Developing an argument
Lección 11 Bloque 2
DESARROLLA TU ARGUMENTO
Aquí vas a encontrar esas frases y expresiones que tienes que utilizar para exponer y debatir sobre un tema.
INTRODUCE UN TEMA
La primera parte en un debate o discusión es, normalmente, la introducción. Así que para introducir tu tema puedes usar las siguientes frases:
- Let’s start by defining the main concepts of this debate.
- The main problem we are going to discuss is …
- The issue we are going to talk about today is …
- The motion of debate today is ...
- Today I will be talking about …
Por ejemplo:
The main problem we are going to discuss is related to the concept of children watching too much TV.
The issue we are going to talk about today is whether money is important for people to be happy.
The motion of debate today is whether we should use tablets instead of laptops to do work tasks.
Today I will be talking about a very important issue: Should our company introduce a dress-code?
ARGUMENTA
Después, puedes introducir tus argumentos:
- Let me come to my first/ second/.../ next argument:
- The first reason why we're propping/opposing this motion is:
- First of all, I’d like to say…
- The first point I would like to raise is this…
- Our position is the following…
- Here’s the main point I want to raise…
- I’d like to deal with two points here. The first is…
Por ejemplo:
The first reason why we're opposing this motion is that a lot of people might feel stressed when they have to wear the same colors over and over again.
The first point I would like to raise is this: people say money buys happiness and we know that it is partially true since you can get a very comfortable life when you have money.
Our position is the following: we think it might maximize the flexibility our company has to offer to its employees.
Here’s the main point I want to raise, children watch twice as much screen today than they used to in the past.
Cuando introduces un argumento, es esencial que des un ejemplo para reforzarlo. Y aquí puedes encontrar algunas frases para hacerlo:
- There are many examples for this, for instance, ...
- In fact, you can find many examples for this in real life. Just think of...
- And there are similar cases, such as ..., ...
- So in this simple example we can clearly see the effect of ...
Por ejemplo:
There are many examples for this, for instance, when you come to the office and see everyone wearing black, you feel like everything around you is just so dark.
In fact, you can find many examples for this in real life. Just think of someone buying the house of their dreams and completely changing their life and hence, their mood.
And there are similar cases, such as the case of one of our competitors, who has already introduced this technology in its workplace and have happier and more productive employees nowadays.
So in this simple example we can clearly see the effect of constantly staring at the screen all day.
CONTINÚA LA CONVERSACIÓN
Una vez que has dado tu argumento, con ejemplo incluido, debes escuchar el argumento de la otra persona. Aunque es posible que la otra persona no quiera responder al argumento que le has dado. Pues en este caso, debes seguir hablando tú. Así que fíjate en las siguientes frases:
- Our opponents have still not addressed the question we raised a moment ago.
- The other side has failed to answer our point about…
- Notice that the affirmative side has not addressed our main point.
- I will continue our case in a minute, but before that there are some things about the ... speech that need to be addressed.
- The first prop/opposition speaker has told us ...; on the contrary ...
Por ejemplo:
The other side has failed to answer our point about the work-life balance.
I will continue our case in a minute, but before that there are some things about the sales manager’s speech that need to be addressed.
The first opposition speaker has told us was that happiness could be found only in human communication; on the contrary I’d like to say that happiness can only be defined by each separate person who is talking about it.
RESUME Y FINALIZA
Para finalizar el debate, tienes que resumir lo que has dicho, recopilar los puntos principales y finalizar tu discurso.
Seguro que las siguientes expresiones te ayudan:
- To sum up, here are the main points our opponents have not addressed.
- Let’s recap the main points.
- Let’s sum up where we stand in this debate.
- Let’s see which arguments are still standing.
- Let’s take stock of where we are in this debate.
DESTREZAS
Para practicar este tema y el reading, mira los siguientes artículos:
- 12 Ways Debating Will Help You for the Rest of Your Life
- The power of speech and debate education
También puedes practicar el listening, viendo los siguientes videos:
- Debate skills: Argument building
- How to win an argument without making enemies
Si lo que quieres es practicar el writing, te sugiero que escribas un “argumentative essay” debatiendo sobre el siguiente tema: "Animal testing should be banned".
Y, para practicar el speaking, búscate a alguien y debatid las siguientes cuestiones:
- Homework should be banned.
- Schools should block sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram on their computers.
- School uniforms should be required.
- Standardized testing should be abolished.
- All students should have an after-school job or internship.
- School should be in session year-round.
- All student loan debt should be eliminated.
- Healthcare should be universal.
- Cosmetic procedures should be covered by health insurance.
- All people should be vegetarians.