The article “‘I need you to say ‘I’’: Why First Person is Important in College Writing” by Kate McKinney Maddalena evaluates the significance of using first person in writing. While it is common to be told to avoid using first person, Maddalena wants readers to know that it has a time and place when it comes to using the term “I”. After years of being told not to use the word “I” by various teachers, it becomes ingrained in students’ minds. Sometimes, it becomes so deep-rooted in our minds that people become wary of using it, even when told to do so. I have often found that when a professor gives an assignment that encourages the use of first person, students will continuously ask “so I can use the word ‘I’ in this assignment?” as if they are afraid to do so.
While the objective of most teachers was not to scare students into never using first person again, but to steer them away from being subjective in their writing, it is more common than not that they took it one step too far. Maddalena harps on the fact that good writing generally needs that first person viewpoint. She includes in her article that using the word “I” does not necessarily mean that you are inserting your thoughts and opinions into the subject, but rather showing your perspective from what you have observed. This concept is extremely important in teaching students. Showing individuals that there is a difference between using words like “because I think so” and “from my perspective” can dramatically alter the meaning of the topic and what is being conveyed to the audience.
Ultimately, using first person is a skill and takes a technique that must be acquired. Instead of teaching students not to use it at all, it should be taught to be used the correct way. When used correctly, the word “I” has a lot of power.
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