How can I effectively present my argument?

Use an organizational structure that arranges the argument in a way that will make sense to the reader. The Toulmin Method of logic is a common and easy to use formula for organizing an argument.

The basic format for the Toulmin Method is as follows:

Claim: The overall thesis the writer will argue for.

Data: Evidence gathered to support the claim.

Warrant (also referred to as a bridge): Explanation of why or how the data supports the claim, the underlying assumption that connects your data to your claim.

Backing (also referred to as the foundation): Additional logic or reasoning that may be necessary to support the warrant.

Counterclaim: A claim that negates or disagrees with the thesis/claim.

Rebuttal: Evidence that negates or disagrees with the counterclaim.

Phrases for a chairperson

Opening

On behalf of ….I’m very glad to welcome you to…

I’m delighted to welcome you all to…

The meeting is declared open.

Objectives

We're here today to...

The main objective/purpose of today's meeting is...

We're looking to achieve....

We need to find common ground.

Our main objective is to…

What we’d like to achieve (get) from this meeting is…

We’d also like to talk about…

Another objective, as we see, is…

Does that fit with your objectives?

Is that ok with you?

Does it seem acceptable to you?

Perhaps I could outline our objectives.

Agenda

Let's just run through the agenda.

There are two items on the agenda.

Let's leave.... until later.

I'd like to take … the first.

Can we just go through the agenda?

I think we should put it last.

Let’s just identify the key issues.

Shall we look at … first?

Perhaps we should consider…first?

If I understand correctly, you’re interested in…

I think we should start by looking at…would you go along with that?

We could then move on to a presentation. Does that sound ok?

I think we should start our meeting.

Can we now agree on the overall procedure?

Procedure

We’ll deal with …first.

We’ll have a question and answer session at the end.

We can table that for discussion later.

Can we now agree on the overall procedure?

First of all, I think we should establish the overall procedure.

Timing

That’s give us two hours.

It will take us two hours.

It won’t take long.

It won’t take more than twenty minutes.

Progress

We’ve taken a major step forward.

We’ve made excellent/good/some progress.

We didn’t get as far as we hoped, but…

The floor is open for discussion.

 

Summarizing

Let’s go over the main points again.

Can I just run over the main points?

We’ve agreed the following…

There is still the question of … to resolve.

Outstanding issues are…

 

Next meeting

I suggest we meet on/at

Shall we say four o’clock

 

Closing

That brings us to the end of…

I think we have covered everything.

I’m sure we would all agree that we have had a successful meeting.

It remains me to thank you for coming and…

And that was actually one of the things I wanted to discuss.

Let’s stop there.

APPENDIX

Different types of conferences

 

Glossary.

Venue -the place where a public event or meeting happen

Key-note relating to the most important part of formal meeting, report, etc

Privilege to treat some people or thing better than others

Overrun extend beyond

V O C A B L U A R Y

1. Give derivatives of the following words:

a) relevant

b) equal

c) general

d) submit

e) succeed

f) suggest

g) suit

h) vary

2. Cross out the wrong word in brackets.

 

1) What experience do you have that is (relevance, relevant) to this position.

2) All people have the right to (equal, equality) with man in the workplace.

3) It was (generally, general) appositive conversation.

4) All applications must be (submitting, submitted) by Monday.

5) The firm wasn’t a great (unsuccessfully, success) story.

6) We are hoping to find a (suitable, suitably) school.

7) There are too many (variables, variants) in the experiment to predict.

 

3. There are many expressions in English connected with “term”. Replace the phrases in italics in sentences 1-10 with the correct definition.

a) you are explaining or describing it only in relation to the fact or event b) used to show that you are describing or considering a subject in a particular way or from a particular point of view c) compared with other, similar things d) rude, loving, respectful etc language e) language that is very clear and angry f) the time someone spends doing an important job in government g) during the term h) to accept an unpleasant or sad situation and no longer feel upset or angry about it i) the conditions that are set for an agreement, contract, arrangement etc j) if you are on good, bad etc terms with someone, you have a good,bad etc relationship with them

1) He is barely on speaking terms with his father. 2) Under the terms of the agreement, the debt would be repaid over 20 years. 3) Femininity is still defined in terms of beauty. 4) George and Elizabeth have come to terms with the fact that they will never have children. 5) It would be wrong to describe society purely in economic terms. 6) Students have less money in relative terms, but spend more on books. 7) The word “communist” had become a term of abuse. 8) Journalists were told, in no uncertain terms, that they were not welcome. 9) Teachers often feel overworked in term time. 10) It was always clear that Schmidt’s third term in office would prove a difficult one.

 

4. Here are some words that collocate with ”focus”. Translate all these groups of words. Consult a dictionary, if necessary.

 

1) come into

2) bring smth into

3) shifts(from smth)

4) to/towards

5) sharp

6) of attention/concern/interest

7) the main/central/primary

 

 

5. Think of the word combinations which best fit each space. Mind the tense.

 

1) The war in Bosnia had _________________ media attention.

2) In effect the civil wars _________________ around which other conflicts could cluster.

3) School have _________________ education away from citizenship towards training for jobs.

4) These issues have recently ____________ sharp ______.

5) It _________________, you can not see the picture clearly.

 

a) Provide a focus (for smth)

b) To be out of focus

c) Come into focus

d) Become the focus (of)

e) Shift the focus (of)

 

(Key Words for Fluency Upper Intermediate/ George Woolard p7)

 

Time and venue

 

Glossary

Lead-in remarks made by someone to introduce a radio or T.V. show

To be aware (of)    you realize or know of some situation (its existence)

Key-note  relating to the most important part of a formal meeting, report, etc

To bear in mind   to remember a fact or piece of information that is important or could be useful in the future

To take the floor   to begin speaking at an important public meeting

V O C A B U lA R Y

1. Match the sentence halves.

1) Although in poor health, 2) Although I can’t help admiring the man’s courage, 3) You can copy down my answers, 4) Some useful points emerged, 5) Despite all our efforts to save the school, 6) The trade continues despite the fact 7) Max is hard working, cheerful, 8) Above all else, 9) We see each other 10) It was not a good thing, 11) Saturn was once thought to be unique, 12) Two heart attacks in a year. It has not stop him smoking, 13) Setting up a business is exciting. However, 14) Their car was bigger and therefore 15) Glass, on the other hand, does not have this structure: 16) Dirty water causes diarrhea

a) ___ but we now know that Jupiter, Uranus & Neptune likewise have rings. b) ___ the authorities decided to close it. c) ___ very occasionally. d) ___ do not approve of his methods. e) ___ although the study was too limited to reach a definite conclusion. f) ___ more comfortable. g) ___ children need security. h) ___ although I’m not sure they’re right. i) ___ though. j) ___ which in turn leads to the dehydration. k) ___ she continued to carry out her duties. l) ___ and above all honest. m) ___ it requires a great deal of effort. n) ___ on the contrary it was a huge mistake. o) ___ it is therefore not a mineral. p) ___ that it is illegal.

(Longman Exams Dictionary/ Your key to exam success/ Person Longman 2006)

2. Choose the correct preposition:

for	of
of	on
with	to

 

1) The landscape reminded her ___ Scotland.

2) They replaced the permanent staff ___ part-timers.

3) Corinne reminds me ___ myself when I was her age.

4) Our focus is ___ helping people get back into work.

5) All the organizations involved have sent urgent appeals ____ the government, asking for extra funding.

6) The police have issued a new appeal ___ information.

 

3. Collocations are common combinations of words. If you want and speak and write English well, you need to know them.

A. Noun + of + time

Use these nouns in the sentences:

 

amount matter course space length waste

1) These meetings аrе а complete ________ of time. Nothing is еvеr decided! 2)Children seem tо spend аn inordinate ______ of time watching ТV - up to tеn hours а day! 3) This new strain of flu is out of control. It's only а ________ of time before it arrives here. 4) Standing оn оnе leg for аnу _____________of time is quite difficult for most people. 5) His injuries аге severe but they will heal in the _______ of time. Не just needs to bе patient. 6) Within а vеrу short ________ of time he had lost his title. Не was champion for under а month.

 

B. Expressions of time

Use the following expressions in the sentences:

the whole time mу usual time the first time а specific time next time some time

1) She kept оn talking ______________! She didn't stop for а minute. 2) The body had bееn in the water for ______ which made it difficult to determine thе exact time of death. 3) I met mу girlfriend's parents for ____________ last week. 4) Could we arrange _______ tо discuss this рroblеm? How about 10 tomorrow? 5) I'd try а different approach ___________ You might bе mоrе successful. 6) Although I was оn holiday I still got up at _________________.

 

(Key Words for Fluency Upper Intermediate/ George Woolard p7)