These exercises are based on the course ‘Justifying a position in English’. Practice expressing opinions, giving reasons, and acknowledging other viewpoints with confidence.
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Exercice 1 — Choose the Best Expression
Choose the option that best completes each sentence for justifying a position in English.
- You want to introduce your personal opinion in a formal argument. Which sentence is most appropriate?
- You want to give a reason to support your claim that public transport should be free. Which sentence is most effective?
- You want to acknowledge an opposing viewpoint before reinforcing your own position. Which sentence is most appropriate?
- You want to conclude your argument and restate your position clearly. Which sentence is most suitable?
Correction
- B) From my perspective, remote work significantly boosts employee productivity.
- C) Since free public transport reduces car usage, it directly contributes to lower carbon emissions in urban areas.
- B) While it is true that online learning offers flexibility, it cannot fully replace the social dimension of classroom interaction.
- C) For all these reasons, I firmly believe that stricter environmental regulations are essential to address climate change.
Exercice 2 — Complete the Argument
Complete each turn of the dialogue with a suitable sentence that justifies the speaker's position. Write a full, natural sentence using appropriate expressions from the course.
- Speaker A: 'Do you think university education should be free for everyone?' Speaker B: [Give your opinion and one reason to support it.]
- Speaker A: 'But wouldn't free university education be too expensive for governments?' Speaker B: [Acknowledge the concern, then counter it.]
- Speaker A: 'Some people argue that students value their education more when they pay for it.' Speaker B: [Concede partially, then reinforce your position.]
- Speaker A: 'So what is your final stance on this issue?' Speaker B: [Restate your position clearly and conclusively.]
Correction
- In my view, university education should be free for everyone, as it would ensure that all students, regardless of their financial background, have equal access to higher education.
- That is a fair point, and I understand the financial concerns, but investing in education ultimately leads to a more skilled workforce, which generates greater economic growth in the long run.
- There may be some truth in that argument; however, it is important to note that motivation to learn should not depend on financial pressure, and many students already work extremely hard despite receiving scholarships.
- Taking everything into account, I strongly believe that free university education is a worthwhile investment for society, as it promotes equality, reduces social inequality, and strengthens the economy over time.
Exercice 3 — Reformulate to Justify
Reformulate each sentence using a more precise or formal expression to justify a position, as practised in the course. Write a complete sentence.
- Reformulate this sentence to make it sound more convincing and structured: 'I think social media is bad for young people.'
- Reformulate this sentence to acknowledge an opposing view before defending your position: 'Working from home is always better than going to the office.'
- Reformulate this sentence to provide a clearer cause-and-effect justification: 'We should use less plastic because it is bad.'
- Reformulate this sentence to make it a stronger conclusion that restates a position: 'So that is why I think animals should not be used for testing.'
Correction
- From my perspective, social media has a detrimental effect on young people's mental health, as excessive use has been linked to increased levels of anxiety and reduced self-esteem.
- Although some people argue that office work fosters better collaboration, I would contend that working from home allows employees to focus more effectively and achieve a healthier work-life balance.
- We should drastically reduce our use of plastic because it takes hundreds of years to decompose and releases harmful chemicals that contaminate both marine ecosystems and the food chain.
- In conclusion, for all the ethical and scientific reasons outlined above, I am firmly convinced that animal testing should be abolished and replaced with more humane and reliable alternative methods.
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