Useful Phrases for use in Evaluative Writing
1 X endeavours to
show/prove, put
forth
2 Expresses a
view....to the effect
that
3 X seeks to criticise
4 He believes
5 Having
dismissed...he then...
6 X endeavours to
expose...
7 He goes on to
...(dismiss)
8 X argues that
9 He provides some
excellent examples
of ...
10 In Xs analysis... In Panovas analysis Holden is a loafer.
11 Ultimately, for X...
12 X claims that
13 The author gives
some examples of...
14 The author suggests
that ...
15 The author makes a
connection between
16 He concludes that ...
17 He appears to be
saying that ...
18 The author states
19 According to X
20 He clarifies what he
means by ...
21 Another reason why
X thinks... is ...
22 X believes that
Panova endeavours to show that although Holden is
not a very likeable character on the surface, one comes
to like him in the end.
Panova expresses a view to the effect that although
Holden is not a very likeable character on the surface,
one comes to like him in the end.
Panova seeks to criticise Holdens irresponsible
behaviour.
Panova believes that Holden is a loafer.
Having dismissed Holden as an apparently unlikeable
character, Panova then shows how the novel works on
the reader in secret and subtle ways.
Panova, at the beginning of her article, endeavours to
expose all the negative characteristics of Holden.
Having dismissed Holden as an apparently unlikeable
character, Panova goes on to show how the novel
works on the reader in secret and subtle ways.
X argues that
Panova provides some excellent examples of the
kinds of things Holden does to upset readers.
Ultimately, for Panova the novel is a tragedy.
X claims that
The author gives some examples of...
The author suggests that ...
The author makes a connection between Allie and
James Castle.
He concludes that the novel is tragically hopeless.
She appears to be saying that although Holden does
things that the reader cannot approve of the reader ends
up liking him because of the artistry of Salinger in
working on our emotions in secret and subtle ways.
The author states
According to Panova, Holden is a loafer.
She clarifies what she means by giving examples of
the ways in which the novel stirs our emotions.
Another reason why Panova thinks that the reader
shouldnt like Holden is his constant lying.
X believes that
 23 X suggests X suggests
24 X takes his Burrows takes his argument further in suggesting that
argument further in even when death is not mentioned directly the theme is
suggesting that ... still there in the form of imagery.
25 X argues not only Panova argues not only that Holden is a loafer but
that ... but also ... also that he is a
26 One example of this One example of this is when Holden envisaged himself
is ... becoming a Catcher in the Rye .
27 In this text X is In this text Panova is describing the way in which
describing... Holdens behaviour upsets the reader.
28 X offers X offers
29 His basic argument Burrows basic argument can be summarised as even
can be summarised when not obvious, the theme of death is present in the
as ... novel in the form of imagery.
30 In essence what he In essence what he is saying is thateven when not
is saying is ... 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 He also gives many examples of ways in which Holden
examples of ... shows how he respects women.
33 X begins by X begins by discussing ...
discussing ...
34 Having discussed ... Having discussed Holdens faults Panova eventually
he eventually focuses onthe ways in which the novel stirs our
focuses on... emotions.
35 X levels various Panova levels various criticisms against Holdens
criticisms against ... 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 One of the purposes of Panovas essay/article is
of Xs essay/article to explain why people like the novel so much.
is to...
39 X exemplifies his Bloggs exemplifies her claim with the example of
claim with/by ... 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 Aldridges claim that Holden doesnt change.
43 Xs principle Burrows principle concern is with Holdens dealings
concern is with ... with death.
44 X presents his views Burrows presents his views about the theme of death in
about ... the novel.
45 A lot of the points A lot of the points he makes are about indirect
he makes are about 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/doesnt Panova achieves her purpose of showing how readers
achieve come to like Holden by focussing on incidences from
the novel which draw on our sympathy.
53 Looking briefly at two Looking briefly at two interrelated examples might
interrelated examples allow us to see how Holden is incapable of forming
might allow us to long term relationships.
54 In delimiting the ways In delimiting the ways in which Holden can be
in which... X ... 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 cant approve of.
56 In reading Xs article, In reading Panovas article, one may well be
one may well be convinced that Panova doesnt like Holden.
convinced that
57 He offers no evidence Panova offers no evidence to support her point that
to support his point Holden is a loafer.
58 It would seem It would seem difficult to substantiate Panovas
difficult to claim that Holden is a loafer.
substantiate
59 He simply tells us She simply tells us that Holden is a loafer without
that offering any evidence.
60 Arguably Arguably, Holden is the complete opposite of a loafer.
61 X would seem to Panova would seem to indicate that she does not
indicate that ... approve of the use of slang.
62 X is under the Panova is under the impression that readers in
impression that... general do not approve of the use of slang.
63 What X fails to What Panova fails to consider is the fact that a large
consider is the fact number of readers of the novel use slang themselves.
that...
64 He seems reluctant to Panova seems reluctant to take into
take into consideration the fact that a large number of readers
consideration of the novel are in fact teenagers, just like Holden.
65 In general I agree In general I agree with Panova although I think
with X...although I that despite his faults, Holden is still a likeable
think that 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 I agree with the author that Holden is a loafer.
author that
69 Xs basic assumption Xs basic assumption that readers disapprove of the
that .... is... use of slang isincorrect if we remember that a large

70 X makes a valid point
when he says ...
71 It is generally
assumed that ...
72 Thus, Xs argument
is quite valid.
73 X draws a parallel
between ...
number of readers use slang themselves.
The author makes a valid point when he says that
Holden was deeply affected by the death of his brother
Allie.
It is generally assumed that if a boys father is rich
then the boy doesnt have to worry about money.
Thus, Xs argument is quite valid.
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 Panovas assumption that readers dont approve of
believe that ... slang leads her to believe that the reader also doesnt
approve of Holden.
76 This is so for him The reader disapproves of Holden. This is so for her
because... because the reader disapproves of Holdens behaviour.
77 X bases his Burrows bases his argument on the belief that falling is
argument on ... 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 Xs Underlying Xs argument appears to be a belief
argument appears to that falling is a symbol of death.
be a belief that ...
81 Whilst it would Whilst it would seem that Holden is an irresponsible
seem... this is only ... 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 Ultimately it is the justifiability of Burrows belief that
justifiability of ...that falling is a symbol of death that needs to be
needs to questioned.
be questioned .
83 His argument rests His argument rests on the premise that falling
on the premise that represents death.
...
84 In order to assess In order to assess Burrows argument we need
Xs argument we to establish whether Salinger intended the sensation of
need to... falling to be taken as a symbol of death.
85 Since ... it seems Since Holdens father was a rich lawyer it seems
reasonable for X to reasonable for Panova to conclude that Holden never
conclude that ... had to worry about money.
86 It is not so clear that It is not so clear that just because a boys father is rich
... that boy is rich too. Some people do not share their
riches with others.
87 X seems to attach Burrows seems to attach too much significance
too much to the theme of death in the novel.
significance to ...
88 There are some There are some points where Burrows suggests that
points where he ... Holden was subconsciously thinking about death.
89 While it is true that ... While it is true that Holden gets on very well with
this is generally ... females this is generally only when they expect
nothing from him.
90 In fact, in many In fact, in many cases when something is expected
cases ... from him the encounter ends up in disaster.
91 Xs criticism of ... Panovas criticism of Holdens behaviour seems
seems unjustified unjustified
92 While he is certainly While Bloggs is certainly correct in observing
correct in observing that Holden has been dismissed from every school he
that ... has attended, he is not correct in assuming that Holden
is unintelligent.
93 There is nothing There is nothing inherently wrong in saying
inherently wrong in 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 Someone may be rich but still not exactly free
still not exactly ... from worries about money.
96 X has a tendency to Panova has a tendency to exaggerate Holdens
exaggerate. faults. (His lies are only white lies)
97 X makes many sound Panova makes many sound points when she
points 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 ... If we look at some of the lies that Holden
we can see that ... 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 Panova seems to have forgotten that many
forgotten that ... 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 Im
afraid I cannot agree.
104 This is a fact that X Practically everyone uses slang of one form or
seems all too ignorant of another. This is a fact that Panova seems all
too ignorant of.
105 Xs argument focussed Panovas argument focussed very much
very much on ... on Holdens behaviour in the environment of
school.
106 He does not support this Panova says that Holden is a loafer but she
statement ... does not support this statement.
107 X takes this to be the Holden is an unlikeable character. Panova takes
logical conclusion of his this to be the logical conclusion of her
foregoing discussion foregoing discussion.
108 There is clearly a There is clearly a difference between being
difference between ... intelligent and doing well at school.
 and ...
109 I would agree with X that I would agree with Panova that Holden isnt
... doing very much with his life.
110 I would not go so far as I would not go so far as to say that Holden is a
to say that ... loafer.
111 His argument suffers His argument suffers from serious
from serious shortcomings with regard to the lack of a
shortcomings with variey of examples to support his claim.
regard to ...
112 the evidence he uses to The evidence she uses to back up
back up his claim... her claim is inadequate/non-representative etc.
113 He makes a sweeping She makes a sweeping generalisation when
generalisation she says that readers cant approve of Holdens
slang.
114 based on evidence that Panovas argument is based on evidence that
may not be typical of... may not be typical ofAmerican teenagers in the
1950s.
115 ... are exceptions rather The few lies that Holden told are exceptions
than the rule ... 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 On what grounds does she believe
he believe that ...? that Holden is a loafter?
118 Some kind of Some kind of (proof/analysis/evidence) is
(proof/analysis/evidence) needed.
is needed.
119 The evidence that is The evidence that is given may be incorrect.
given may be incorrect.
120 There is sometimes no There is sometimes no evidence given for a
evidence given for a claim, as when she states that Holden is a
claim, as when he states loafer.
that ...
121 There is not a shred of There is not a shred of evidence given to
evidence given to support this claim.
support this claim.
1222 The problem with Xs The problem with Panovas article is that it
article is that... does not offer sufficient evidence to support its
claims.
123 I suggest that there are I suggest that there are other and valid
other and valid reasons reasons for Holden having a nervous
for ... 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 Because of the problems with the evidence
with the evidence he she offers, we cannot say whether the
offers, we cannot say ... conclusion she reaches is in fact true.
126 X attempts to show how Panova attempts to show how the novel
reaches the readers heart in secret and subtle
 ... ways.
127 The argument presented The argument presented is reliant on the
is reliant on reader agreeing that Holden is a basically
unlikeable character.
128 Faulty argumentation is Faulty argumentation is particularly evident
particularly evident in in Panovas 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 Holdens behaviour to be objectionable.
131 X is seemingly unaware Panova is seemingly unaware of the
of the significance of ... significance of the readers ability to identify
with the character of Holden.
132 ...a superficial Panova presents a superficial consideration
consideration of ... of Holdens character without considering the
motivation for his actions.
133 Xs argument contradicts Xs argument contradicts itself ...
itself ...
134 This is an idea that most This is an idea that most people would agree
people would agree with. with.
135 He rightly draws She rightly draws attention to Holdens past
attention to ... educational record.
136 Here it is difficult to Here it is difficult to check the impression
check the impression that Panova is a middle class, easily offended,
that X ... sensitive creature.
137 ...is something that we The fact that Holdens brother, Allie, died only
need to be constantly two years earlier, is something that we need to
aware of be constantly aware of, if we are to understand
Holden behaviour.
138 Xs examples of ... are ... Panovas examples of Holdens
behaviour are non-representative. She doesnt
mention any of his kind actions.
Full marks for X Full marks for Panova because she succeeds in
139 because ... showing how the novel affects the reader.
140 Looking at the Looking at the basis of Panovas argument, there
basis of Xs are some problems.
argument, there are
some problems.
141 He does not really She does not really say in what way Holden can be
say ... considered a loafer.
142 None of these None of these points seem clear.
points seem clear.
143 X does not support Panova does not support her argument clearly
his argument enough.
clearly enough.
144 There are many There are many examples of falling in the novel such
examples of ... such as when Holden wanted to become a Catcher in the
as... Rye and stop the children from falling over the cliff.
145 To clarify his points To clarify his points X chooses the example of
X chooses Holden being afraid that he will disappear while
 crossing the street.
146 Is this an Is this an appropriate way to show that Holden is
appropriate way to afraid of death? Just because he doesnt want to
show that ...? commit suicide doesnt mean that he is afraid of death.
147 He does not really Burrows does not really address the idea
address the idea that Holden may not be afraid of death because he
that ... actually considered committing suicide.
148 The question of ... The question of why Holden considered committing
is never really suicide is never really addressed.
addressed.
149 The example is The example is contrived rather than a clear piece
contrived rather of proof.
than a clear piece of
proof.
150 X argues quite well Burrows argues quite well that Holden is afraid of
that ... death.
151 It is still not clear It is still not clear how Holdens mental illness can be
how ... linked to his fear of death.
152 Surely ... ? Surely Panova herself has told lies and used slang ?
153 In some ways X ... In some ways Holden is afraid of death but inother
but ... ways he can be said to be courageous in confronting it.
154 While X never seems While Panova never seems terribly convincing when
terribly convincing she talks about Holdens faults she does make some
when ... he does valid observations about the subtle ways in which the
make some valid novel affects the reader.
observations about
155 I think ... is what X I think not having a purpose in life is
means when he what Panova means when she says that Holden is a
says ... loafer.
156 X falls short of fully Panova falls short of fully articulating the idea
articulating the idea that Holden is an unlikeable character.
that ...
157 X seems to forget Panova seems to forget that a lot of the readers of the
that ... novel are teenagers themselves.
158 Xs argument Panovas argument appears to be quite convincing
appears to be quite because she offers a lot of support for it.
convincing
because...
159 Given that ... then ... Given that Bloggs is correct when she says that
Holden is irresponsiblethen it is easy to understand
why he left the foils on the train.
160 Whereas X believes Whereas Panova believes that Holden is an
that ... I believe... unlikable character I believe that he is charming
and attractive.
161 While X believes that ... While Panova believes that Holden is unlikeable I
I take the opposite vew take the opposite view in maintaining that he is
in maintaining that ... charming and attractive.
162 Although I agree with Although I agree with Panova with regard to her
 X with regard to ... I claim that Holden does things that cannot be
would not go so far as approved of I would not go so far as to agree with
to agree with Xs her contention that Holden is unlikeable.
contention that ...
163 Therefore, this can be Holden realises that he will miss people like
seen to show ... Stradlater, Ackley and Maurice. Therefore, this can
be seen to show that Holden has changed and
learned something about life.
164 Although the evidence Although the evidence suggests that Holden is an
suggests ... when one unlikeable character when one looks at it more
looks at it more closely closely it is clear that Holden has good reasons for
it is clear that ... what he does and if one understands those then one
will like him.
165 The importance of ... to The importance of Allies death to Holdens overall
... should not be development should not be overlooked.
overlooked.
166 In claiming that ... X In claiming that readers cannot approve of Holdens
has failed to take into slang Panova has failed to take into account the
account (the fact that) fact that a lot of readers use slang themselves.
...
167 If one looks at the If one looks at the examples that Panova has
(incidences/examples) chosen to focus on, one can see that they are all
that X has chosen to connected with school.
focus on, one can see
that ...
168 Because of the Because of the examples that Panova has
examples that X has chosen to use it would appear that Holden is
chosen to use ... irresponsible. However if one looks at examples
beyond the school he can be seen to be quite a
responsible person.