenstein; CCSS W.8.1.a; W.8.1.b)

Use the They-Say/I-Say templates to name what sources argue ('they say'), respond with one's own claim ('I say'), and explain why the conversation matters. The templates scaffold the 'academic moves that matter' until the writer internalizes them. Includes templates for agreeing-with-difference, disagreeing-with-reasons, and agreeing-and-disagreeing-simultaneously.

Mastery threshold
85%
Min instances
10
Typical minutes
55
Spaced intervals (days)
1, 3, 7, 14, 30
Prereqs
Successors
Common misconceptions
  • Uses templates as crutches forever (never customizing — every paragraph opens 'X argues that ___').
  • Skips 'they say' entirely and launches into 'I say' — the reader has no context for what is being responded to.

Exercise pool (4)

Diff Stem Type
1 Apply Template 1 ('X argues that ___') to each of these 5 sources. Write 1 sentence per source. template application
3 Apply Template 8 (synthesis across sources: 'While X argues ___, Y maintains ___, suggesting that ___') to your 3 actual synthesis-essay... template synthesis
3 Apply 4 different They-Say/I-Say templates (1, 2, 4, 8) to 4 short prompts. Mark the template number in margin. template variety
5 Choose 2 They-Say/I-Say templates. CUSTOMIZE each (replace the scaffold language with your own voice while preserving the move). Then... template customize