State your position:

 

• In my opinion....

• I believe that....

• It seems obvious to me that....

• Although not everybody would agree, my position is....

 

Support your position:

• I have several reasons for arguing this point of view.

• My first reason is.... Another reason is....

• There are several points I want to make to support my point of view.• Research shows.........

• It has been found that .................

 

Consider the counterargument:

• Some argue that....

• They say (claim, hold, maintain) that....

•  On the other hand, there are many who disagree with the idea that....

• They also argue that....

•  A further point they make is....

• Yet some argue vehemently that....

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Restate your position:

• However, there are several reasons to oppose this point of view.

• After looking closely at both sides of the issue and the evidence, I believe it is best to....because...• Despite the fact that....it is also vital to consider....

• Well, that is only partly the case. The other side of the story is....

• The advantages of ... outweigh the disadvantages of....

• The issue is not so much a question of..., but a question of....

• What it seems to come down to is... versus....

• Even though the issue has two sides, I think I have shown that....

• Even though both sides have merits, the greater good will come from....

• If we look closely at..., we will see that it is better to....

• Based on the evidence so far, we should...because ....

• When you take a close look at this part, you see that....

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INTRODUCTORY PHRASES

• In my opinion

• I believe

• It is my belief that

 

CONCLUDING PHRASES

• For the reasons above

• As you can see

• As I have noted

• In other words

• On the whole

 

SUPPORTING OPINIONS

• I question whether

• I (dis) agree with

• I maintain that

• In brief

• Undoubtedly

• In any case

• Summarizing

• In any event

 

TRANSITIONAL PHRASES

• There is no doubt that

• From my point of view

• It seems to me that

• In short

• To be sure

• Without a doubt

• Obviously

• Unquestionably

​

SUPPORTING OPINIONS

• First

• Second

• Third

• Finally

• Furthermore

• In addition

• Also

• Last

• Equally important

• In the first place

• Likewise

• For instance

• As evidence

• Caused by

• This results in

• Consequently

• Accordingly

• As a result of

• Leads to

• Likewise

• In the same way

• Contrasting

• On the contrary

• As opposed to

• Rather than Nevertheless

• Besides Next Moreover

• Further

• Again Similarly

 

INTRODUCING DETAILS

• For example

• In fact

 

CAUSE AND EFFECT

• Since

• Because of

• Due to

• For this reason

• Therefore

• If...then

 

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

• Similarly

• Compared to

• In like manner

• On the other hand

• Although

• Even though

 

COUNTERING

• In support of this

• In effect

• Brought about

• Made possible

• As might be expected

• Give rise to

• Was responsible for

• I realize you

• I understand you Even though you Although you

• Some people

• It may be that you Your idea to ____ deserves some merit

• Believe

• Feel

• Maintain

• Want

• Support

• Argue

• State

• But

• Yet

• However

• I doubt

• I question

• Let me explain

• On the other hand

• Nevertheless