Language Summary:

Structure of paragraphs in the body of an argumentative essay

X	=	another writer on this issue	Y	=	a conclusion
		who you are citing

Stage

Language to use at this stage

Give the most general statement about the opposing position on this topic. Attach a problematising phrase to the statement to make it appear debatable and possibly untrue.

X	asserts	that....
	contends
	maintains
	argues
	claims

It	has been	asserted	that....
	is	contended
	could be	maintained
	might be	argued
	may be	claimed

It is the	assertion	of X that ....
	contention
	argument
	claim

One of the	assertions	in support of	Y is that....
		in favour of
	contentions	supporting
		for
	arguments	opposing
		against

One	objection to Y is that ...
A common
A frequently heard

Expand or develop that opposing position. Attach a problematising phrase to each further opposing argument to make it appear debatable and possibly untrue.

It is	also	argued	that ....
		claimed
		asserted
	further	maintained
		contended
		said

.... so this argument goes .....

This position goes on to further	argue	that ....
	contend
	claim
	maintain
	assert

Signal that you are shifting to arguments that support your main conclusion ...

However, .....

... and begin with a general supporting argument on the topic of the paragraph drawn (preferably) from an authoritative published source

... as X	explains	....
	states
	shows

Expand and develop the arguments on this paragraph topic that support your main conclusion.

Moreover,	......
In addtion,
Furthermore,

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Lesson Modules 1. Unit One 2. Unit Two 3. Unit Three4. Unit Four 5. Unit Five Site Index

Language Summary:

Structure of paragraphs in the body of an argumentative essay

Lesson Modules 1. Unit One 2. Unit Two 3. Unit Three 4. Unit Four 5. Unit Five Site Index