Argumentative Sentence Starters

Argumentative Sentence Starters A. Introduction sentence starters (to be written at the end of introduction) Use these to introduce your stand clearly: • In my view, … • I firmly believe that … • I strongly disagree with the idea that … • It is my considered opinion that … • There is no doubt that … • It is often said that …; however, I feel that … • When we consider the lives of young people today, it becomes clear that … • In today’s fast-paced world, … • As technology continues to shape our lives, … • Looking at the experiences of teenagers in Singapore and around the world, … Examples linked to your topics: • In my view, being very competitive is not always desirable. • I strongly believe that social media does more harm than good for young people. • There is no doubt that schools should teach students practical skills such as cooking and managing finances. B. Transition words and linking expressions Use these to organise ideas within and between paragraphs. Adding points • In addition, … • Moreover, … • Another important point is that …

• On top of that, … Giving examples • For example, … • For instance, … • This can be seen when … • A clear example of this is … • One illustration of this is … Explaining or emphasising • This shows that … • This clearly demonstrates that … • This suggests that … • Therefore, … • As a result, … • Consequently, … • For this reason, … Showing cause and effect • Because of this, … • Due to this, … • As a result of … • This has led to … • This results in … C. Showing an opposing view (counter-argument) Use these to introduce what “others” might say: • Some people argue that … • Critics claim that …

• On the other hand, some believe that … • There are those who feel that … • Many people are convinced that … • A common view is that … • It is often believed that … • Supporters of this view point out that … Examples with your topics: • Some people argue that social media helps young people stay connected and informed. • On the other hand, some believe that being very competitive pushes students to achieve their best. • Many people are convinced that all you need to succeed in life is a positive attitude. D. Rebuttal sentence starters (refuting the opposing view) Use these right after you state the opposing view: • However, this view overlooks the fact that … • However, this argument is weak because … • Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that … • This may be true to some extent, but … • While this sounds reasonable, it ignores the reality that … • Even though some people think this way, in reality … • On closer examination, … • In fact, … • What this argument fails to consider is that … • Despite these claims, the evidence shows that … • Although this view is popular, it is not entirely accurate because … Examples with your topics:

• Some people argue that social media helps young people stay connected and informed. However, this view overlooks the fact that constant exposure can also lead to cyberbullying and unhealthy comparison. • Many people are convinced that all you need to succeed in life is a positive attitude. This may be true to some extent, but it ignores the reality that hard work, support and opportunities are also crucial. • Supporters of competitiveness say it motivates students to do their best. On closer examination, excessive competition can create stress and damage friendships. E. Impactful words and expressions for convincing arguments These are high-utility words/phrases that work across most of your topics (competitiveness, social media, happiness, youth, money, health, devices, etc.). To sound convincing and confident • It is crucial that … • It is essential to recognise that … • It is undeniable that … • It is increasingly clear that … • There is growing evidence that … • We cannot ignore the fact that … • We must acknowledge that … • It is highly likely that … • It is no coincidence that … To show degree (strengthen or soften claims) • greatly / significantly / severely (e.g. significantly affects, severely harms) • largely / mainly / mostly • to a large extent / to some extent • increasingly • rarely / hardly ever

Examples: • Social media has significantly affected the way young people see themselves. • Advertising has greatly influenced the way people spend money. • Parental protection is necessary, but being overly protective can stop teenagers from learning independence. To discuss impact and consequences • has a positive / negative impact on … • plays a major role in … • shapes the way … (young people think / behave) • leads to / results in … • can cause / may cause … • contributes to … • has long-term consequences for … Examples: • Being obsessed with celebrities can shape the way young people dress and behave. • An unhealthy lifestyle leads to serious health problems in the long term. • Electronic devices play a major role in how students study today. To compare and contrast • in contrast • on the other hand • unlike … • whereas … • compared to … • while some … others … Examples: • While some young people are obsessed with fame, others focus on making a positive difference in their communities.

• Compared to the past, teenagers today have far more access to electronic devices. F . Conclusion sentence starters Use these to wrap up your essay in a strong, focused way: • In conclusion, … • To sum up, … • All things considered, … • Taking everything into account, … • Ultimately, … • In the final analysis, … • In the end, it is clear that … Examples with your topics: • In conclusion, while social media has its advantages, it does more harm than good when it is used without control. • Ultimately, a positive attitude is important, but it is not the only thing we need to succeed in life. • Taking everything into account, it is clear that young people are capable of changing the world for the better, but they need guidance and support.