*Phrases to open/start an essay:*
Many/some people claim/opine/believe that...
There is no denying that...
It is often said that...
These days.../ Nowadays.../ In this day and age...
It goes without saying that...
It is universally accepted that...
We live in an age when many of us are...
People are divided in their opinion regarding...
.... is one of the most important issues...
Whether .... or .... is a controversial issue...
*Phrases to end the Introduction part:*
Let us examine both views before reaching a concrete decision.
The following paragraphs discuss whether ...... or ...... and reach a reasonable conclusion.
The following essay takes a look at both sides of the argument.
My two cents go for...
However, I strongly believe that...
I oppose the view and my reasons will be explained in the following paragraphs.
I will support this view with arguments in the following paragraphs.
I personally believe that...
Thus the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages...
I wholeheartedly believe that this trend should be changed.
*Vocabulary for the opinion part of introduction:*
In my opinion...
I strongly opine that...
I strongly agree with the idea that...
I strongly disagree with the given topic...
I think...
My opinion is that...
Personally speaking...
In my view...
I believe...
Apparently...
Personally speaking...
According to me...
From my point of view... (Not 'In my point of view')
As far as I am concerned...
From my perspective...
I realise...
To my way of thinking...
It seems to me that...
To me...
To my mind...
My own view on the matter is...
It appears that...
I feel that...
I understand...
I suppose...
*Vocabulary for introducing an idea:*
It is true that...
First...
First of all...
Firstly...
First and foremost...
Initially...
To begin with...
To start with...
Let us take a look at...
It is worth considering...
In the first place...
Though it is true that...
Some people believe that...
Many people think that...
According to many...
Some people believe that...
Many support the view that...
On the one hand...
*Vocabulary for challenging and opposing an idea:*
On the other hand...
On the contrary...
However...
Nevertheless.../ Nonetheless...
But...
Nonetheless/ Nevertheless...
Oppositely...
Alternatively...
Unlike...
While...
Whilst...
Although...
Though...
Even though...
Despite... / In spite of...
In spite of the fact that...
Alternatively...
In contrast to this...
Then again...
On the other hand...
Despite the fact that...
Even so...
Yet...
Meanwhile...
*Vocabulary for conclusion:*
In conclusion...
In summary...
To conclude...
To conclude with...
To sum up...
In general...
To summarise...
In short...
All in all...
Overall...
On the whole...
To draw the conclusion...
In a nutshell...
To elucidate...('To elucidate' means - 'make something clear' or 'to explain'.)
All things considered...
By and large...
Taking everything into consideration...
Taking everything into account...
Weighing up both sides of the argument...