5.6: Common Response Phrases

How Arguments Work · LibreTexts

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    Here are all of the common phrases discussed in Chapter 5: Responding to an Argument. Each heading links to the relevant section of the text.

    Call for clarification

    • X should specify whether they mean _____________ or _____________.
    • X should explain what they mean by _____________.
    • X should elaborate on the concept of _____________.

    Call for support and research

    • Further research on _____________ could show us _____________.
    • A study of _____________ might show whether _____________.
    • Is it really the case that _____________? We need more information about _____________.
    • An investigation of _____________ could help us determine the role of _____________ in _____________.

    Suggest a limit to the claim

    • We should recognize that this pattern is limited to cases where _____________.
    • The argument holds true in situations where _____________.
    • It is important to note that this claim only applies to _____________.
    • _____________ is a notable exception because _____________.
    • We should note that this claim is certainly not true of _____________.

    Point to further implications 

    • The idea that _____________ could apply to _____________ as well.
    • Beyond _____________, X’s argument has implications for _____________.
    • This argument shows how important it is that we take action on _____________.
    • If we accept the idea that _____________, as we should, then the time has come to _____________.
    • Given X’s points, shouldn’t we consider _____________?

    Introduce alternative or additional reasons 

    • Better evidence for _____________ lies in _____________.
    • Another reason why _____________ is that _____________.
    • The fact that _____________ provides further support for X’s claim.
    • My own experience has also shown that _____________ , which leads me to agree with X.
    • I have seen firsthand how _____________.
    • In addition to the evidence X gives, it is also worth considering that _____________.

    Underscore the importance of an argument

    • X’s claim is important because _____________.
    • This is especially concerning because _____________.
    • We should take note of this since _____________.

    Suggest ways to spread the word

    • We could help spread awareness of _____________ by _____________.
    • The idea that _____________ should be taught in _____________ classes.
    • We should all talk to those we know about _____________.

    Introduce alternate claims

    • Instead of _____________, I would argue that _____________.
    • A more accurate claim would be _____________.
    • In actuality, _____________.
    • The idea that _____________ better accounts for  the evidence.
    • We can find a better explanation of _____________ in _____________.
    • As we have seen, it is not true that _____________. Rather, _____________.

    Reframe the issue

    • Instead of focusing on _____________, we should look at the question in the light of _____________.
    • A better way to frame the issue of _____________ would be in terms of _____________.
    • To better understand _____________, we should first ask ourselves _____________.

    This page titled 5.6: Common Response Phrases was last modified on Tue, 13 May 2025 22:25:54 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Anna Mills.