Argument & Counter- Argument Adopted from Baetty Language Centre – Andalas University

Introduce the topic briefly in general terms, & then state your own opinion. Explain what you plan to prove in the talk. Give your reasons against the argument. Dispose briefly of the main objections to your case. Provide evidence & your reasons.

Give your reasons for your argument, the arguments to support your own view, with evidence, reasons & examples. Conclusion Do not repeat your opinion again. End your talk with something memorable e.g. a quotation or a direct question.

Word List on Linking Arguments First of all, I think … Not only that, but I also think that … Not only are they …, they are also … They are not …, nor are they … There are various/several/many reasons for this.

First, … / Firstly, … Second, … / Secondly, … Moreover, … / Furthermore, … / In addition, … Another significant point is that … Finally, … Word List on Linking Arguments

On the one hand, … On the other hand, … In contrast to this is … Because of … That is why … After all, … The reason is that … In that respect …

The result of this is that … Another aspect/point is that … It is because … Although it is true that … it would be wrong to claim that … That may sometimes be true, but … One could argue that …, but …

Take for example (the case of) … Look at … For instance … / For example … Let me give you an example. Providing Examples

Additions & Conclusion Most probably … It appears to be … It is important to mention that... As I already indicated … In other words, … I am most concerned about …

Additions & Conclusion I should like to repeat once again that … I should like to emphasize that … I would (just) like to add … So all in all I believe that... (In) summing up it can be said that … Weighing the pros and cons, I come to the conclusion that …

Criticising Mistakes

Ten Expressions Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking & Writing

1.That wasn't very clever. 2.What were you thinking of? Phrases 1 & 2 are quite critical. Depending on the intonation they could be friendly criticism (big changes in pitch) or a harsh scolding (flatter intonation).

Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking & Writing 3. I bet you wish you hadn't done that. 4. Why on Earth did you go and do that? Phrases 3 & 4 are quite critical but almost certainly friendly or joking in tone. To achieve this effect, apply strong rise-fall intonation to 'bet' in phrase 3 & 'Earth' in phrase 4.

Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking & Writing 5. You made a right mess of that. Phrase 5 is strongly critical & with flat intonation, not at all friendly. Using this phrase wrongly can offend people.

Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking & Writing 6. I wouldn't do that again (in a hurry) 7. Oops Phrases 6 & 7 are nearly always friendly in tone. In phrase 6, 'that' is stressed with strong rise-fall intonation. In phrase 7, 'to' of 'total' is stressed strongly & with flat intonation this can sound quite rude/harsh. A rise-fall intonation on this syllable makes it sound more friendly/homorous.

Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking & Writing 1.You put your foot in it (there) 2.That was a bit uncalled for. Phrases 9 & 10 are criticising something that somebody said. Phrase 9 is criticising indiscretion & Phrase 10 is saying that something you said was offensive or rude.

Phrases 1 and 2 are quite critical. Depending on the intonation they could be friendly criticism (big changes in pitch) or a harsh scolding (flatter intonation). Phrases 3 and 4 are quite critical but almost certainly friendly or joking in tone. To achieve this effect, apply strong rise-fall intonation to 'bet' in phrase 3 and 'Earth' in phrase 4. Phrase 5 is strongly critical and with flat intonation, not at all friendly. Using this phrase wrongly can offend people. Phrases 6 and 7 are nearly always friendly in tone. In phrase 6, 'that' is stressed with strong rise-fall intonation. In phrase 7, 'to' of 'total' is stressed strongly and with flat intonation this can sound quite rude / harsh. A rise-fall intonation on this syllable makes it sound more friendly / homorous. Phrases 9 and 10 are criticising something that somebody said. Phrase 9 is criticising indiscretion and phrase 10 is saying that something you said was offensive or rude. 1.That wasn't very clever. 2.What were you thinking of? 3.I bet you wish you hadn't done that. 4.Why on Earth did you go and do that? 5.You made a right mess of that. 6.I wouldn't do that again (in a hurry) 7.Oops 8.What a total disaster 9.You put your foot in it (there) 10.That was a bit uncalled for.

Disagreeing with People Sometimes people give an opinion and you don't agree with it. We have many ways to show disagreement in English. Here are ten of them.

Disagreeing with People 1. I'm not sure about that! 2. You could be right, but... Phrases 1 & 2 are quite polite & not too direct in saying you disagree.

Disagreeing with People 3. (I'm afraid) I don't agree. Phrase 3 is neutral. We use 'I'm afraid' to soften it and make it less aggressive to the other speaker.

Disagreeing with People 4. I agree up to a point, but.. 5. That's an interesting idea, but.. Phrases 4 & 5 are showing partial agreement with the other speaker but both are followed with the second speaker's (different) ideas.

Disagreeing with People 6. Do you really think..? Phrase 6 is used to question how the other speaker could really think something that you think is completely wrong.

Disagreeing with People 7. Rubbish! / Nonsense! 8. You can't be serious! Phrases 7 & 8 are saying that the other speaker is completely wrong in a very direct, blunt way.

Disagreeing with People 9. Actually, as a matter of fact. I think That's not how I see it.

Phrases 1 and 2 are quite polite and not too direct in saying you disagree. Phrase 3 is neutral. We use 'I'm afraid' to soften it and make it less aggressive to the other speaker. Phrases 4 and 5 are showing partial agreement with the other speaker but both are followed with the second speaker's (different) ideas. Phrase 6 is used to question how the other speaker could really think something that you think is completely wrong. Phrases 7 and 8 are saying that the other speaker is completely wrong in a very direct, blunt way. 1.I'm not sure about that! 2.You could be right, but... 3.(I'm afraid) I don't agree. 4.I agree up to a point, but.. 5.That's an interesting idea, but.. 6.Do you really think..? 7.Rubbish! / Nonsense! 8.You can't be serious! 9.Actually, as a matter of fact. I think.. 10.That's not how I see it.

It is very imporatnt to show people when you are saying an opinion and show that it is not a fact. Giving an opinion as a fact is not very polite in the UK.

With compliments of Ms Baetty I would like to express my special thanks for Ms Baetty, Language Centre University of Andalas.