This resource highlights five common categories for introducing other writers’ ideas into your own essay.
Arguments
Example: Friedman argues that the Chinese educational system serves as a model for American schools.
Use when you want to articulate the author’s main argument
Other phrases that accomplish the same purpose:
- Identifies the issue of how the Chinese educational system is a model for American schools.
- claims that…
- asserts that…
- states that…
Observations
Example: Friedman observes one teacher’s carefully structured lesson plan.
When to use: When you want to present the author’s evidence, firsthand example, or observation—something the author uses to support the overall argument
Other phrases that accomplish the same purpose:
- notes that in one particular class, the lesson plan is structured effectively.
- presents as evidence…
- To support this claim, Friedman describes…
- bases the majority of his argument on…
- provides the example of…
Counterarguments
Example: Friedman concedes that training teachers in all classrooms poses a challenge to the school system.
When to use: When you want to introduce a counterargument—something that challenges the author’s idea
Other phrases that accomplish the same purpose:
- addresses the disagreement around the school-wide training of teachers.
- admits that…
- acknowledges that…
Emphases
Example: Friedman emphasizes Chinese schools’ consistent focus on professional development for its teachers.
When to use: When you want to present an important sub point that the author highlighted or repeated in the original text
Other phrases that accomplish the same purpose:
- draws our attention to…
- underscores…
- highlights…
Implications
Example: Friedman implies that standardized testing is an accurate measure of student learning in elementary schools.
When to use: When you want to identify a point the author seems to make, but doesn’t state directly
Other phrases that accomplish the same purpose:
- seems to suggest that…
- implies that…
- suggests that…
This resource from the Baruch College Writing Center is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to share, adapt, transform, or otherwise use this material in any medium, with attribution.
