8. Now let me make a clear statement of principle…
9. Anyway…
Activity 3
Comment on which of these examples/sets of figures/stories the speaker of the above speech could make good use of, and say where they would fit.
Examples/Figures/Stories Comment Description of a crowded hospital
Survey results – number of smokers who say they want to give up
Own experience of a smoke-filled room Quotation on the beauty of freedom Description of someone dying horribly of lung cancer
Example of someone playing music and disturbing neighbours
Story about law-enforcement
Statement by leading health body on harmful effects of tobacco
Story about an uncle trying to give up smoking
Anti-smoking laws in California
Statistics on tobacco-related illness and death in Hong Kong
Description of a UK hotel fire caused by smoking in bed
Hong Kong estimates on tobacco health costs
Teachers’ notes
*Teachers should feel free to choose how many of these examples for use based on students’ needs, abilities and interests.
Suggested answers:
Activities 1 and 2
Sign-posting Points for the speech
Let me first establish… Smoking is a serious health hazard…
Now let me make a clear statement of principle…
Personal freedom and choice is very important…
However… One man’s freedom cannot interfere with another’s or impose a heavy cost on society…
So we must ask… Should smokers be allowed the freedom to smoke at the expense of non-smokers or society at large?…
Passive smoking is a matter of grave concern…
Smoking causes fires and litter…
Let me give you three examples…
Tobacco-related health care costs are enormous…
Thus, for these reasons… It is justified to ban tobacco…
Anyway… Most smokers say they want to give up…
Of course, there are other The issues of enforcement and trade relations will
issues… be covered by the second speaker…
Let me conclude by saying… Rational people must support this motion…
The speech opens with the speaker establishing that smoking causes great harm to health. There is then a statement of principle (which the speaker knows will be made later by the opposition) that human freedom is important, but one person’s freedom cannot interfere with that of others or cause a heavy cost to them. So, does smoking interfere with non-smokers’ freedom and cause heavy costs? Yes, it does and here are three examples. Passive smoking interferes with the rights of others to fresh air.
Smoking causes fires and litter. It also causes heavy health care costs. Thus, it is justified to ban it despite the smokers’ right of choice. Anyway, most smokers say they want to give up so they should not complain. Of course, there are issues of how practical the ban is and the second speaker will discuss these matters. In conclusion, the speaker says no one can resist the logic of the argument or disagree.
Activity 3
Examples/Figures/Stories Comment
Description of a crowded hospital Does not seem useful – everyone knows about the problem
Survey results – number of smokers who say they want to give up
Useful for the comment near the end about smokers’ probable support for strong measures
Own experience of a smoke-filled room
If brief could add a little colour to the passive smoking part
Quotation on the beauty of freedom Unnecessary and distracting Description of someone dying horribly
of lung cancer
The tone of the speech is logical – the statistics will impress more
Example of someone playing music and disturbing neighbours
Unnecessary – the point about freedoms not disturbing others is simple enough –
explaining the obvious is boring Story about law-enforcement Definitely not – the second speaker is
handling this topic Statement by leading health body on
harmful effects of tobacco
Yes, essential when establishing this point.
The other side will look silly if they are contradicting the WHO, etc.
Story about an uncle trying to give up smoking
Very briefly in the part about smokers wanting to give up – might be a nice touch but not necessary
Anti-smoking laws in California Unnecessary – but the speaker should have researched the law elsewhere so that if the other side ask why Hong Kong should be different from other places, a stream of data can be used to make them look uninformed Statistics on tobacco-related illness
and death in Hong Kong
Yes, needed for the opening remarks Description of a UK hotel fire caused
by smoking in bed
Unhelpful – everyone knows there are fires caused by cigarettes
Hong Kong estimates on tobacco health costs
Yes, needed to show tobacco has a high social cost
Useful phrases for a debate speech
A. Introducing the motion
Honorable Chairperson, teachers and fellow students, today we are going to debate the motion ...
Today I hope to persuade you to agree that…
This afternoon we have the easy task of convincing you that ...
B. Defining the motion
We need to spend a moment looking at this motion more closely.
Most people would take this to mean … C. Allocating the arguments
We have five strong arguments to present to you. I will cover the first three and my colleague the other two. First, … Then, …
Our third speaker will explain this in greater detail.
I will leave the evidence for this to the next speaker.
D. Presenting your arguments I am sure you will agree that … We do not mean to argue …
The thing we are most interested in is the point of principle.
Any fair-minded person must agree … The figures prove this conclusively.
Surely we all agree … so isn’t this case exactly the same?
Let the facts speak for themselves.
E. Attacking the opposition’s arguments
I hope the other side won’t use the weak and obvious argument that ...
The last speaker seems to have forgotten ...
Sadly I must point out the lack of logic in my opponent’s argument.
Finding one or two examples does not prove a point. Of course, there are exceptions and extreme cases.
Prejudice and appeals to our worst emotions is not argument.
I am sure we all enjoyed the last speaker’s performance but let’s now look at this rationally and stop the play-acting.
You can only possibly support the motion if you ...
F. Reviewing your arguments
Let me review my opponent’s argument and show you its weakness.
In the time that remains, let me remind you of the arguments our side have presented.
G. Summarising and concluding
So let me sum up. I/We have presented three arguments against this motion.
Please follow your hearts and support the motion.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your time and support.