View source for Argumentative phrases for essays

These are common expressions for framing one’s ideas1. The asterisks [*] indicate expressions that are not preferred in academic English, e.g., due to their informality; first person, especially ''I'', is generally to be avoided in most formal academic writing<ref>Adapted from an excerpt from Nattinger, J. & DeCarrico, J. 1992. ''Lexical Phrase and Language Teaching''. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. pp. 165-6.</ref>. 

==Essay opening==
===Topic priming===
* for a long time X, it has been the case that Y
* it is/has been (often) asserted / believed / noted that X
* most accounts of X state / claim / maintain that Y
* according to, X is Y
* one of the most controversial/important X’s (in the recent literature) is Y

===Topic nomination (naming / identifying a topic): Statement of purpose===
* this paper intends / is designed to X
* the basic emphasis / purpose / goal of the paper / article is to X
* I/we / this paper intends to show / demonstrate / illustrate that X* 
* the purpose of this study / analysis / discussion is to X

===Topic nomination: Statement of topic===
* this paper treats / discusses / claims that X
* it is the case that X
* my/our / this paper’s argument is essentially that X*
* I/we / this paper claims / maintains / contends that X*

===Statement of organization===
* this paper will compare / contrast / describe / demonstrate that X (first) (by analyzing / comparing / demonstrating) (that Y) (then by ____ing Z, and finally by ____ing A)
* in what follows, X will be examined in erms of Y (and Z)

==Body==
===asserting===
* it can be claimed / said / assumed that X
* it seems certain / likely / doubtful that X
* I/we / this paper maintains / claims that X*

===agreeing===
* as X perceptively states
* I/we rather / somewhat / strongly agree with / support (the idea that) X*
* X provides / lends support to Y’s argument / claim / conclusion that Z / about Z

===disagreeing===
* as X would have us believe, 
* I/we rather / somewhat / strongly disagree with X*
* as X states (somewhat) unclearly / erroneously
* X does not support Y’s argument / claim / conclusion that Z
* although X contends that Y
* rather, this paper argues that X
* X in no way substantiates / supports Y
* X repudiates / disproves / disconfirms / calls Y into question 

===comparing===
* both X and Y are (quite) similar in that Z
* X resembles Y
* X and Y have / share some aspects of Z
* X and Y have in common that Z
* X is not unlike Y in that / with respect to Z

===contrasting===
* X is (quite) different from Y (in that Z)
* X is not the case that / the same as Y
* X in no way resembles Y
* X contrasts with Y (in that Z)
* X is unlike Y in that / with respect to Z

===recommending===
* it is suggested / recommended that X
* this study recommends that X
* I / we recommend / suggest that X*

===substantiating===
* as proof / evidence / an example (for this) ...
* according to ______
* as X says / claims / maintains / demonstrates 
* X provides evidence / support that Y
* X substantiates Y

===classifying===
* X can / may / might be divided / classified into Y (and Z)
* X and Y are categories / divisions of Z

===demonstrating===
X demonstrates / shows that Y
X is an illustration of Y


==References==
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[[Category:Writing]]