Useful Phrases for use in Evaluative Writing

24		X takes his argument further in suggesting that ...	Burrows takes his argument further in suggesting thateven when death is not mentioned directly the theme is still there in the form of imagery.
25		X argues not only that ... but also ...	Panova argues not only that Holden is a loafer but also that he is a
26		One example of this is ...	One example of this is when Holden envisaged himself becoming a ‘Catcher in the Rye ’.
27		In this text X is describing...	In this text Panova is describing the way in which Holden’s behaviour upsets the reader.
28		X offers	X offers
29		His basic argument can be summarised as ...	Burrows basic argument can be summarised as even when not obvious, the theme of death is present in the novel in the form of imagery.
30		In essence what he is saying is ...	In essence what he is saying is thateven when not obvious, the theme of death is present in the novel in the form of imagery.
31		X says that ...	X says that ...
32		He also gives many examples of ...	He also gives many examples of  ways in which Holden shows how he respects women.
33		X begins by discussing ...	X begins by discussing ...
34		Having discussed ... he eventually focuses on...	Having discussed Holden’s faults   Panova eventually focuses on the ways in which the novel stirs our emotions.
35		X levels various criticisms against ...	Panova levels various criticisms against Holden’s behaviour.
36		For X ...	For Panova, Holden appears to be an unlikeable character.
37		He mentions how ...	He mentions how Holden thinks about Allie when he is depressed.
38		One of the purposes of X’s essay/article is to...	One of the purposes of Panova’s essay/article is to explain why people like the novel so much.
39		X exemplifies his claim with/by ...	Bloggs exemplifies her claim   with the example of Holden telling Mrs Marrow that her son was popular.
40		X contends that	X contends that
41		X attacks ...	X attacks Aldride for claiming that Holden does not change during the course of the novel.
42		X objects to ...	X objects to Aldridge’s claim that Holden doesn’t change.
43		X’s principle concern is with ...	Burrows’ principle concern is with Holden’s dealings with death.
44		X presents his views about ...	Burrows presents his views about the theme of death in the novel.
45		A lot of the points he makes are about ...	A lot of the points he makes are about indirect references to death.
46		X tries to show how ...
47		X gives details of ...
48		X recounts ...
49		X presents
50		X provides
51		According to X ...

52	He achieves/doesn’t achieve	Panova achieves her purpose of showing how readers come to like Holden by focussing on incidences from the novel which draw on our sympathy.
53	Looking briefly at two interrelated examples might allow us to	Looking briefly at two interrelated examples might allow us to see how Holden is incapable of forming long term relationships.
54	In delimiting the ways in which... X ...	In delimiting the ways in which Holden can be considered unlikable, Panova acknowledges that Holden is not perfect.
55	X lists a number of ...	Panova lists a number of things that Holden does that the reader can’t approve of.
56	In reading X’s article, one may well be convinced that	In reading Panova’s article, one may well be convinced that Panova doesn’t like Holden.
57	He offers no evidence to support his point	Panova offers no evidence to support her point that Holden is a loafer.
58	It would seem difficult to substantiate	It would seem difficult to substantiate Panova’s claim that Holden is a loafer.
59	He simply tells us that	She simply tells us that Holden is a loafer without offering any evidence.
60	Arguably	Arguably, Holden is the complete opposite of a loafer.
61	X would seem to indicate that ...	Panova would seem to indicate that she does not approve of the use of slang.
62	X is under the impression that...	Panova is under the impression that readers in general do not approve of the use of slang.
63	What X fails to consider is the fact that...	What Panova fails to consider is the fact that a large number of readers of the novel use slang themselves.
64	He seems reluctant to take into consideration	Panova seems reluctant to take into consideration the fact that a large number of readers of the novel are in fact teenagers, just like Holden.
65	In general I agree with X...although I think that	In general I agree with Panova although I think that despite his faults, Holden is still a likeable character.
66	X is right.	Panova is right when she says that Holden is the son of a rich father.
67	I agree with his claim	I agree with his claim.
68	I agree with the author that	I agree with the author that Holden is a loafer.
69	X’s basic assumption that .... is...	X’s basic assumption that readers disapprove of the use of slang is incorrect if we remember that  a large number of readers use slang themselves.
70	X makes a valid point when he says ...	The author makes a valid point when he says   that Holden was deeply affected by the death of his brother Allie.
71	It is generally assumed that ...	It is generally assumed that if a boy’s father is rich then the boy doesn’t have to worry about money.

72	Thus, X’s argument is quite valid.	Thus, X’s argument is quite valid.
73	X draws a parallel between ...	Burrows draws a parallel between the death of Allie and Phoebe reaching for the gold ring on the Carousel.
74	His argument about ...	Her argument about Holden being an unlikeable character is invalid.
75	... leads him to believe that ...	Panova’s assumption that readers don’t approve of slang leads her to believe that the reader also doesn’t approve of Holden.
76	This is so for him because...	The reader disapproves of Holden.  This is so for her because the reader disapproves of Holden’s behaviour.
77	X bases his argument on ...	Burrows bases his argument on the belief that falling is a symbol of death.
78	It follows that ...	It follows that if falling is death then flying must be life.
79	X wants to leap from ...	X wants to leap from ...
80	Underlying X’s argument appears to be a belief that ...	Underlying X’s argument appears to be a belief that falling is a symbol of death.
81	Whilst it would seem... this is only ...	Whilst it would seem that Holden is an irresponsible student, this is only because we judge him by his exam results. If we look at his involvement in other activities ...
82	Ultimately it is the justifiability of ...that needs to be questioned .	Ultimately it is the justifiability of Burrow’s belief that falling is a symbol of death that needs to be questioned.
83	His argument rests on the premise that ...	His argument rests on the premise that falling represents death.
84	In order to assess X’s argument we need to...	In order to assess Burrows’ argument we need to establish whether Salinger intended the sensation of falling to be taken as a symbol of death.
85	Since ... it seems reasonable for X to conclude that ...	Since Holden’s father was a rich lawyer it seems reasonable for Panova to conclude that Holden never had to worry about money.
86	It is not so clear that ...	It is not so clear that just because a boy’s father is rich that boy is rich too.   Some people do not share their riches with others.
87	X seems to attach too much significance to ...	Burrows seems to attach too much significance to the theme of death in the novel.
88	There are some points where he ...	There are some points where Burrowssuggests that Holden was subconsciously thinking about death.
89	While it is true that ... this is generally ...	While it is true that Holden gets on very well with females this is generally only when they expect nothing from him.
90	In fact, in many cases ...	In fact, in many cases when something is expected from him the encounter ends up in disaster.
91	X’s criticism of ... seems unjustified	Panova’s criticism of Holden’s behaviour seems unjustified
92	While he is certainly correct in observing that ...	While Bloggs is certainly correct in observing that Holden has been dismissed from every school he has attended, he is not correct in assuming that Holden is unintelligent.
93	There is nothing inherently wrong in ...	There is nothing inherently wrong in saying thatHolden came from a fairly typical family.
94	In some cases ...	In some cases Holden is seen to be extremely polite.

95	Something may be ... but still not exactly ...	Someone may be rich but still not exactly free from worries about money.
96	X has a tendency to exaggerate.	Panova has a tendency to exaggerate Holden’s faults. (His lies are   only ‘white lies’)
97	X makes many sound points	Panova makes many sound points when she claims that Holden is an unlikeable character.
98	His discussion of ...	Burrows’ discussion of the topic of death is thought provoking.
99	If we look at some of ... we can see that ...	If we look at some of the lies that Holden actually told, we can see that he told them only in order to avoid hurting other people.
100	He also seems to ...	He also seems to assume that if your father is rich, you are also rich.
101	He seems to have forgotten that ...	Panova seems to have forgotten that many readers of the novel are teenagers themselves.
102	Does X expect us to ...	Does X expect us to believe that she has never told a lie?
103	As for his ... argument ...	As for her argument that Holden is a loafer I’m afraid I cannot agree.
104	This is a fact that X seems all too ignorant of	Practically everyone uses slang of one form or another . This is a fact that Panova seems all too ignorant of.
105	X’s argument focussed very much on ...	Panova’s argument focussed very much on Holden’s behaviour in the environment of school.
106	He does not support this statement ...	Panova says that Holden is a loafer but she does not support this statement.
107	X takes this to be the logical conclusion of his foregoing discussion	Holden is an unlikeable character . Panova takes this to be the logical conclusion of her foregoing discussion.
108	There is clearly a difference between ... and ...	There is clearly a difference between being intelligent and doing well at school.
109	I would agree with X that ...	I would agree with Panova that Holden isn’t doing very much with his life.
110	I would not go so far as to say that ...	I would not go so far as to say that Holden is a loafer.
111	His argument suffers from serious shortcomings with regard to ...	His argument suffers from serious shortcomings with regard to the lack of a variey of examples to support his claim.
112	the evidence he uses to back up his claim...	The evidence she uses to back up her  claim  is inadequate/non-representative etc.
113	He makes a sweeping generalisation	She makes a sweeping generalisation when she says that readers can’t approve of Holden’s slang.
114	based on evidence that may not be typical of...	Panova’s argument is based on evidence that may not be typical of American teenager’s in the 1950s.
115	... are exceptions rather than the rule ...	The few lies that Holden told are exceptions rather than the rule.
116	A further problem is that ...	A further problem is that Panova assumes all readers have the same attitude to faults as she does.
117	On what grounds does he believe that ...?	On what grounds does she believe that Holden is a loafter?
118	Some kind of (proof/analysis/evidence) is needed.	Some kind of (proof/analysis/evidence) is needed.
119	The evidence that is given may be incorrect.	The evidence that is given may be incorrect.
120	There is sometimes no evidence given for a claim, as when he states that ...	There is sometimes no evidence given for a claim, as when she states that Holden is a loafer.
121	There is not a shred of evidence given to support this claim.	There is not a shred of evidence given to support this claim.
1222	The problem with X’s article is that...	The problem with Panova’s article is that it does not offer sufficient evidence to support its claims.
123	I suggest that there are other and valid reasons for ...	I suggest that there are other and valid reasons for Holden having a nervous breakdown.
124	Could it be that ... ?	Could it be that Panova has never told a lie herself or used slang ?
125	Because of the problems with the evidence he offers, we cannot say ...	Because of the problems with the evidence she offers, we cannot say whether the conclusion she reaches is in fact true.
126	X attempts to show how ...	Panova attempts to show how the novel reaches the reader’s heart in secret and subtle ways.
127	The argument presented is reliant on	The argument presented is reliant on the reader agreeing that Holden is a basically unlikeable character.
128	Faulty argumentation is particularly evident in	Faulty argumentation is particularly evident in Panova’s claim that
129	X assumes that	X assumes that
130	X fails to consider that ...	X fails to consider that other readers might not find Holden’s behaviour to be objectionable.
131	X is seemingly unaware of the significance of ...	Panova is seemingly unaware of the significance of the readers ability to identify with the character of Holden.
132	...a superficial consideration of ...	Panova presents a superficial consideration of Holden’s character without considering the motivation for his actions.
133	X’s argument contradicts itself ...	X’s argument contradicts itself ...
134	This is an idea that most people would agree with.	This is an idea that most people would agree with.
135	He rightly draws attention to ...	She rightly draws attention to Holden’s past educational record.
136	Here it is difficult to check the impression that X ...	Here it is difficult to check the impression that Panova is a middle class, easily offended, sensitive creature.
137	...is something that we need to be constantly aware of	The fact that Holden’s brother, Allie, died only two years earlier, is something that we need to be constantly aware of, if we are to understand Holden behaviour.
138	X’s examples of ... are ...	Panova’s examples of Holden’sbehaviour are non-representative.  She doesn’t mention any of his kind actions.

139	Full marks for X because  ...	Full marks for Panova because she succeeds in showing how the novel affects the reader.
140	Looking at the basis of X’s argument, there are some problems.	Looking at the basis of Panova’s argument, there are some problems.
141	He does not really say ...	She does not really say in what way Holden can be considered a loafer.
142	None of these points seem clear.	None of these points seem clear.
143	X does not support his argument clearly enough.	Panova does not support her argument clearly enough.
144	There are many examples of ... such as...	There are many examples of falling in the novel such as when Holden wanted to become a Catcher in the Rye and stop the children from falling over the cliff.
145	To clarify his points X chooses	To clarify his points X chooses the example of Holden being afraid that he will disappear while crossing the street.
146	Is this an appropriate way to show that ...?	Is this an appropriate way to show that Holden is afraid of death? Just because he doesn’t want to commit suicide doesn’t mean that he is afraid of death.
147	He does not really address the idea that ...	Burrows does not really address the idea that Holden may not be afraid of death because he actually considered committing suicide.
148	The question of ... is never really addressed.	The question of why Holden considered committing suicide is never really addressed.
149	The example is contrived rather than a clear piece of proof.	The example is contrived rather than a clear piece of proof.
150	X argues quite well that ...	Burrows argues quite well that Holden is afraid of death.
151	It is still not clear how ...	It is still not clear how Holden’s mental illness can be linked to his fear of death.
152	Surely ... ?	Surely Panova herself has told lies and used slang ?
153	In some ways X ... but ...	In some ways Holden is afraid of death but inother ways he can be said to be courageous in confronting it.
154	While X never seems terribly convincing when ... he does make some valid observations about …	While Panova never seems terribly convincing when she talks about Holden’s faults she does make some valid observations about the subtle ways in which the novel affects the reader.
155	I think ... is what X means when he says ...	I think not having a purpose in life is what Panova means when she says that Holden is a loafer.
156	X falls short of fully articulating the idea that ...	Panova falls short of fully articulating the idea that Holden is an unlikeable character.
157	X seems to forget that ...	Panova seems to forget that a lot of the readers of the novel, are teenagers themselves.
158	X’s argument appears to be quite convincing because...	Panova’s argument appears to be quite convincing because she offers a lot of support for it.

159	Given that ... then ...	Given that Bloggs is correct when she says that Holden is irresponsible then it is easy to understand why he left the foils on the train.
160	Whereas X believes that ... I believe...	Whereas Panova believes that Holden is an unlikable character I believe  that he is charming and attractive.
161	While X believes that ... I take the opposite vew in maintaining that ...	While Panova believes that Holden is unlikeable I take the opposite view in maintaining that he is charming and attractive.
162	Although I agree with X with regard to ... I would not go so far as to agree with X’s contention that ...	Although I agree with Panova with regard to her claim that Holden does things that cannot be approved of I would not go so far as to agree with her contention that Holden is unlikeable.
163	Therefore, this can be seen to show ...	Holden  realises that he will miss people like Stradlater, Ackley and Maurice. Therefore, this can be seen to show that Holden has changed and learned something about life.
164	Although the evidence suggests ... when one looks at it more closely it is clear that ...	Although the evidence suggests that Holden is an unlikeable character when one looks at it more closely it is clear that Holden has good reasons for what he does and if one understands those then one will like him.
165	The importance of ... to ... should not be overlooked.	The importance of Allie’s death to Holden’s overall development should not be overlooked.
166	In claiming that ... X has failed to take into account (the fact that) ...	In claiming that readers cannot approve of Holden’s slang  Panova has failed to take into account the fact that a lot of readers use slang themselves.
167	If one looks at the (incidences/examples) that X has chosen to focus on, one can see that ...	If one looks at the examples that Panova has chosen to focus on, one can see that they are all connected with school.
168	Because of the examples that X has chosen to use ...	Because of the examples that Panova has chosen to use it would appear that Holden is irresponsible.   However if one looks at examples beyond the school he can be seen to be quite a responsible person.