Introducing What an Author Says

• 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 celebrates the fact that _____________.
• X insists that _____________.
• X questions whether _____________.
• X reminds us that _____________.
• X reports that _____________.
• X suggests that _____________. 

Introducing “Standard Views”

• Americans today tend to believe that ______________.
• Common sense seems to say that _________________. 
• It is often said that __________________.
• Many people assume that ______________. 

Introducing an Ongoing Debate

• In discussions of __________, one controversial issue has been ____________. On the one hand, ______________ argues __________________. On the other hand, ______________ opposes _____________. Others even believe ______________. My own view is ______________.
•  
• When it comes to the topic of ________, most of us will readily agree that __________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of _____________. While some are convinced that _____________, others believe that _____________.

Using a Quotation (i.e., Backing up your argument with proof)

• X states, “_______” ( ).
• Example: Standage states, “Some [drinks] have served to highlight the power and status of the elite” (2) 
• According to X, “____” ( ).
• According to Standage, “Wine was the lifeblood of [Greece]” (3).
• X himself writes, “_______” ( ).
• Standage himself writes, “Six beverages... chart the flow of world history” (2).
• Odysseus himself says, “I longed for sweet Penelope” (9.21).
• In his book, ______________, X maintains that “________” ( ).
• In his book, A History of the World in Six Glasses, Standage maintains that “Greek and Roman knowledge... had been safeguarded and extended by scholars in the Arab world” (4).
• Writing in the magazine ________, X complains that “____________” ( ).
• Writing in the online magazine Salon, Weitz complains that “reality television is little more than gladiatorial combat” (3).
• X agrees when she writes, “_____” ( ).
• I believe wine was the most influential drink in history. Standage agrees when he writes, “Wins was the lifeblood of [Greece]” (4).

Explaining a Quotation (i.e., Showing that you understand what the quote says)

• Basically, X is saying _______.
• In other words, X believes ____________.
• In making this comment, X urges us to ________.
• In making this comment, Cepeda urges us to look consider whether we do, actually, like hard work.
• X’s point is that _________.
• The essence of X’s argument is that _____________.

Naming Your Naysayers or Opponents (i.e., Introducing your rebuttal)

• Here many ____________ would probably object that _______.
• Here many proponents of choice reading would probably object that complex texts destroy the enjoyment of reading.
• Of course, ____________s would certainly take issue with the argument that ________.
• Of course, antiglobalization activists would certainly take issue with the argument that globalization helps out developing countries.
• ___________s, of course, may want to question whether ______________.
• Patriots, of course, may want to question whether the United States is acting out of selfish motives in its wars overseas.
• Nevertheless, critics of _________ will probably argue that ______________.
• Nevertheless, critics of student-chosen reading will probably argue that reading complex texts is the only way to increase reading levels.
• Although not all _____________s  think alike, some of them will probably dispute my claim that ______________.
• Although not all globalization fans think alike, some of them will probably dispute my claim that globalized companies are destroying developing countries.

Making a Concession (i.e., They have a point, BUT...)

• Admittedly, ___________.
• Proponents of X are right to argue that ______________. But they are exaggerating when they claim that _____________.
• Proponents of complex texts are right to argue that reading such material is essential for post-secondary success. But they are exaggerating when they claim that Standage’s book is the only possible complex text for world history students to read.
• While it is true that __________, it does not necessary follow that _____________.
• On the one hand, X is right to say ________________. On the other hand, it is still true that _________________.

Disagreeing, with Reasons (i.e., They are just wrong)

• X is mistaken because she overlooks ______________.
• X’s claim that ____________ rests upon the questionable assumption that __________________.
• X 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 ________________.

Establishing Why Your Claims Matter (i.e., Why should I care about this argument?)

*This is great clincher material*

• X matters because _____________________.
• High school matters because it either opens or closes doors into the rest of my life.
• Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over _________________.
• Although doing homework may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of succeeding in high school and developing my brain.
• Ultimately, what is at stake here is ________________________.
• Ultimately, what is at stake here is my lifelong flourishing; being lazy now means being unhappy for decades.
• Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of _________________, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about ________________.
• Although high school may seem of concern to only a small group of nerdy students, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about having an enjoyable life.

• 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 tbe generated to _______?