STS 3 根拠ある意見の述べ方

Build a strong argument with evidence.

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前回のレッスンは、はじめ方とまとめ方でした。このレッスンでは、argument の核となる部分、証拠（データ、事実、ご自分の経験等）を使った根拠ある意見の述べ方を学びます。すべてのスピーキングテストで総得点改善に不可欠のものであり、一般的にも、より有意義な会話をする支えとなります。

Introduction

Answer these questions:

What is an argument?
What are the parts of an argument?
How important is argumentation in your speaking test?

1. What is an argument?

An argument is a reason or set of reasons given in support of an idea, action or theory.

It can be simple: “Hey, I heard that sushi place is good. Let’s go have sushi!”
It can also be very complex: “I firmly believe that the economy is going to be in bad shape in the future because..."

2. What are the parts of an argument?

An argument consists of:
1. a claim; and
2. evidence and reasoning to support that claim.

3. How important is argumentation?

It is important in most speaking tests. Some points about specific tests are below.

G.B.C.:

This is very important! Take a look at the sample G.B.C. test result. "Communication of information" makes up about a quarter of the final score. This lesson aims to get people to make better arguments and, in particular, use better evidence and reasoning so that they can improve this aspect of their score.

TOEFL:

Not important for the speaking section. This lesson is too detailed for TOEFL. Instead, skip to STS 6 to start training on fluency, unless your student wants to work on their essay skills—evidence is used in essay writing.

TOEIC:

NOTE: Providing clear evidence is a great skill to use everywhere, from business meetings and presentations to casual conversations.

Take some time and make sure your student is confident with the information in this unit before moving on. Please tell your student that they can spend two or three lessons on this unit, depending on the amount of practice desired.

Warm Up

Is this a strong answer? Why or why not?

I think Portland, Oregon is the best city in the world. The food is delicious, it’s not too big, it's not too expensive to rent or own a house, and there's lots of entertainment. That's why Portland is the best city!

After discussing the above answer, try giving an answer to the same question:

In your opinion, which city is the best city in the world?

No! This is not a strong answer.

Why? There is no evidence. There are basically just four claims with nothing concrete to back them up:

The food is delicious.
It's not too big.
It's not too expensive.
There's lots of entertainment.

Now, put the question back to the student: "Can you tell me which city you think is the best city in the world?"

Language

A. What’s the difference between a claim and evidence?

Your teacher will say a sentence, and you tell them if it is a claim or evidence.

B. Now that the difference between claims and evidence is clear, let's discuss evidence more deeply.

There are at least 5 different types of evidence. Can you think of them?

A. What's the difference between a claim and evidence?

→ A claim is an opinion, and evidence is measurably or factually true.

Play: Claim or evidence?
Tell the student, "I'll say something, and you tell me if it's a claim or if it's evidence."

Portland's food is delicious. (claim)
There are hundreds of food carts all across Portland. (evidence)
Portland is not too big. (claim)
Rent in Portland is almost 50% less than in New York City. (evidence)
The real estate company Movoto ranked Portland #1 on its Best U.S. Cities for Movie Lovers list. (evidence)

B. Evidence can be:

anecdote;
analogy/comparison;
example;
expert or eyewitness testimony; or
facts, statistics or data.

Take your time and try each one with your student. Go through each point and ask why the city they chose is the best city in the world.

An anecdote is a very short story. It can be about you, or it can just be a story you know. Anecdotes are a common way to start, because they have emotional impact. Politicians often start with an anecdote.
- E.g.: "I was talking with a fellow named Ted. He lives in Detroit, and he said he lost his job when the auto plant shut down. He told me the economy has failed him!"
An analogy/comparison compares or contrasts two points.
- Ask: What is another city you know, and why is [the city they chose] better?
- E.g.: “London is similar to New York because both are global business centers, but London has a better work-life balance.”
Examples are the most common types of evidence. They should be as specific as possible.
- Weak: "The food in Spain is delicious; for example, paella."
- Strong: "The food in Spain is delicious; for example, paella. It originated in Valencia and is sometimes considered the national dish of Spain. Every year there is a paella festival with an international competition for the best paella dish. Chefs from as far away as Mexico and Japan compete."
Testimony is what other people have officially said. We should only use trustworthy people, either eyewitnesses or experts. Can you think of any news reports about [the city they chose]? Or have you seen travel shows about [the city]?
- E.g.: "Tokyo has so many interesting neighborhoods. I was reading about Jimbocho on the BBC website. It's a district in Tokyo with dozens of bookstores. They said it was one of the best places in the world for used book shopping."
Facts, statistics or data are good if you have them.
- E.g.: "Kenya is very involved in wildlife conservation. It has 23 national parks, the most of any country in Africa."