Debating: Preparing for the Summative Speaking Exam

As a summative assessment, you will be conducting a debate based on whether more permanent homeless shelters should be built in Seville.

You will be assessed on how well you put your views across, as well as the quality of your English.

Quizlet List: Debating Verbs

Verbs:

To improve / worsen

To encourage / prevent

To support / object to

To develop

To provide (with)

To implement

To solve

To allow / permit / let

Be Convincing:

Without a shadow of a doubt, …

It is absolutely vital that / crucial that …

There is no question that

Scenarios:

Imagine a school where…

Wouldn’t you prefer …?

Techniques to involve the audience:

We all know that… (get the listeners on your side)

Think about it: … (use imperatives to attract the audience’s attention)

I’m sure that everyone in the room would agree / recognize / accept … (encourage your listener to agree)

Let’s face it, … (making something seem like a self-evident truth)

Imagine a school where … Does this sound ……….? (scenario)

Would you really ………? (rhetorical question – add detail)

What next? Would you accept …(use exaggeration)

Connnectives

·Although / Even though / Though

·Despite / In spite of

·Therefore / As a result of this / Consequently

·On the other hand / However / Yet / Conversely

·Otherwise / If not

·This may  lead to / This could cause

·Without

·If

·As

·Whereas

·While

·Therefore

·Due to this

·First of all / Firstly / Secondly / Thirdly / Furthermore / Moreover / In addition to this

·In conclusion / In summary / To sum up, …

·…for two main reasons: Firstly…., Secondly, …

·Unfortunately / Undoubtedly / Currently / Unsurprisingly

Lists of 3:

Adjectives (It is expensive, inefficient and unreliable)

Nouns (It would negatively affect students, parents and teachers.)

Verbs (to improve, renovate and develop …)

Points (It would lead to an increase in the profits of the company, a positive impression of the business and a number of new customers)

Knock down the other side of the argument:

While it’s true that …,

Although many people may agree that…

Yes, …. Yes, … and yes, … However, have you seriously considered ….?

Rhetorical questions (and provide a detailed responnse to your own question):

Do you honestly want to implement a system which ….?

The Great Debate:

What you will be

marked on

•Band C:

–Key points and ideas

–Debating techniques

–Responding to the opposition’s 
point of view

–Appropriate register and style

•Band D:

–Grammar

–Vocabulary (e.g. Quizlet words)

–Fluency

–Pronunciation and intonation