Objectifs du chapitre
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Maîtriser les tournures pour exprimer une opinion personnelle, nuancer, convaincre.
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Construire un paragraphe argumentatif solide avec thèse, arguments, exemples et conclusion partielle.
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Utiliser les structures impersonnelles et le conditionnel pour argumenter avec prudence et distance.
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Préparer l’épreuve d’expression écrite du bac (essay, lettre formelle, article) en s’appuyant sur des phrases modèles.
Pourquoi les structures argumentatives sont cruciales
Au baccalauréat, que ce soit pour l’essai, la lettre ou le commentaire, vous devez exposer et défendre une opinion de manière structurée. La qualité de l’argumentation est évaluée autant que la correction linguistique. Une simple accumulation d’idées ne suffit pas : il faut les organiser, les illustrer, les nuancer, puis conclure. Ce chapitre vous fournit des « briques » prêtes à l’emploi, des tournures naturelles qui vous permettront de gagner en fluidité et en précision.
Exprimer une opinion
💬 Expressions directes (pour un avis personnel)
Ces structures permettent de donner son avis de manière plus ou moins formelle selon le registre utilisé.
| Structure | Exemple | Registre |
|---|---|---|
| I think (that) | I think that education is essential. | neutre |
| I believe (that) | I believe we can find a solution. | neutre |
| In my opinion, | In my opinion, social media have changed our lives. | neutre / soutenu |
| To my mind, | To my mind, this policy is unfair. | soutenu |
| As far as I’m concerned, | As far as I’m concerned, the plan is too risky. | neutre |
| Personally, | Personally, I would choose the second option. | neutre |
| It seems to me that | It seems to me that we are missing the point. | soutenu |
| I would say that | I would say that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. | neutre |
Précautions : Dans un essai formel, évitez de commencer chaque phrase par « I think ». Variez les formulations et, surtout, utilisez des tournures impersonnelles pour prendre du recul.
🧠 Expressions impersonnelles (style formel)
Ces structures impersonnelles sont utilisées dans les essais et écrits argumentatifs pour présenter une idée de manière générale et objective. Elles sont particulièrement utiles dans les introductions.
| Expression en anglais | Traduction française |
|---|---|
| It is widely believed that… | Il est largement admis que… |
| It is generally agreed that… | Il est généralement reconnu que… |
| It is often argued that… | On affirme souvent que… |
| It cannot be denied that… | On ne peut nier que… |
| There is no doubt that… | Il ne fait aucun doute que… |
| It is obvious / clear that… | Il est évident que… |
⚖️ Nuancer son opinion / Exprimer une réserve
Ces structures permettent de nuancer un point de vue et de montrer une approche équilibrée et critique d’un sujet.
| Structure | Exemple |
|---|---|
| To some extent, … | To some extent, I agree with the idea. |
| In a way, … | In a way, technology simplifies our lives, but it also isolates us. |
| It depends on… | It depends on the situation. |
| That said, … | The solution is expensive. That said, it is worth investing in. |
| Having said that, … | I understand your point. Having said that, I still disagree. |
| While it is true that…, it is also true that… | While it is true that tourism creates jobs, it is also true that it damages the environment. |
| There is some truth in this argument, but… | There is some truth in this argument, but other factors must be considered. |
📊 Introduire et développer des arguments
Ces expressions permettent de structurer un essai argumentatif en présentant clairement les idées et en hiérarchisant les arguments.
| Type d’argument | Structures |
|---|---|
| Premier argument |
First and foremost, … / To begin with, … / The first point to consider is… One of the main reasons is that… |
| Arguments suivants |
Furthermore, … / In addition, … / Another key point is that… Not only … but also … (emphatique) : Not only does it create jobs, but it also stimulates innovation. |
| Argument le plus fort / dernier argument | Above all, … / Most importantly, … / Last but not least, … |
🧩 Illustrer avec des exemples
Un argument devient plus convaincant lorsqu’il est illustré par des exemples précis. Ces expressions permettent de clarifier et renforcer vos idées.
| Structure | Exemple |
|---|---|
| For example, … / For instance, … | |
| A good illustration of this is… | |
| …, such as … | Social networks, such as Instagram and TikTok, influence young people. |
| This can be seen in… | This can be seen in the increasing number of online courses. |
| Take the case of… | Take the case of Sweden, where recycling rates exceed 90%. |
⚖️ Opposer, concéder et réfuter
Ces structures permettent de construire une argumentation équilibrée en introduisant des contrastes, en reconnaissant partiellement un point de vue, puis en le nuançant ou en le réfutant.
| Type | Structures |
|---|---|
| Opposition frontale |
However, … / Nevertheless, … / On the other hand, … The main objection is that… |
| Concession |
Although / Even though + sujet + verbe… Despite / In spite of + nom / V-ing… Admittedly, … but … : Admittedly, the cost is high, but the long-term benefits are greater. It is true that… However, … : It is true that cars are convenient. However, they contribute to pollution. |
| Réfutation |
This argument does not take into account… This view overlooks the fact that… The problem with this reasoning is that… |
🔗 Exprimer la cause et la conséquence dans l’argumentation
Au-delà des connecteurs simples, ces structures permettent d’exprimer de manière plus précise les relations de cause et de conséquence dans un essai argumentatif.
| Type | Structures |
|---|---|
| Cause |
The main cause of … is … / One of the factors behind … is … … stems from … / … results from … Owing to … / Due to … (suivi d’un nom) |
| Conséquence |
As a result, … / Consequently, … This leads to … / This results in … …, thereby + V-ing : The city planted trees, thereby improving air quality. The consequence of this is that… |
🧱 Construire un paragraphe argumentatif type (PEEL)
Un paragraphe argumentatif efficace suit la méthode PEEL, qui permet de structurer clairement une idée et de la développer de façon logique et convaincante.
| Étape | Description |
|---|---|
| Point | Idée principale / phrase d’introduction |
| Explanation | Explication et développement de l’idée |
| Example | Exemple concret pour illustrer l’argument |
| Link | Lien avec la suite ou retour à la thèse |
Exemple de paragraphe rédigé :
One major advantage of remote working is that it allows a better work-life balance. Indeed, employees no longer spend hours commuting, which gives them more time for family, leisure or sleep. For instance, a recent survey in the UK showed that 65% of teleworkers reported lower stress levels. This illustrates how technology can contribute to personal well-being. However, it is important to maintain clear boundaries between professional and private life to avoid burnout.
🧭 Structures pour l’introduction et la conclusion d’un essai
Ces structures permettent de construire un essai argumentatif clair et organisé, en introduisant le sujet, la problématique et le plan, puis en proposant une conclusion nuancée.
| Partie de l’essai | Structures |
|---|---|
| Introduction – Accroche / contextualisation |
It is often said that… In recent years, the question of … has become a major issue. |
| Introduction – Problématique |
This raises the question of whether… This essay will examine the pros and cons of… |
| Introduction – Annonce de plan |
First, we will look at… Then, we will consider… Finally, we will discuss… |
| Conclusion – Formules générales |
To sum up, … / In conclusion, … On balance, I believe that… The evidence suggests that… Ultimately, it is up to each individual / government / society to… We must bear in mind that… |
🧪 Le conditionnel et les structures hypothétiques
Ces structures permettent d’exprimer des hypothèses, des suggestions, des conséquences possibles ou des regrets dans un cadre argumentatif.
| Structure | Exemple |
|---|---|
|
If + present simple, … will + base verbale (condition type 1, réaliste) |
If we invest in renewable energy, we will reduce pollution. |
|
If + past simple, … would + base verbale (condition type 2, hypothèse irréelle) |
If people used public transport more often, traffic jams would decrease. |
|
If + past perfect, … would have + participe passé (condition type 3, regret / passé non réalisé) |
If the government had acted earlier, the crisis would have been avoided. |
| It would be a good idea to… | It would be a good idea to invest in public transport. |
| It might be beneficial to… | It might be beneficial to reduce working hours. |
| We could / should / might consider + V-ing | We could consider introducing stricter laws. |
| I would suggest that… | I would suggest that the government take action. |
| One possible solution would be to… | One possible solution would be to tax carbon emissions. |
🔥 Tournures emphatiques et impersonnelles avancées
Ces structures permettent de renforcer un argument, d’insister sur une idée ou de donner un ton plus formel et convaincant à un essai argumentatif.
| Structure | Exemple |
|---|---|
| What matters most is… | What matters most is ensuring equal access to education. |
| The fact remains that… | The fact remains that inequality is still increasing. |
| Far from being…, X actually… | Far from being a waste of time, video games actually develop problem-solving skills. |
| It is high time + past simple | It is high time we took climate change seriously. |
| Not only… but also… | Not only does poverty affect health, but it also limits access to education. |
| The more…, the more/less… | The more we consume, the more waste we produce. |
Connecteurs et registres de langue
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Formel (essais, lettres officielles) : furthermore, moreover, consequently, nevertheless, therefore, in addition, however, indeed.
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Neutre (bon pour le bac) : because, so, but, also, for example, such as, although, while, as a result.
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Informel (dialogue, email amical) : besides, anyway, actually, so, like, and, but.
Pour l’épreuve d’expression écrite du bac, privilégiez le registre neutre ou soutenu selon le sujet ; évitez les connecteurs trop relâchés dans une dissertation argumentée.
Conseils pour l’écrit
Pour structurer un paragraphe argumentatif au bac, vous pouvez suivre ce schéma :
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Introduire l’idée : First, … / To begin with, … / It is often said that …
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Ajouter un argument : Moreover, … / In addition, … / Not only … but also …
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Donner un exemple : For instance, … / A good example of this is …
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Opposer / nuancer : However, … / On the other hand, … / Although …
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Conclure : Therefore, … / As a result, … / In conclusion, …
Exercice 1
Complétez chaque phrase avec un connecteur logique approprié.
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She was late __________ the heavy traffic.
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__________ it was raining, they decided to go hiking.
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He didn’t study; __________, he failed the exam.
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I love reading, __________ I don’t have much free time.
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__________ being wealthy, he leads a very simple life.
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She speaks three languages, __________ French, Spanish and German.
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We need to leave early __________ we can catch the first train.
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He is hardworking. His brother, __________, is quite lazy.
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__________ her excellent qualifications, she didn’t get the job.
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The company made record profits. __________, it hired new employees.
Exercice 2
Corrigez les erreurs (une par phrase).
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Despite it was cold, we went to the beach.
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He was tired, although he continued working. (l’ordre des propositions est maladroit)
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She plays tennis as well she does swimming.
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I left early so that avoid the traffic.
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He is not only intelligent but also he is kind.
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Actually, I am studying English at university. (je veux dire « actuellement »)
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We must act now, therefore the problem is urgent.
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Because of he was sick, he stayed home.
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I don’t like math. I find it boring, besides. (besides en fin de phrase est mal placé)
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She didn’t call me, why I was worried.
Exercice 3
Traduisez les phrases en anglais en utilisant le connecteur indiqué.
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Bien qu’il soit jeune, il est très responsable. (although)
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Grâce à son aide, j’ai réussi l’examen. (thanks to)
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Je prends des cours du soir afin d’améliorer mon anglais. (in order to)
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Il a plu toute la semaine. Par conséquent, les routes sont inondées. (as a result)
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Contrairement à son frère, elle est très sociable. (unlike)
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Non seulement il cuisine bien, mais il fait aussi la vaisselle. (not only … but also)
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En dépit de sa maladie, elle est allée travailler. (in spite of)
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D’une part, la ville est animée ; d’autre part, elle est très polluée. (on the one hand … on the other hand)
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Explique lentement pour que tout le monde comprenne. (so that)
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J’aime le chocolat, alors que ma sœur préfère les bonbons. (whereas)
Exercice 4
Réécrivez les paires de phrases en une seule phrase en utilisant le connecteur entre parenthèses.
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She is very talented. She lacks confidence. (however)
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He missed the bus. He arrived late at the meeting. (therefore)
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The test was difficult. Everyone passed. (although)
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We bought extra tickets. We wanted everyone to attend. (so that)
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The hotel was cheap. It was very comfortable. (despite)
Exercice 5
Complétez avec le connecteur le plus approprié (parmi ceux donnés dans la liste).
Liste : because of, despite, consequently, whereas, so that, furthermore, in spite of the fact that, not only … but also, for example, to conclude
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__________ her fear of flying, she booked a trip to Japan.
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The company invested heavily in research; __________, it launched several new products.
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Many animals, __________ dolphins and elephants, show remarkable intelligence.
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__________ he has very little experience, he got the job.
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She saved money __________ she could buy a new laptop.
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The north is industrial, __________ the south is mainly agricultural.
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The delay was __________ a technical problem.
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__________, it is clear that education is the key to a better future.
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The initiative __________ helps the environment __________ creates jobs.
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__________ the argument is interesting, I’m not entirely convinced. (formel)
Exercice 6
Traduisez le paragraphe suivant.
« De nos jours, beaucoup de gens choisissent de travailler à distance. En effet, cela leur permet de gagner du temps et d’éviter les embouteillages. Cependant, le télétravail peut aussi entraîner un sentiment d’isolement. Par conséquent, il est essentiel de maintenir un équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie personnelle. Pour conclure, bien que cette tendance présente des défis, elle offre de nombreux avantages. »
Exercice 7
Choisissez le bon connecteur pour chaque phrase.
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(Despite / Although) the high cost, they bought the house.
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He didn’t see the warning, (so / because) he made a mistake.
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(In order to / So that) improve your English, you should practice daily.
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She is very kind. (Moreover / However), she can be quite stubborn sometimes.
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I’ll bring an umbrella (in case / because) it rains.
