Class Discussion and Debating
Class Discussion and Debating: Expressing Arguments on Political Topics
Task Instruction
You are required to choose one political topic and take part in a class discussion or debate. You must express your opinion clearly and defend it using appropriate political vocabulary, reasons, examples, and linking words.
Your goal is to show that you can:
- State your opinion clearly.
- Give reasons to support your opinion.
- Use examples or evidence.
- Agree or disagree politely with others.
- Defend your point of view using suitable vocabulary.
- Respect different opinions during the discussion.
Step 1: Choose one political topic
You may choose one of the following topics, or suggest another political topic with your teacher’s approval:
- Should voting be compulsory?
- Should young people be allowed to vote at 16?
- Is democracy the best form of government?
- Should governments spend more money on education?
- Should governments provide free healthcare?
- Should taxes be increased to help public services?
- Should social media be controlled by the government?
- Should leaders be elected directly by the people?
- Is it better to have a president or a prime minister?
- Should citizens have more power in political decisions?
Step 2: Prepare your opinion
Before the discussion, write short notes to answer these questions:
- What is your opinion?
- Why do you think this?
- What examples can support your opinion?
- What arguments might the other side give?
- How can you respond politely?
Useful expressions
To give your opinion:
- In my opinion, ...
- I believe that ...
- From my point of view, ...
- I think that ...
- It seems to me that ...
To give reasons:
- The main reason is that ...
- This is important because ...
- One reason for this is ...
- This can lead to ...
- Because of this, ...
To give examples:
- For example, ...
- For instance, ...
- This shows that ...
- A good example of this is ...
- According to what we studied, ...
To agree:
- I agree with this point because ...
- That is a valid argument.
- I completely agree that ...
- You are right to say that ...
To disagree politely:
- I understand your point, but ...
- I see your point, however ...
- I do not fully agree because ...
- On the other hand, ...
- That may be true, but ...
To conclude:
- In conclusion, ...
- To sum up, ...
- Overall, ...
- For these reasons, I believe that ...
Example
Topic: Should governments spend more money on education?
Opinion:
In my opinion, governments should spend more money on education.
Reason:
The main reason is that education gives young people better opportunities for the future.
Example:
For example, when schools have better teachers, books, and technology, students can learn more effectively.
Conclusion:
For these reasons, I believe that investing in education is important for the development of the country.
Final Reminder
During the debate, speak clearly, listen respectfully, do not interrupt others, and support your opinion with strong arguments. Your aim is not only to give your opinion, but also to explain and defend it correctly.
In my opinion, young people should be allowed to vote at 16. The main reason is that many teenagers are interested in political issues. For example, they care about education, climate change, jobs, and their future. This shows that young people can have serious opinions about society. Also, voting at 16 can encourage teenagers to become responsible citizens. Some people argue that teenagers are too young to vote. However, I believe that age does not always mean maturity. If young people study politics at school, they can make informed choices. Moreover, political decisions affect their lives, so their voices should be heard. On the other hand, students must learn to respect different opinions. In conclusion, I think voting at 16 is a good idea because it helps young people participate in democracy and defend their future.