Speaking: Functional Language C1 - Lesson 1: Debating Complex Issues Persuasively

Speaking: Functional Language C1 - Lesson 1: Debating Complex Issues Persuasively

Welcome to C1 Functional Language! At this level, you move beyond simple discussion to engage in formal debates¹. This requires you to not only present your own case logically but also to anticipate and dismantle opposing viewpoints. The goal is not just to speak, but to speak persuasively², using structured arguments and rhetorical strategies.

The Anatomy of a C1-Level Argument

A truly persuasive argument is a fortress. It's not only strong on its own, but it's also built to defend against attacks. This means anticipating and refuting counter-arguments before they are even made.

The "Anticipate & Refute" Structure:

1. State Your Contention Clearly

Begin with a strong, clear statement of your position.

"It is my firm contention³ that..." / "The position I will be arguing today is that..."

2. Acknowledge the Counter-Argument

Show your intellectual honesty by addressing the most likely opposing view first. This shows the audience you've considered both sides.

"Now, I recognize that some will argue that..." / "A common objection to this is..."

3. Refute⁴ the Counter-Argument

Explain why the opposing view is flawed, weak, or less important than your point.

"However, this argument is flawed because it overlooks..." / "While that may be true to an extent, it fails to consider the broader context..."

4. Provide Your Evidence

After dismantling the counter-argument, present the evidence for your own position.

"The evidence, in fact, demonstrates that..." / "Let's look at the facts."

Scenario: A Formal Debate

Motion: "This house believes that Artificial Intelligence will create more jobs than it destroys."

Listen to the first speaker for the affirmative side. Notice how she anticipates and refutes the main counter-argument from the very beginning.

"Good evening. **It is my firm contention that**, far from being a threat, Artificial Intelligence will ultimately be the most powerful engine for job creation in human history.

Now, **I know the primary argument my opponents will make.** They will paint a grim picture of robots replacing human workers, pointing to job losses in fields like data entry and manufacturing. **And while it's true that some roles will become obsolete, this viewpoint rests on a fundamental misunderstanding** of technological progress. It sees only the loss and fails to see the creation.

This argument **overlooks the historical precedent.** The Industrial Revolution displaced weavers, but it created millions of jobs for engineers and factory workers. The internet displaced travel agents, but it created millions of jobs for software developers and digital marketers. **The evidence, in fact, shows that** AI is already creating new roles that were unimaginable a decade ago: AI ethicists, data scientists, machine learning engineers. Therefore, to fear AI is to fear the very nature of progress itself."

The Language of Rebuttal

When responding directly to an opponent in a live debate, use precise language to challenge their argument.

• To challenge their logic: "My opponent's argument is based on a false premise⁵." / "There is a fundamental flaw in that line of reasoning."
• To challenge their evidence: "The data they cited is outdated and doesn't reflect the current reality." / "While that single anecdote is moving, it is not representative of the broader trend."

Practice Quiz: Identify the Debating Tactic

Read the statement and identify the primary debating tactic being used.

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"While my opponent has focused on the short-term costs of this environmental policy, they have completely ignored the catastrophic long-term costs of inaction."

A) Agreeing with the opponent.
B) Acknowledging and refuting a counter-argument.
C) Using a personal anecdote.

→ Answer: B. The speaker acknowledges the opponent's point ("short-term costs") but then refutes it by highlighting a more important, overlooked factor ("long-term costs").

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"So, are we to believe that this problem will simply solve itself? History teaches us that it will not."

A) Stating a clear contention.
B) Using a rhetorical question to challenge a viewpoint.
C) Citing statistical evidence.

→ Answer: B. The speaker asks a question not to get an answer, but to expose the weakness of an opposing viewpoint (the idea of doing nothing).

Your Mission: The "One-Point Debate" Challenge

Your mission is to build a single, robust argumentative point.

1. Choose a debate topic. For example: "Social media connects us more than it divides us."
2. Choose one side to argue (e.g., you will argue that it connects us).
3. Structure one complete argumentative block (60-90 seconds). Plan keywords for:
   • Your Contention: "My argument is that social media's primary function is connection."
   • Acknowledge the Counter-Argument: "I know many people will point to political polarization and online arguments..."
   • Refute the Counter-Argument: "...however, these are highly visible but represent a minority of interactions. This view overlooks..."
   • Your Evidence: "...the billions of daily, small-scale connections between family and friends across borders, which are the true fabric of the platform."
4. Record yourself delivering your argument. Focus on a confident, formal tone and use pauses for effect.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. To Debate: (Verb) - ជជែកដេញដោល - To engage in a formal argument about a subject, where opposing arguments are put forward. ↩
2. Persuasively: (Adverb) - ដែលបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូល - In a way that convinces someone to do or believe something through reasoning. ↩
3. Contention: (Noun) - ការឈ្លោះប្រកែកគ្នា ឬជម្លោះ - A formal assertion; a statement that you argue is true. ↩
4. To Refute: (Verb) - បដិសេធ - To prove that a statement or theory is wrong or false. ↩
5. Premise: (Noun) - បរិវេណ - An assertion or proposition which forms the basis for an argument or theory. ↩