Download INDEX OF TEMPLATES and more Lecture notes Sociology in PDF only on Docsity!
I NDEX OF T EMPLATES
I NTRODUCING WHAT “T HEY SAY ”
¾ A number of sociologists have recently suggested that X’s work has several fundamental problems. ¾ It has become common today to dismiss X’s contribution to the field of sociology. ¾ In their recent work, Y and Z have offered harsh critiques of Dr. X for _________.
I NTRODUCING “STANDARD V IEWS ”
¾ Americans tend to believe that __________. ¾ Conventional wisdom has it that __________. ¾ Common sense seems to dictate that __________. ¾ The standard way of thinking about Topic X has it that __________. ¾ It is often said that __________. ¾ My whole life I have heard it said that __________. ¾ You would think that __________. ¾ Many people assumed that __________.
M AKING WHAT “T HEY SAY ” SOMETHING YOU S AY
¾ I’ve always believed that __________. ¾ When I was a child, I used to think that __________. ¾ Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that _________. ¾ At the same time that I believe __________, I also believe __________.
I NTRODUCING SOMETHING I MPLIED OR A SSUMED
¾ Although none of them has ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me the impression that __________. ¾ One implication of X’s treatment of __________ is that __________. ¾ Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that __________.
I NTRODUCING AN O NGOING D EBATE
¾ In discussions of X, one controversial issue has been __________. On the one hand, __________ argues __________. On the other hand, __________ contends __________. Others even maintain __________. My own view is __________. ¾ 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 __________. Whereas some are convinced that __________, others maintain that __________. ¾ In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of __________ can’t have it both ways. Their assertion that __________ is contradicted by their claim that __________.
CAPTURING A UTHORIAL A CTION
¾ X acknowledges that __________. ¾ X agrees that __________. ¾ X argues that __________. ¾ X believes that __________. ¾ X denies/does not deny that _____. ¾ X claims that __________. ¾ X complains that __________. ¾ X concedes that __________. ¾ X demonstrates that __________. ¾ X deplores the tendency to ______.
¾ X celebrates the fact that ________. ¾ X emphasizes that __________. ¾ X insists that __________. ¾ X observes that __________. ¾ X questions that __________. ¾ X refuses the claim that ________. ¾ X reminds us that __________. ¾ X suggests that __________. ¾ X urges us to __________.
I NTRODUCING QUOTATIONS
¾ X states, “__________.” ¾ As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “__________.” ¾ According to X, “__________.”
¾ X’s theory of __________ is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the difficult problem of __________. ¾ I agree that __________, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe __________. ¾ Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to __________. ¾ If group X is right that __________, as I think they are, then we need to reassess the popular assumption that __________.
A GREEING AND D ISAGREEING SIMULTANEOUSLY
¾ Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that __________. ¾ Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion that __________. ¾ Though I concede that __________, I still insist that __________. ¾ Whereas X provides ample evidence that __________, Y and Z’s research on __________ and __________ convinces me that __________ instead. ¾ X is right that __________, but she seems on more dubious ground when she claims that __________. ¾ While X is probably wrong when she claims that __________, she is right that __________. ¾ I’m of two minds about X’s claim that __________. On the one hand, I agree that __________. On the other hand, I’m not sure if __________. ¾ My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support X’s position that __________, but I find Y’s argument about __________ and Z’s research on __________ to be equally persuasive.
SIGNALING WHO I S SAYING WHAT
¾ X argues __________. ¾ According to both X and Y, __________.
¾ Politicians __________, X argues, should __________. ¾ Most athletes will tell you that __________. ¾ My own view, however, is that __________. ¾ I agree, as X may not realize, that __________. ¾ But __________ are real and, arguably, the most significant factor in __________. ¾ But X is wrong that __________. ¾ However, it is simply not true that __________. ¾ Indeed, it is highly likely that __________. ¾ But the view that __________ does not fit all the facts. ¾ X is right/wrong that __________. ¾ X is both right and wrong that __________. ¾ Yet a sober analysis of the matter reveals __________. ¾ Nevertheless, new research shows __________. ¾ Anyone familiar with __________ should see that __________.
E MBEDDING V OICE M ARKERS
¾ X overlooks what I consider an important point about __________. ¾ My own view is that what X insists is a __________ is in fact a __________. ¾ I wholeheartedly endorse what X calls __________. ¾ These conclusions, which X discusses in __________, add weight to the argument that __________.
E NTERTAINING O BJECTIONS
¾ Yet some readers may challenge the view that __________. After all, many believe __________. Indeed, my own argument that __________ seems to ignore __________ and __________. ¾ Of course, many will probably disagree with this assertion that __________.
¾ Researchers have long assumed that __________. For instance, one eminent scholar of cell biology, __________, assumed in __________, her seminal work on cell structures and functions, that fat cells __________. As __________ herself put it, “__________” (200-). Another leading scientist, __________, argued that fat cells “__________” (200-). Ultimately, when it came to the nature of fat, the basic assumption was that __________. But a new body of research shows that fat cells are far more complex and that __________. ¾ If sports enthusiasts stopped to think about it, many of them might simply assume that the most successful athletes __________. However, new research shows __________. ¾ These findings challenge dieters’ common assumptions that __________. ¾ At first glance, teenagers appear to__________. But on closer inspection __________.
E STABLISHING WHY YOUR CLAIMS M ATTER
¾ X matters/is important because __________. ¾ Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over __________. ¾ Ultimately, what is at stake here is __________. ¾ These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of __________. ¾ My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of __________. ¾ These conclusions/This discovery will have significant applications in __________ as well as in __________. ¾ Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of __________, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about __________.
From “They Say/I Say”: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 2006.
COMMONLY U SED T RANSITIONS
Cause and Effect accordingly as a result consequently hence
it follows, then since so then
therefore thus
Conclusion as a result consequently hence in conclusion, then in short
in sum, then it follows, then so the upshot of all this is that
therefore thus to sum up to summarize
Comparison along the same lines in the same way
likewise similarly
Contrast although but by contrast conversely despite the fact that even though
however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless on the contrary on the other hand
regardless whereas while yet
Addition also and besides
furthermore in addition in fact
indeed moreover so too
Concession admittedly although it is true that granted
I concede that of course naturally
to be sure
