Avoiding 'I' & Other Personal Pronouns

Have you ever been told to take "I" out of your writing? While some forms of writing call for "I" voice, many here at SNHU will seek a more academic tone. Using personal pronouns sounds less assertive and weakens arguments.
View this video to learn how to strengthen your academic tone.

[RobbyPrenkert]

If you incorporate sources into an academic argument, sometimes the very best way to distinguish what "they" (the sources) are saying and your position or response to them is to make use of the vertical pronoun. See the best text on academic writing, "They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing" by Graf and Birkenstein. Good (academic) writing "enters the conversation." Discouraging the use of "I" has the effect of discouraging student writers from entering the conversation.