Sentence Frames for Argument Writing
In recent ___________________, we have been hearing a great deal about _____________________________________by ____________________________________.
___________________________________________has been in the news recently because ___________________________________________________________________.
Use this frame at the outset of your argument to introduce an ongoing debate:
In discussions of ______________________________, one controversial issue has been _______________________________. People who believe _____________________ claim that _________________________________. On the other hand, those who believe _________________________________________ assert that ____________________
_______________________________________________________________. My own view is __________________________________________________________________________________.
Use this frame to establish common ground on a controversial issue:
When it comes to the topic of ______________________________, most of us would agree that ______________________________________. Where this agreement ends, however, is on the question of ___________________________. Whereas some are convinced that ___________________________________ others maintain that ___________________________________________. My own view is that ___________________________________________________________________________.
Use these frames as you acknowledge that the opposing side has a certain degree of validity:
While at one time it may have been true that ____________________________, we can now state that _______________________________________________.
________________________ makes sense when he/she/they say _________________
_______________________, but ____________________________________________________.
Despite the validity of __________________’s claim that ________________________, he/she/they miss the mark when it comes to ______________________________ because __________________________________________________________________.
Use these frames to establish working definitions of key terms:
For the purpose of this discussion, I will define _____________________________
as ________________________________________________.
Although you might think of _____________________________________ as being just another ____________________________, I define it as _______________________.
Use these frames to establish or deny a comparison:
______________________________ is like ________________________________. They both ____________________________________.
_______________________________________(s) may say that _________________________ is like ______________________________________, but the comparison is false because while ___________________________________is ___________________________, it is not as _________________________ as they claim.
Use these frames to establish the importance of this topic:
______________________________is important because _________________________.
We should care about ___________________________because if __________________
_____________________, then _____________________________________________________.
Ultimately, what is at stake here is _________________________________________.
My discussion of ________________________________________ addresses the larger matter of ________________________________________________________.
Use these frames to trace the development of your own views:
I’ve always believed that __________________________________________.
When I was a child, I used to think that _____________________________________, but/and now I realize that ___________________________________________________.
At the same time that I believe _____________________________________, I also believe ___________________________________________.
After careful consideration and as a result of my experience, I have/have not changed my mind about ____________________________________.
Use these words and phrases to establish cause and effect:
Because (of) ________________________, __________________________________________.
_____________________ has led to _______________________________________. For this reason, I believe that ____________________________________________.
As a result of _______________________, I recommend ___________________________.
Without _____________________we have ________________________. Therefore, we must ___________________________________________________.
Use these noun phrases to negatively characterize your opponents:
those who disregard those who take a narrow view
pessimists people who live in the past
naysayers people who are unaware
those on the sidelines those who would have us believe
hardliners those who live only for the moment
Use these noun phrases to positively characterize your supporters:
progressive thinkers prudent thinkers
those who think about proactive people
those who care about civic-minded people
those who know about serious people
those who understand people with regard for
optimists realists