DIALOGUE

Practice by reading the dialogue with your tutor. After you are done, switch roles and do it again!

• Kevin: Are you an opinionated person?
• Dorothy: Personally speaking, I like to express my opinion. However, I don’t like to fight over an issue or topic. Furthermore, I wish people would understand that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.
• Kevin: I couldn’t agree more. Too many people get uptight when expressing their point of view.
• Dorothy: Even though people have different opinions, some people need to step back and look at both sides of the story.

 

 

NEW SKILLS

Using coordinating and subordinating conjunctions

Read this diagram out loud with your tutor. 

Examples:

• Even though he is opinionated, he is entitled to his own opinion.
• I’m in favor of his opinion, yet I don’t agree with everything he said.
• Since a majority of the people think it’s a worthwhile cause, we will not oppose it.
• I agree with you entirely, because you provided enough pros to convince me.
• I’m sorry to disagree with you, but your argument is unfair.
• [come up with your own sentence using a coordinating conjunction]
• [come up with your own sentence using a subordinating conjunction]

 

How to express opinions.

Read this diagram out loud with your tutor. Then role-play a discussion where you and your tutor debate whether cats or dogs are the best pet. Use as many of the below expressions as possible.

Note: There are other phrases and sentences to express opinions. These are just some examples.

 

 

 

VOCABULARY

Go over the vocabulary and expressions below with your tutor. Try using each in a sentence.

entitled	📘
pro	📘
con	📘
in favor of	📘
unfair	📘
argument	📘
opinionated	📘
oppose	📘
support	📘
worthwhile	📘

 

 

 

EXERCISE

Write a sentence using the coordinating or subordinating conjunction.

• unless You can’t sit in the exit row of a plane, unless you are physically capable of opening the door.
• so  ______________________________________________________.
• after _____________________________________________________.
• and ______________________________________________________.
• because __________________________________________________.

 

 

 

Make a sentence using the phrase or sentence given and the vocabulary above.

• It is widely believed that most politicians support the people they serve but I disagree.
• I’d suggest that ____________________________________________.
• It is considered ____________________________________________.
• That’s a good point _________________________________________.
• Yes, but don’t you think _____________________________________.

 

Fill in the blank with a word in the vocabulary list above that completes the sentence the best. You may have to use the plural form and it’s possible that more than one word can be used.

• She thinks she’s entitled to the job, even though she doesn’t have the experience.
• I’m (1) ________________ going to the Fiji Islands for vacation next year.
• In my humble opinion, the (2) ____________ outweigh the (3)____________.
• It’s (4) __________________ to further your education, because it only helps.
• On the contrary, I think it’s (5) ___________ that everyone has to pay the same amount of taxes.

 

 

 

Make an opinion using the opinion type. Use the vocabulary from the list above and a conjunction.

• to disagree: I don’t agree with you, because he didn’t backup his argument with facts.
• to agree: __________________________________________________.
• general point of view: _______________________________________.
• personal point of view: ______________________________________.
• to disagree: _______________________________________________.

 

 

Discussion

• Role-play a debate with your tutor. Each of you takes the position that the other’s country is better than yours.
• Role-play a debate with your tutor. Each of you takes the position that the other’s native language is harder to learn than yours.

 

 

 

(Image source: 1. http://jeope.blogspot.com/2008/11/166-opinions-are-like-belly-buttons.html, 2. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/541980136387260884/)

 

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Answer Key:

(1) in favor of

(2) pros (or cons)

(3) cons (or pros, if cons are used in #2)

(4) worthwhile

(5) unfair