Collocations and Dara Lind

The session focused on useful collocations that make your essay, term paper, etc. sound top-notch. A collocation is a combination of words formed out of two or more words that are often used together and sound like "correct English". First, we learned about collocations that organize one's text (argumentation):
- draw a distinction between
- take into consideration
- make reference to
- raise questions
- touch on issues
- make a case for
- fall into ... categories

referring to arguments:
- draw an analogy
- present the case
- draw parallels
- state
- put forward the Argument
- take up / adopt the Position
- argue convincingly
- research suggest
- draw attention to
- disagree profoundly
- briefly summarize
- draw the conclusion

Afterwards we were shown some collocations used to reinforce arguements:
- assess the significance
- lay emphasis on
- lend support to
- hold firmly to

In order to practise the use of those collocations, we listened to Dara Lind stating her opinion on Trump's recently enacted entry ban and commented on her argumentation:

Dara Lind makes reference to Trump's immigration policy and adopts the position that the reduced number of refugees allowed to enter the U.S. will result in a crisis of the countries' self-identity. She draws parallels to the Holocaust and Second World War, which she regards as a shameful chapter in U.S. history since America could have done a lot more then (could have taken in a lot more refugees than they actually did). She firmly holds to the belief that it is America's responsibility to admit as many refugees as possible. Although I profoundly share her belief, she lays too much emphasis on America's "image".