Lesson 4 Title: Expressing Opinions and Building Arguments
Subtitle: Lesson 4
Presented by: Fatima
Contact Information: blackboarder1@gmail.com

Expressing Opinions and Building Arguments

• Importance of Persuasive Language

• Structure of a Strong Argument

Today, We will explore the language used in persuasive writing and speaking, and we’ll practice building arguments step by step.

When stating your opinion, you can use phrases such as:

◦ In my opinion...
◦ I believe...
◦ It seems to me that...

To agree or disagree politely, you might say:

◦ I agree with you that...
◦ I see your point, but...
◦ However, I disagree because...

For example:

1. In my opinion, online education is more flexible than traditional classrooms.

2. I agree that online education offers convenience, but I think face-to-face interaction is still important.

These phrases will help you present your opinions in a clear and respectful manner.

A well-structured argument typically consists of three main parts:

Introduction:
Clearly state your position on the topic.

Supporting Points:
Provide evidence and examples to back up your position. This is where you make your case.

Conclusion:
Summarize your argument and reinforce your position.

• In addition to presenting your points, it’s also important to consider counterarguments—opposing views that challenge your position.

• Addressing these counterarguments shows that you have thought critically about the issue and strengthens your argument.

For example, if you’re arguing that online education is better than traditional education, you might acknowledge that some people value face-to-face interaction, but then counter this by highlighting the flexibility and accessibility of online learning.

Exercise 1:
Expressing Your Opinion on a Given Topic

Exercise 2:
Building an Argument

Exercise 3:
Addressing a Counterargument

1. Expressing Your Opinion
Write a sentence expressing your opinion on the following topic:

The impact of social media on society.

2. Building an Argument
Create a short argument (3-4 sentences) for the following statement:

Online education is the future of learning.

3. Addressing a Counterargument
Respond to the following counterargument with a rebuttal:

Some people argue that traditional education provides better social skills development than online education.

To summarize, today we focused on expressing opinions and building strong arguments.

We covered the language used to:
◦ introduce and support your opinions
◦ the importance of a clear structure
◦ the value of addressing counterarguments.

In our next class, we’ll continue to build on these skills.