What’s the issue/controversy? Creating They Say/I Say Thesis Statements
Directions: Below are two examples of how one takes a topic, creates a “they say,” responds with an “I say” and then combines the two to create a thesis. Watch the video below and complete the exercise printed after the two examples.
Video Explanation of the two examples: https://youtu.be/Vag6qIVoxy0
Example#1:
Topic: The Ohio groundwater
They Say: (the standard view) The Ohio ground water is safe to drink
I say: our experiments show that there are high levels of chemical X in the Ohio groundwater
Thesis: While many believe the Ohio ground water is safe to drink, our experiments show how it is dangerous to consume.
Example #2 (Another possibility):
Topic: The Ohio groundwater
They Say: (what you used to say) I always knew there were low levels of Chemical X in the Ohio groundwater
I Say: Our experiments show that there are high levels of chemical X in the Ohio groundwater
Thesis: Residents including me knew that there were low levels of Chemical X in the Ohio groundwater; however, our experiments show the levels of Chemical X to be high.
After watching the video above or reading through Examples 1 and 2, complete the following:
Topic: student athletes and their grades
1. They Say: (use either the standard view, what you used to think, something implied or assumed, or an ongoing debate and apply it to the topic above—what are “they saying” about this topic?)
2. I Say: (Look at the They Say above and respond to it–the I Say should be a different view from the They Say)
3. Thesis (combine the They Say and I Say above to formulate a sentence that takes a stance on the topic) Choose one of the templates or create your own:
Example. While many assume that……….., in actuality……
Although I believed that …….., actually……
X;however, Y
II. Topic: the fast food industry and the obesity epidemic
1. They Say: (use either the standard view, what you used to think, something implied or assumed, or an ongoing debate and apply it to the topic above—what are “they saying” about this topic?)
2. I Say: (Look at the They Say above and respond to it)
3. Thesis (combine the They Say and I Say above to formulate a sentence that takes a stance on the topic):
Ex. While many assume that……….., in actuality……
Although I believed that …….., actually……
X;however, Y
III. Topic: jobs and new college graduates
1. They Say: (use either the standard view, what you used to think, something implied or assumed, or an ongoing debate and apply it to the topic above—what are “they saying” about this topic?)
2. I Say: (Look at the They Say above and respond to it)
3. Thesis (combine the They Say and I Say above to formulate a sentence that takes a stance on the topic):
Ex. While many assume that……….., in actuality……
Although I believed that …….., actually……
X;however, Y
IV. Topic: kids and violence in video games
1. They Say: (use either the standard view, what you used to think, something implied or assumed, or an ongoing debate and apply it to the topic above—what are “they saying” about this topic?)
2. I Say: (Look at the They Say above and respond to it)
3. Thesis (combine the They Say and I Say above to formulate a sentence that takes a stance on the topic):
Ex. While many assume that……….., in actuality……
Although I believed that …….., actually……
X;however,
In this next part, I tell you which type of “They Say” to use and I give you the “I Say.” Pretend you agree with the I say, and create a “They Say” and a thesis.
1. Create a they say for the opinion expressed in the “I Say” below by using the standard view
They Say: (use standard view only)
I Say: Student success in college depends on if the student has good advisors and professors.
Thesis: (combine the They Say and I Say above to formulate a sentence that takes a stance on the topic):
Ex. While many assume that……….., in actuality……
Although I believed that …….., actually……
X;however,
2. Create a they say for the opinion expressed in the “I Say” below by using something you used to think
They Say: (use something you used to think)
I Say: One does not need money to be happy.
Thesis: (combine the They Say and I Say above to formulate a sentence that takes a stance on the topic):
Ex. While many assume that……….., in actuality……
Although I believed that …….., actually……
X;however,
3. Create a they say for the opinion expressed in the “I Say” below by using something assumed or implied
They Say:(use something assumed or implied)
I Say: The people with the most followers on social media are the loneliest people
Thesis: (combine the They Say and I Say above to formulate a sentence that takes a stance on the topic):
Ex. While many assume that……….., in actuality……
Although I believed that …….., actually……
X;however,
4. Create a they say for the opinion expressed in the “I Say” below by using the ongoing debate (your they say should be two sentences for this one; each one should have a different view from the I Say)
They Say: (use ongoing debate)
I Say: There should be some common sense regulation when it comes to owning guns.
Thesis: Use the ongoing debate template
5. Create a they say for the opinion expressed in the “I Say” below by using the ongoing debate (your they say should be two sentences for this one; each one should have a different view from the I Say)
They Say: (use ongoing debate)
I Say: With Covid raging and death rates rising, re-openings of schools and businesses need to be done carefully so that re-openings don’t cause rates to spike.
Thesis: Use the ongoing debate template
