Arguing for OR against

1. Arguing for OR against

2. Which approach do you like? This is the one! • You’ve strong views for or against the proposition and want to convince other people. • You do not feel strongly but can see points on both sides. • You may feel in favour of the proposition or against it in general terms but your opinion is that it presents or depends on other problems.

3. Which phrases do not express that standpoint? • That’s just what I think! • I have no strong feelings on the matter. • Yes, I agree on the whole. • I don’t know. • The statement is too vague for me to decide. • I don’t think that’s really true. • I don’t agree at all. That’s wrong.   

4. Look at the dialogues on your notes pg.51: • What were they talking about? • What phrases were used to introduce the opinion and response? • Do the response phrases help us predict what follows?

5. Look at the dialogues on your notes pg.51: • What were they talking about? • What phrases were used to introduce the opinion and response? • Do the response phrases help us predict what follows?

6. Look at the dialogues on your notes pg.51: • What were they talking about? • What phrases were used to introduce the opinion and response? • Do the response phrases help us predict what follows?

7. How do we convince people of our standpoint? • Express our standpoint clearly. • Aware of the opposing points of view that could be put forward. • Do not repeat points in abstract terms without practical examples.

8. How do we convince people of our standpoint? • Background/problem Explain what you’re arguing about in general terms Opinion Allow points of the other side to come in, but show the inadequacy & destroy them Give practical examples Your preference Logical conclusion

9. Let’s look at an example: What side? – on the motorist’s side? Against police? How? prejudice -by writing about The inadequacy of The parking facilities And by accusing the Local authority and The police of Cooperating…to get As much revenue as Possible out of the Long-suffering motorists What phrases Have been used To describe the Police & the Motorist?

10. Let’s see how the other side defends… Where are his prejudice words? He appears to be reasonable but is In fact trying to prejudice the reader vs the First writer. Making suggestions But different from The first writer suppositional factual

11. Some points to make: • While the main argument should be stated in the first paragraph, it should be contextualised and there must be phrases indicating what form of writing it is, e.g. a letter to the editor, editorial… • Examples should be given wherever possible and any known facts or statistics mentioned. • Have to take into account the arguments offered by the other side, and attempt to dispose of them • The secondary arguments can be presented in any order (of course with a sequence)but under the main argument • Should reach a conclusion recalling the original statement effectively.

12. Language that helps: • For Hypothetical, suppositional use: conditional tense • For logical and obligation: must • For purpose, giving reason: infinitives, because, so as to, so that…

13. Assignment: • Use the points given on your notes pg. 54, write an essay for or against the following topic: Advertising should not be allowed on radio or television.

14. Assignment: • write an essay for or against the following topic: Smoking should be banned in all eateries.