5.6: Common Response Phrases

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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 _____________.