I Need You to Say “I”: Why First Person is Important in College Writing
- viewpoint |
- style |
- sophistication |
- situational |
- science writing |
- scholarly |
- ownership |
- objectivity |
- integrity |
- insider |
- guidelines |
- first person |
- expertise |
- exigence |
- discourse analysis |
- academic
Chapter Description
In this essay, I argue against the common misconception that “I” has no place in formal writing. I discuss many theoretical and rhetorical ways (objectivity and intellectual integrity, and clarity and organization, respectively) in which first person, used prudently, can improve written argument. I then show some examples of academic prose that illustrate the rhetorical concepts I’ve described. Finally, I list some hypothetical writing tasks where “I” might work and warn against some where it won't.
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