Many students including myself were taught in schools to refrain from using “I” when writing essays. Using I was described as being unprofessional, or not credible and resulted in correction by the teacher, or even points off on the assignment. This taught me to never say I in a piece of writing and find other ways to say what I needed to. In Kate McKinney Maddalena’s “I need you to say ‘I’”: Why First Person Is Important in College Writing”, she tells the reader that it is actually beneficial to use it to help your argument when appropriate. She explains that teachers instruct students to stay away from using I because it keeps their work more objective and less personal. This is understandable because if an assignment is asking you to provide proof of something, or to defend a topic with evidence, you should reference the author or use direct quotes. However, if the assignment includes your opinion or a personal aspect then it makes sense to use I because it strengthens your argument and clarifies who is speaking. This way, the reader doesn’t get lost or confused.
Maddalena tells us the best times to use it are for clarification, in personal narratives or reactions and when asked to summarize or respond. With that being said, she also tells us ways to avoid using it. She tells us not to over use it, but don’t throw a random I in somewhere. This could throw the reader off and create unnecessary confusion. If you are writing a simple summary you shouldnt have I anywhere either. Everything you will be discussing refers to the text being summarized so you shouldnt include your opinion in that instance.
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