Research Templates

Research Templates for Integrating Research into Your Writing

Adapted from from: Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/ I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing. New York: Norton, 2010

The following research templates and transitions can help you to clearly and concisely put your research (what "they" say) in conversation with your own ideas about your topic (what "I," or you, say). Each category explains its purpose (to introduce a quote, comment on a quote, engage with counterarguments, transition between ideas or sections of your essay, etc.) and offers an easy-to-use format for your own writing.

Introducing What an Author Says:

X acknowledges that _____________.
X agrees that _____________.
X argues that _____________.
X believes that _____________.
X denies/does not deny that _____________.
X claims that _____________.
X complains that _____________.
X concedes that _____________.
X demonstrates that _____________.
X celebrates the fact that _____________.
X insists that _____________.
X questions whether _____________.
X reminds us that _____________.
X reports that _____________.
X suggests that _____________.

Introducing “Standard Views”:

Americans today tend to believe that ______________.
Common sense seems to say that _________________.
It is often said that __________________.
Many people assume that ______________.

Introducing an Ongoing Debate:

In discussions of __________, one controversial issue has been ____________. On the one hand, ______________ argues __________________. On the other hand, ______________ opposes _____________. Others even believe ______________. My own view is ______________.
When it comes to the topic of ________, most of us will readily agree that __________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of _____________. While some are convinced that _____________, others believe that _____________.

Using a Quotation (i.e. backing up your argument with proof):

X states, “_______” ( ).
According to X, “____” ( ).
X himself writes, “_______” ( ).
In his book, ______________, X maintains that “________” ( ).
Writing in the magazine ________, X complains that “____________” ( ).
X agrees when she writes, “_____” ( ).

Explaining a Quotation (i.e. showing that you understand what the quote says):

Basically, X is saying _______.
In other words, X believes ____________.
In making this comment, X urges us to ________.
In making this comment, Cepeda urges us to look consider whether we do, actually, like hard work.
X’s point is that _________.
The essence of X’s argument is that _____________.

Naming Your Naysayers or Opponents (i.e. introducing your rebuttal):

Here many ____________ would probably object that _______.
Of course, ____________s would certainly take issue with the argument that ________.
___________s, of course, may want to question whether ______________.
Nevertheless, critics of _________ will probably argue that ______________.
Although not all _____________s think alike, some of them will probably dispute my claim that ______________.

Making a Concession (i.e. they have a point, BUT...):

Admittedly, ___________.
Proponents of X are right to argue that ______________. But they are exaggerating when they claim that _____________.
Proponents of complex texts are right to argue that reading such material is essential for post-secondary success. But they are exaggerating when they claim that Standage’s book is the only possible complex text for world history students to read.
While it is true that __________, it does not necessary follow that _____________.
On the one hand, X is right to say ________________. On the other hand, it is still true that _________________.

Disagreeing, with Reasons (i.e. they are just wrong):

X is mistaken because she overlooks ______________.
X’s claim that ____________ rests upon the questionable assumption that __________________.
X can’t have it both ways. On the one hand, she argues ___________________. On the other hand, she also says ____________________.
By focusing on _______________, X overlooks the deeper problem of ________________.

Establishing Why Your Claims Matter (i.e. why should I care about this argument?):

X matters because _____________________.
Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over _________________.
Ultimately, what is at stake here is ________________________.
Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of _________________, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about ________________.

Transitions

For adding ideas:

also
another
in fact
equally important
moreover
furthermore
additionally
indeed
in addition

For making a contrast:

however
nevertheless
although
conversely
on the contrary
even though
all the same
on the other hand
by contrast
nonetheless

For comparing:

likewise
equally
along the same lines
similarly
in comparison
in the same way

For citing an example:

for example
in other words
in fact
for instance
specifically
after all
as an illustration
consider

For showing results:

accordingly
hence
consequently
as a result
thus
therefore

For reinforcing an idea:

especially important
above all
most noteworthy
especially relevant
a significant factor
most of all

For elaborating (expanding upon a point):

actually
by extension
to put it another way
to put it bluntly
in short
to put it succinctly
in other words
ultimately
basically

For conceding a point:

admittedly
of course
although
it is true that
naturally
granted
to be sure

For concluding:

clearly
hence
consequently
obviously
therefore
thus
in short
all in all

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