Templates
Introducing a Point of View
- A number of _______________ have recently suggested that _______________.
- Conventional wisdom has it that _______________.
- Common sense seems to dictate that _______________.
- The standard way of thinking about topic X is that _______________.
- It is often said that _______________.
- Many people assume that _______________.
- It has become common to believe that _______________.
Introducing Something Implied or Assumed
One implication of X’s treatment of _______________ is that _______________.
- Although X does not say so directly, he/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 that _______________. On the other hand, _______________ contends that _______________. Others even maintain that _______________.
- When it comes to the topic of _______________, most will readily agree that _______________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of _______________. Whereas some are convinced that _______________, others maintain that _______________.
Disagreeing
- X’s claim that _______________ rests upon the questionable assumption that _______________.
- X contradicts himself/can’t have it both ways. On one hand, he argues _______________ . On the other hand, he also says _______________.
- By focusing on _______________ , X overlooks the deeper problem of _______________ .
Agreeing and Disagreeing
- Whereas X provides ample evidence that _______________ , Y and Z’s research on _______________ and _______________ suggests _______________ 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 _______________.
Entertaining Objections
- Yet some readers may challenge the view that _______________.
- Of course, many will probably disagree with the assertion that _______________.
Making Concessions While Standing Your Ground
- 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 _______________.
Indicating Who Cares
- 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.
- Researchers have long assumed that _______________. For instance, one scholar of _______________, assumed in _______________, his/her work on _______________ that _______________. However, a new body of research shows that _______________ is _______________.
- These findings challenge common assumptions of _______________ that _______________.
- At first glance, _______________ appears to _______________. 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 _______________.
- This conclusion will have significant applications in _______________.
- Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of _______________, it should concern anyone who cares about _______________.
Explaining What the Research Means
- The data suggests _______________.
- Results demonstrate _______________.
- By demonstrating _______________, X’s work extends the findings of Y.
- X’s findings call into question the widely accepted theory that _______________.
- The study’s findings are consistent with X’s claim that _______________.
Introducing Metacommentary
To Ward off Potential Misunderstandings- This is not to say _______________, but rather _______________.
- X is concerned less with _______________ than with _______________.
To Elaborate on a Previous Idea
- In other words, _______________.
- To put it another way _______________.
- What X is saying here is _______________.
To Move from a General Claim to a Specific Example
- For example, _______________.
- _______________, for instance, demonstrates _______________.
- Consider_______________, for example.
Transitions
Addition • Also • And • Besides • Furthermore • In addition
• Indeed • In fact • Moreover • So too
• Indeed • In fact • Moreover • So too
Example
• After all • As an illustration • Consider • For instance
• For example • Specifically • To take a case in point
• For example • Specifically • To take a case in point
Elaboration
• Actually • By extension • In short • In other words
• To put it succinctly • To put it bluntly • To put it another way
• Ultimately
• To put it succinctly • To put it bluntly • To put it another way
• Ultimately
Comparison
• Along the same lines • In the same way • Likewise • Similarly
Contrast
• Although • By contrast • Conversely • Despite • Even though
• However • In contrast • Nevertheless • Nonetheless
• On the contrary • On the other hand • Regardless • Whereas
• While yet
• However • In contrast • Nevertheless • Nonetheless
• On the contrary • On the other hand • Regardless • Whereas
• While yet
Cause and Effect
• Accordingly • As a result • Consequently • Hence • Since
• So • Then • Therefore • Thus
• So • Then • Therefore • Thus
Concession
• Admittedly • Although it is true • Granted • Naturally
• Of course • To be sure
• Of course • To be sure
Conclusion
• As a result • Consequently • Hence • In conclusion
• In short • In sum • Therefore • Thus • To sum up
• To summarize
<<Write some material to introduce this document. I hope it's not copyrighted!>>
• In short • In sum • Therefore • Thus • To sum up
• To summarize
<<Write some material to introduce this document. I hope it's not copyrighted!>>
Getting Started
As with any activity you enjoy and feel confident doing, writing is a process that will take effort and practice until you develop the muscle memory that makes it feel natural. Initially, there may be occasions that leave you wondering where to begin—in fact, even experienced writers spend a great deal of time watching the cursor blink on a blank screen as they sort through their ideas—but over time you’ll likely develop a few strategies to draw upon when writer’s block strikes. Below you’ll find some basic pointers to consider when you embark on a new writing assignment.
Directions: They Exist for a Reason
This seems obvious, but before you begin an assignment, read the description and directions provided very carefully. Look for verbs that specify the approach you should take when interacting with your topic. Are you being asked to analyze? Argue? Propose? The answer will give you valuable direction when you’re beginning. This is also a good time to note additional requirements, things like the number and type of sources, the style of formatting, and the intended audience are also important elements that will shape the way you approach your topic. The assignment description is often a roadmap to a respectable grade; ignore it at the peril of your final score.
Generating Ideas
Sometimes you’ll immediately know what topic you want to explore for a given assignment and others you’ll have to do some work to uncover an interesting and appropriate focus. Below are a few strategies for generating ideas at the beginning of a writing project.
Brainstorming: Focus on a broad idea or concept that you’d like to narrow into a topic. Jotting down key words or phrases, make a list of everything that occurs to you about the idea. This is not the time to edit your thinking—banish the harsh editor or critical inner voice to the other room and let yourself brainstorm freely. Once you’ve generated a decent list, review it to look for connections and key words that you can research further.
Sketching: Are you someone who always doodles in the margins of your notes and draws on napkins? The act of creating images can sometimes better develop ideas as you translate your thoughts into a visual representation. If you’re lucky, the process of drawing an idea will lead to a breakthrough that might assist in the concepts or organization of your paper.
Clustering: Sometimes referred to as making a web, clustering allows you to start with your basic idea and build outward from there In a center circle, write your topic. Then start branching out with related words or ideas, and drawing lines from one to the other to show their connectivity. This can often lead to the discovery of subtopics, opposing views to investigate further, and an outline for how the paper will progress.
Questioning: When a journalist is just beginning a story, they will establish the five Ws and H of their topic. When approaching your own topic, try to develop the who, what, when, where, why, and how. If you can discover who is involved, what is at stake, or why a particular occurrence is happening, you can better understand the scope of your topic and what elements are most important to understanding it.
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- RESOURCES and TOOLS Elise Russell