ACE-IT

Assertion: State your topic sentence

• X causes y as a result of …. which shows …
• In ___, (author’s name) implies…
• The author uses ___ to show/achieve…
• What the author is saying is …
• Given that x happened, the author is trying to show…
• X is not ___ but is, instead, _____ since…
• Although x is increasing/decreasing, it is not y but z that is the cause…
• X was, in the past, the most important factor, but y has changed, making it the real cause

Contextualize and deliver your Evidence (C-E) for your assertion. Some examples of how to do this:

Evidence: Deliver your quote

• Reporting verbs: writes, states, says, describes, asserts, etc.
• X (reporting verb) that “_______” (#).
• As X (reporting verb), “____________” (#).
• X (reporting verb) (phrase summary of quote): “______” (#).
• X describes ____ as “_______” (#).
• When describing ____, X calls it “____” (#).

Interpret your quote

• If X had wanted the reading to think (phrase summary of opposite), she wouldn’t have used the phrase “____” which suggests ____.
• By using the word “__,” X suggests…
• The phrase “___” implies…
• The description of ___ as “___” makes the reader think…

Transition or Explain why your point matters

• This discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of ____.
• X matters/is important because_____.
• Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial to understanding the novel because _____.
• X has important consequences for the reader’s broader understanding of Y because ____.
• What ____ really means is ____.

TRANSITION WORDS TO USE

A and I: Cause and Effect

accordingly
as a result
consequently
hence
it follows, then
since
so
then
therefore
thus
nevertheless

I and T: Conclusion
as a result
consequently
hence
in conclusion, then
in short
it follows, then
so
therefore
thus
to sum up
to summarize

A and T: Comparison
along the same lines
in the same way
likewise
similarly
similar to
identical to
much like
comparable to
in the same manner

Counterargument: Concession (saying something is true)
admittedly
although it is true that
granted
of course
naturally
to be sure

A, I, and T: Contrast
although
but
by / in contrast
conversely
despite the fact that
even though
however
nevertheless
nonetheless
on the contrary
on the other hand
regardless
whereas
while
yet

E: Example
after all
as an illustration
consider
for example
for instance
specifically
in fact
A and E: Addition
also
and
besides
furthermore
in addition
in fact
indeed
moreover
so too
additionally
likewise
along the same lines

I and T: Elaboration
actually
by extension
in short
that is
in other words
to put it another way
to put it bluntly
to put it succinctly
ultimately

– Add a conclusion sentence for your paragraph that transitions into the next paragraph.