Body Para. 1

In passage one from Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein “They Say I Say”, both authors express the importance of having people provoke our opinions and our writing in order to challenge the writer. “The important fact that in the real world we don’t make arguments without being provoked” (Graff and Birkenstein Passage 1). This crucial point starts with the teacher to student relationship. Students develop their own craft over time with the assistance of feedback and positive criticism from their teachers. This is the beginning of engaging another person’s view into one’s own writing mind. Then adding peer editing to the equation allows more flowing opinions to circulate. More eyes are seeing your work, more opinions, more criticism is circulating, allowing the writer to think beyond their own writing boundaries and expand their arguments. Graff said “If it weren’t for other people and our need to challenge, agree with or, or otherwise respond to them, there would be no reason to argue at all.” (Graff and Birkenstein Passage 1). Without peer review and the ideas and criticism from others it limits growth, creates ignorance, and sets up a scheme where they continue to make the same mistakes. Having at least one other point of view prevents writers from falling in those habits and help them learn and grow in their writing.

Body Para. 2

Similarly so, in passage two from Susan Gilroy, “6 Reading Habits to Develop in Your First Year at Harvard”, Gilroy also emphasises on the importance of comparing and contrasting point of views and arguments, but really values the importance of analyzing more thoroughly through own work. “Have an ongoing conversation with yourself as you move through the text and record what that encounter was like for you…outline, summarize, analyze..” (Gilroy Passage 2). As the writer it is important to be organized so that you understand your own work and so that others understand your work easier. Having guidelines, annotating, and just being more active with your writing will make your work more reliable and open to have more fluent conversations about it. It will put the writer in more of a position to explain countering points to peer editor/teacher. This makes those conversations increasingly more engaging when there is more depth to work.