Communicative Task: Debates & Discussions
B2 Capstone Lesson
Your Communicative Toolkit 🛠️
A Quick Review of Key Grammar
To succeed in a discussion, you need the right tools. Here is the B2 grammar you can use:
- Giving Opinions: "In my opinion...", "I believe that...", "We should..."
- Speculation & Deduction: "That plan might work.", "It must be expensive.", "That can't be the only solution."
- Hypotheticals (Conditionals): "If we built a new park, people would be happier." / "If they had asked the people, they would have known the answer."
- Linking Ideas: "However,...", "Furthermore,...", "Consequently,..."
The Debate Topics
Choose ONE of the following topics. Think about what your opinion is and what arguments you can make to support it.
Topic 1: A New Shopping Mall
A large international company wants to build a huge, modern shopping mall in the historic center of Battambang. Is this a good idea for the city?
Topic 2: Required Community Service
Should a law be passed in Cambodia requiring all high school students to complete 100 hours of community service (e.g., cleaning parks) in order to graduate?
Topic 3: Online vs. Traditional Learning
Is online learning a good replacement for traditional classroom learning for university students?
How to Structure Your Argument
When you state your opinion, a clear structure helps people understand you. Try this simple model:
- State Your Opinion: Clearly say if you agree or disagree, and give your main reason.
- Give Supporting Points: Add one or two examples.
- Acknowledge the Other Side: Show you understand the counter-argument.
- Use a Hypothetical: Use a conditional sentence to explore a possible result.
- Conclude: Briefly summarize your final position.
Practice Your Language 🎯
Language Builder (Topic 1: The Shopping Mall)
Let's practice the language for the first topic. Complete these sentence starters.
- (Opinion): In my opinion, building the mall is a bad idea because _______.
Example: ...it would destroy the city's unique charm. - (Hypothetical): If the company built the mall, it _______ attract more tourists.
Example: ...would... - (Speculation): The old buildings _______ be damaged during construction.
Example: ...might/could... - (Acknowledging): I understand that it would create jobs; however, _______.
Example: ...it might also create a lot of traffic.
Your Communicative Mission ⭐
Writing Task: Present Your Argument
Choose one of the three debate topics. Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) presenting your main argument. Try to use at least one conditional sentence, one modal of speculation, and one advanced linking word.
Example Answer (for Topic 2):
"In my opinion, required community service for students is an excellent idea. Firstly, it would teach young people about social responsibility. Furthermore, it would provide real help to communities that need it. I understand that some students might say they are too busy with their studies. However, if schools integrated the service into the curriculum, it would be manageable. The students might even discover a passion for helping others. Consequently, I believe it would build better citizens for Cambodia's future."
Key Vocabulary
- Communicative Related to the activity of expressing ideas and feelings.
- Debate A formal discussion in which opposing arguments are put forward.
- Hypothetical Reasoning Thinking about situations that are imaginary or not real.
- Speculation Guessing possible answers without having enough information to be certain.