During The Power of Language, you will:
Learn to recognise and use the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos and logos) and figures of speech
Listen to debates from the show The Great Debate
Discuss relevant topics from contrasting perspectives
Participate in live debates with your classmates
Your local municipality invites speakers to the annual debate The Power of Language where citizens can share their arguments concerning key societal questions:
Should we abolish animal testing for medical research?
Should we legalise marijuana?
Should We Abolish the Monarchy in Sweden?
Should the Number of Flights be Limited by a Quota?
You and your classmates have been invited to represent young adults and upper secondary school. Together with a few classmates, choose one of the four debate motions and prepare to participate in the debate. The debate is divided into two parts:
Part 1: A 2 minute prepared speech where you either are in favour of or opposed to the debate motion
Part 2: After each speaker has presented, you will be able to discuss more freely, ask questions and interact
You are expected to construct your argument according to the SEAL-method (statement, example, analysis and link) and improve your rhetorical effect by including rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos and logos). Use figures of speech to improve your style and pratise having eye contact while speaking. Add to the debate by interacting with your peers and build upon the conversation. Your debate will be assessed based on these points.
Debate checklist:
Present your arguments, either in favour of or opposed to the debate motion (max 2 minutes)
Use and follow the SEAL-method:
Statement (are you in favour of or opposed to the motion?)
Give examples (Ethos, pathos & logos)
Analyse: Explain how and why your examples are important and relate to the motion
Link: End with returning to your initial statement
Include Figures of speech to improve the rhetorical effect and style of your speech
Open to download the module's printer-friendly worksheets. Use, reuse and modify as you wish.
Language is a powerful thing. When speaking with others, we can either influence or be influenced. The study of language, persuasion and effective speaking is known as rhetorics. Rhetorics can be used to motivate others, as seen during level 1, or as a means to discuss, debate or negotiate with others. Purpose of Level 4: rhetorics and conversational grammar make debates and negotiations more successful and fluent.
A. Debates and negotiations require two speaking parties that present arguments, ideas or thoughts with the intent to persuade the other party into either seeing their point, reaching an angreement or a new situation in order to achieve some kind of change.
B. Modes of persuasion helps us understand how to appeal to our audience when debating or negotiating. Rhetorical devices empowers our language by making it more idiomatic which increases fluency.
C. Conversational grammar such as discourse markers and question tags, our attitude and style improves the converational fluency of an interaction by inviting the other party to respond and easen the conversational flow.
D. Structuring, processing and using technology allows us to pratice for real-life debates and negotiations in social and working life situations. Knowing the rhetorical appeal, style, attitude and grammar makes us more successful and fluent.
Spoken language, also with different social and dialect features, and texts, including complex and formal texts which relate, discuss, argue, report, describe and investigate, also via film and other media.
Coherently spoken language and conversations of different kinds, such as debates, in-depth reports and lectures.
Strategies and modern technology to participate in, lead and document conversations and written communications in various media, such as in work processes and negotiation situations related to social and working life.
Use of basic stylistic and rhetorical concepts.
Processing of language and structure in their own and others' communications, in formal and complex contexts, and to create adaptation to genre, style and purpose
Understanding of spoken and written English, and also the ability to interpret content.
The ability to express oneself and communicate in English in speech and writing.
The ability to use different language strategies in different contexts.
The ability to adapt language to different purposes, recipients and situations. (Skolverket, 2011)