Templates for Argumentative Writing
Introducing What “They Say”
*A number of __________________ have recently suggested that __________________.
*It has become common today to dismiss __________________.
*In their recent work, Y and Z have offered harsh critiques of __________________ for
__________________.
Introducing “Standard Views”
*Americans today tend to believe that __________________.
*Conventional wisdom has it that __________________.
*Common sense seems to dictate that __________________.
*The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that __________________.
*It is often said that __________________.
*My whole life I have heard it said that __________________.
*You would think that __________________.
*Many people assume that __________________.
Making What “They Say” Something You Say
*I’ve always believed that __________________.
*When I was a child, I used to think that __________________.
*Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that __________________.
*At the same time that I believe __________________, I also believe __________________.
Introducing Something Implied or Assumed
*Although none of them have ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me
the impressions that __________________.
*One implication of X’s treatment of __________________ is that __________________.
*Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that __________________.
*While they rarely admit as much, __________________ often take for granted that
__________________.
Introducing An Ongoing Debate
*In discussions of X, one controversial issue has been __________________. On the one
hand, __________________ argues __________________. On the other hand, __________________
contends __________________. Others even maintain __________________. My own view is
__________________.
*When it come to the topic of __________________, most of us will readily agree that
__________________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of
__________________. Whereas some are convinced that __________________, others maintain
that __________________.
*In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of __________________ can’t have it
both ways. Their assertion that __________________ is contradicted by their claim that
__________________.
Capturing Authorial Action
*X acknowledges that __________________.
*X agrees that __________________.
*X argues that __________________.
*X believes that __________________.
*X denies/does not deny that __________________.
*X claims that __________________.
*X complains that __________________.
*X concedes that __________________.
*X demonstrates that __________________.
*X deplores the tendency to __________________.
*X celebrates the fact that __________________.
*X emphasizes that __________________.
*X insists that __________________.
*X observes that __________________.
*X questions whether __________________.
*X refutes the claim that __________________.
*X reminds us that __________________.
*X reports that __________________.
*X suggests that __________________.
*X urges us to __________________.
Introducing Quotations
*X states, “__________________.”
*As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “__________________.”
*According to X, “__________________.”
*X himself writes, “__________________.”
*In her book, __________________, X maintains that, “__________________.”
*Writing in the journal Commentary, X complains that, “__________________.”
*In X’s views, “__________________.”
*X agrees when she writes, “__________________.”
*X disagrees when he writes, “__________________.”
*X complicates matters further when he writes, “__________________.”
Explaining Quotations
*Basically, X is saying __________________.
*In other words, X believes __________________.
*In making this comment, X urges us to __________________.
*X is corroborating the age-old adage that __________________.
*X’s point is that __________________.
*The essence of X’s argument is that __________________.
Disagreeing, With Reasons
*I think X is mistaken because she overlooks __________________.
*X’s claim that __________________ rests upon the questionable assumption that
__________________.
*I disagree with X’s view that __________________. Because, as recent research has
shown, __________________.
*X contradicts herself/can’t have it both ways. On the one hand, she argues
__________________. On the other hand, she also says __________________.
*By focusing on __________________, X overlooks the deeper problem of
__________________.
Agreeing – With A Difference
*I agree that __________________ because my experience __________________ confirms it.
*X surely is right about __________________ because, as she may not be aware, recent
studies have shown that __________________.
*X’s theory of __________________ is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the
difficult problem of __________________.
*Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it
basically boils down to __________________.
*I agree that __________________, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people
believe __________________.
*If group X is right that __________________, as I think they are, then we need to
reassess the popular assumption that __________________.
Agreeing And Disagreeing Simultaneously
*Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that
__________________.
*Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion that
__________________.
*Though I concede that __________________, I still insist that __________________.
*Whereas X provides ample evidence that __________________, Y and Z’s research on
__________________ and __________________ convinces me that __________________ instead.
*X is right that __________________, but she seems on more dubious ground when she
claims that __________________.
*While X is probably wrong when she claims that __________________, she is right that
__________________.
*I’m of two minds about X’s claim that __________________. On the one hand, I agree that
__________________. On the other hand, I’m not sure if __________________.
*My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support X’s position that __________________,
but I find Y’s argument about __________________ and Z’s research on __________________
to be equally persuasive.
Signaling Who Is Saying What
*X argues __________________.
*According to both X and Y __________________.
*Politicians __________________, X argues, should __________________.
*Most athletes will tell you that __________________.
*My own view, however, is that __________________.
*I agree, as X may not realize, that __________________.
*But __________________ are real and, arguably, the most significant factor in
__________________.
*But X is wrong that __________________.
*However, it is simply not true that __________________.
*Indeed, it is highly likely that __________________.
*X’s assertion that __________________ does not fit the facts.
*X is right that __________________.
*X is wrong that __________________.
*X is right and wrong that __________________.
*Yet a sober analysis of the matter reveals __________________.
*Anyone familiar with __________________ should agree that __________________.
Embedding Voice Markers
*X overlooks what I consider an important point about __________________.
*My own view is that what X insists is a __________________ is in fact a __________________.
*I wholeheartedly endorse what X calls __________________.
*These conclusions, which X discusses in __________________, add weight to the
argument that __________________.
Entertaining Objections
*At this point I would like to raise some objections that have been inspired by the
skeptic in me. She feels that I have been ignoring __________________.
“__________________,” she says to me, “__________________.”
*Yet some readers may challenge the view that __________________.
*Of course, many will probably disagree with this assertion that __________________.
Naming Your Naysayers
*Here many feminists would probably object that __________________.
*But social Darwinists would certainly take issue with the argument that
__________________.
*Biologists, of course, may want to question whether __________________.
*Nevertheless, both followers and critics of Malcom X will probably dispute my claim
that __________________.
*Although not all Christians think alike, some of them will probably dispute my claim
that __________________.
*Non-native English speakers are so diverse in their views that it’s hard to generalize
about them, but some are likely to object on the grounds that __________________.
Introducing Objections Informally
*But is my proposal realistic? What are the chances of its actually being adopted?
*Yet is it always true that __________________? Is it always the case, as I have been
suggesting, that __________________?
*However, does the evidence I’ve cited prove conclusively that _________________?
*”Impossible,” some will say. “You must be reading the research selectively.”
Making Concessions While Still Standing Your Ground
*Although I grant that __________________, I still maintain that__________________.
*Proponents of X are right to argue that __________________. But they exaggerate when
they claim that __________________.
*While it is true that __________________, it does not necessarily follow that
__________________.
*On the one hand, I agree with X that __________________. But on the other hand, I still
insist that __________________.
Indicating Who Cares
*__________________ used to think __________________. But recently __________________
suggests that __________________.
*These findings challenge the work of earlier researchers, who tended to assume
that __________________.
*Recent studies like these shed new light on __________________. Which previous
studies had not addressed.
*If sports enthusiasts stopped to think about it, man of them might simply assume
that the most successful athletes __________________. However, new research shows
__________________.
*These findings challenge neoliberal’s common assumptions that __________________.
*At first glance, teenagers appear to __________________. But on closer inspection
__________________.
Establishing Why Your Claims Matter
*X matters/is important because __________________.
*Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over
__________________.
*Ultimately, what is at stake here is__________________.
*These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of
__________________.
*My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of __________________.
*These conclusions/This discovery will have significant applications in
__________________ as well as in __________________.
*Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of __________________, it should
in fact concern anyone who cares about __________________.
Adding Metacommentary
*In other words, __________________.
*What __________________ really means by this is __________________.
*Ultimately, my goal is to demonstrate that __________________.
*My point is not __________________, but __________________.
*To put it another way, __________________.
*In sum, then, __________________.
*My conclusion, then, is that, __________________.
*In short, __________________.
*What is more important, __________________.
*Incidentally, __________________.
*By the way, __________________.
*Chapter ___ explores __________________, while chapter ___ examines __________________.
*Having just argued that __________________, let us now turn our attention to
__________________.
*Although some readers may object that __________________, I would answer that
__________________.
Comparing Two Or More Studies’ Findings
*Our data support/confirm/verify the work of X by showing that __________________.
*By demonstrating __________________, X work extends the findings of Y.
*The results of X contradict/refute Y’s conclusion that __________________.
*X’s findings call into question the widely accepted theory that __________________.
*Our data are consistent with X’s hypothesis that __________________.
Explaining An Experimental Result
*One explanation for X’s finding of __________________ is that __________________. An
alternative explanation is __________________.
*The difference between __________________ and __________________ is probably due to
__________________.
Introducing Gaps In The Existing Research
*Studies of X have indicated __________________. It is not clear, however, that this
conclusion applies to __________________.
*__________________ often take for granted that __________________. Few have investigated
this assumption, however.
*X’s work tells us a great deal about __________________. Can this work be generalized
to __________________?
Commonly Used Transitions
Cause and Effect
accordingly
consequently
it follows, then
since
then
thus
Conclusion
as a result
consequently
the upshot of all of this is that
in conclusion, then
in short
it follows, then
to summarize
as a result
therefore
so
hence
hence
therefore
to sum up
so
thus
Comparison
along the same lines
likewise
in the same way
similarly
Contrast
although
by contrast
on the other hand
however
nevertheless
on the contrary
regardless
while
but
conversely
even though
in contrast
nonetheless
despite
whereas
yet
in fact
moreover
and
furthermore
indeed
so too
Addition
also
besides
in addition
Concession
admittedly
granted
of course
to be sure
Example
after all
consider
for instance
as an illustration
to take a case in point
specifically
for example
Elaboration
actually
to put it bluntly
ultimately
to put it another way
in short
to put it succinctly
in other words
by extension
that is
although it is true
I concede that
naturally