Debates

+ Discuss various phrases to agree and disagree

1) Allocate one person for and against.

2) Brainstorm your ideas
3) Bullet point main arguments
4) Create 3 minute speech
5) Each give their speech
6) Review bullet points asking the other person for their opinion

In pairs, discuss the topics below:

space travel is a complete waste of money

the Internet is making face-to-face communication obsolete
there should be a 50km speed limit on ALL roads
English is a very easy language to master
all motorists should be obliged to wear seatbelts

putting wild animals in cages in zoos is cruel

women are worse drivers than men

Money invested in space travel should be better invested in helping the

poor and needy

Experimenting on animals in laboratories is cruel

Genetic engineering is nothing but a violation of the laws of nature

Cloning could have disastrous consequences for mankind in the future
The energy crisis is 'necessary' to maintain the world balance in power
Man is his own worst enemy
There is always a price to pay in protecting the environment
In the 21st century mankind will regress to primitive levels of existence
Animals should not be kept in captivity
It is right to meddle with Nature
Too much knowledge is a dangerous thing
We hope 'teaching machines' will replace teachers
Man descended from the apes
Time is relative
Any method is justifiable if the aim is to preserve life

When you want to state an opinion:

INFORMAL

In my opinion____
I think that_____
I feel that______
I believe that______
It seems to me that________
If you ask me_____
I'd say that_______
The point is________
As I see it_______
I'd say that______
The point is______

FORMAL

You know what I think... I think that____

Wouldn't you say that_______?
Don't you agree that_______?
I'd just like to say that______
I'd like to point out that_______

When you want someone to repeat or explain:

I don't understand what you mean

Would you explain that, please?
I'm sorry, but I didn't understand your point.
Could you give an example?
What do you mean by_____?

When you want to agree with someone (in ascending order of

formality):

You're right
I think so, too
I agree with you
You could be right
I couldn't agree more
That's a good point
I couldn't agree more
I see what you mean
That's just what I was thinking
I agree entirely
You know, that's exactly what I think

When you want to disagree with someone

(in ascending order of formality):

Yes, but_____
I disagree
That's not the point
No, I think you're wrong
Up to a point, but________
Yes, that's quite true, but_____
I'm not sure I quite agree
Well, you have a point there, but_____
Perhaps, but don't you think that_____
I see what you mean, but________

I tend to disagree with you there

When you want to persuade someone:

Informal disagreement
(between people you know very
well)

You must admit that___

Do you really believe that_____?
Don't you think that______?
Don't you agree that____?

- You can't be serious!!

- Come off it!
- Don't be silly!