[AGE5 00] MIDTERM: Unit 3 Lesson 6 Argumentation and Argument Building

persuade

• In the ordinary events of daily life, our persuasive skills will be frequently needed at school, at work, and in the community.

• People from all walks of life and in all kinds of work-teachers, engineers, medical practitioners, salesmen, lawyers, journalists, politicians, businessmen – know the importance of being able to ___ and argue convincingly.

persuasion; argumentation

• One cannot just argue without possessing the skills in ___ and ___.

• First, you must know what you are arguing about.

• Second, you must have sound and logical arguments and counterarguments.

• Third, your arguments must be backed up by evidence

• Finally, you must present your arguments in effective language and style

assertions reasoning and proof

Argumentation is about ___

To argue effectively

• First, you must know the issue is about; is the issue (or claim) a fact, value or policy?

• Second, you must formulate your arguments well. The ARE(Assertion- Reasoning-Evidence) is the formula for argument.

• Third, you must state your arguments using effective language and style.

• Inasmuch as you know about the topic (proposition) of the debate way ahead of time, this debate will adopt the Oregon-Oxford Debate, a research-based type of debate.

• Research on the topic for an interesting and dynamic debate.

Skills Needed in Debate

• You need all the language macro-skills to be an effective debater.

• The productive and receptive skills work together and are not independent of each other.

• Certainly, these skills should go with critical thinking especially since listening, speaking, reading, writing, and viewing can only be successful if practiced with critical thinking.

• As you listen, speak, and read, you also need to take down notes so note-taking is imperative.

  • Reading

  • Speaking

  • Writing

  • Listening

Reading

• For you to become a successful debater, you should be a wide reader.

• Many say that through reading, you can visit places, experience other cultures, and learn new things.

• In fact, if you read extensively, you are able to look at things differently.

• Your knowledge of things is not restricted to a single perspective but to many.

• You are able to weigh things more objectively because you have gained a deeper understanding of life.

• Such is the beauty of being a book lover or a passionate reader.

Speaking

• Your being a voracious reader or a bookworm will certainly manifest itself in the way you speak.

• You never run out of thoughts and words once you are asked on a certain topic.

• The knowledge you have gained from reading can manifest in your wide vocabulary and in a distinct use of a speaking style that can change the minds of your listeners, sway and win them over to your side.

• When you speak, always remember that you should:

  • Articulate your thoughts very well;

  • Pronounce clearly the words you utter;

  • Use the appropriate rate and volume;

  • Speak grammatical accuracy;

  • Maintain the correct bearing or poise; and

  • Employ non-verbal code such as gestures, facial expression, and movement.

Writing

• It is in the writing skill where the ‘making of a full man’ is achieved.

• Reading and writing are skills that go together.

• As a passionate reader, you increase your vocabulary significantly.

• You are able to express in writing your full understanding of yourself, the world you are in, your views about life, and your perspectives of people.

• But you become only a full man if you are able to adjust to the needs of the time and are mindful of your shared responsibility to help improve other people’s lives.

Listening

• Though not usually emphasized, listening is equally important as the other skills.

  • Thus, it should not be taken for granted.

  • Just like reading and writing, listening and speaking go together.

• In a debate, if you do not listen carefully to the arguments of your colleagues and the members of the opposing team, you cannot build on your teammate’s arguments and refute convincingly the claims of the other team, respectively.

How to write an argumentative speech

• Select a topic that has both affirmative and negative sides.

• Decide which position you want to argue.

• Study the topic to gather information.

• Write an attention-getting introduction.

• State your position clearly and quickly.