Useful Phrases for Proficiency Essays
Introducing the phenomenon to be discussed
More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ...............
Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
Hardly a week goes by without another report of ................. appearing in the media.
This raises the issue of whether .................
Although most people would generally agree that ............... few would deny that ................
Stating your opinion
As I see it,
It seems to me that ............ I would also say that ....
I am convinced that ...............
I am inclined to believe that ..................
There is no doubt in my mind that ..................
One of the drawbacks of ....... is ..........
However, one of the benefits is that ............
Changing topic
As regards the causes for this, ..............
Concerning the causes for this, .........
As for the causes, ...........
Presenting arguments
One justification often given for ........... is that.................
Advocates/Proponents would claim that ..................
Those who object to ................. often argue that ...................
