Demystify the essential rhetorical moves that students need now more than ever
students have used this textbook!
New coauthor Paul G. Cook, professor of English at University of South Carolina Beaufort
Drawing on new coauthor Paul G. Cook’s expertise in rhetoric and digital culture, the Seventh Edition helps students demystify visual arguments, active reading, generative AI, and more in a world now shaped by media, algorithms, and chatbots.
Equips students to read actively and analyze visual arguments
A new chapter guides students in analyzing and responding to visual texts—from ads to memes to fine art—with two visual argument selections included in each chapter of the version with readings. Reading advice is now covered in Part 2 to show right away the rhetorical moves students need to read actively through new templates, exercises, and annotated examples.
Provides opportunities to practice writing, analysis, and AI literacy in the ebook and beyond
“They Say / I Say” peels back the curtain on academic writing in a way no other book does. Students immediately move from reading the book to applying its strategies: responding to low-stakes writing activities in the ebook, identifying the rhetorical moves of sample essays in the tutorials, and building AI literacy in a new InQuizitive for Writers activity.
What’s New in the Seventh Edition
- New coauthor Paul G. Cook, professor of English at University of South Carolina Beaufort, brings his expertise in writing pedagogy, rhetoric, and media studies to revitalize the Seventh Edition’s coverage of visual arguments, reading strategies, and digital culture.
- A new InQuizitive for Writers activity created by Sarah Z. Johnson (Madison Area Technical College) builds AI literacy, focusing on how generative AI tools work and what their drawbacks are, how to make ethical rhetorical choices, and the importance of maintaining your own voice.
- Interactive courseware motivates students to join the conversation and practice the rhetorical moves that matter from the moment they open the ebook as they complete the new low-stakes writing activities embedded at the end of each chapter and reading.
About the authors
What students are saying
In spring 2026, over 100 students from 44 different schools voluntarily responded to a survey about their “They Say / I Say” experience. Here’s what they thought:
94%
of students said “They Say / I Say” had a positive impact on their writing.
92%
said the book’s templates helped them get started and make the rhetorical moves themselves.
74%
said they’ve been able to transfer what they learned to their other courses.
Meet your marketing manager: Michele Dobbins
Michele is excited to connect with you about everything composition related—from getting into the nitty gritty about our book content to strategizing about generative AI and courseware. Having started with W. W. Norton as an intern, she’s now been with Norton for over eight years, happily working from home with her three cats. A recent book she still hasn't quite gotten over yet is The Family Experiment by John Marrs because it combines reality tv and virtual reality (two things Michele loves to talk about!).
Have questions or want to talk over Zoom?
Image Credits: (Graff) Tricia Koning Photography; (Birkenstein) Tricia Koning Photography; (Cook) Paul G. Cook; (Davies) Monica Browning Photography; (Durst) Kathryn Wekselman; (Dobbins) Rebecca Dobbins
Copyright © W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2026