Academic Discussion

Academic Discussion

Week 11

What is an Academic Discussion?

An organized "conversation" about a specific topic that all the participants have been studying

What is the Purpose of an Academic Discussion?

• discuss different views of the topic learn to see the topic from different angles

• find out what other people think about the topic

• explain and develop their own ideas about the topic

• discover the strong and weak points of different people's interpretations (including their own)

• form conclusions about particular questions

Multiple Select

The advantages of participating in an academic discussion are

• clarify different ideas

• develop conclusion

• solve problems

• respect different opinions

• defend your own opinion

Multiple Choice

In academic discussions, participants can work on differences in interpretations.

• True

• False

Road to Effective Academic Discussion

• prepare for the discussion by reading, thinking, and making notes of important points that you might want to make

• listen to what other people say and ask them (politely) to explain more clearly if you do not understand

Contd.

• explain your ideas clearly and concisely, giving reasons and examples

• remain calm and polite even when you are expressing disagreement

• make sure that everyone has an equal chance to speak, and that the discussion is not monopolised by one or two people

To interrupt..

• Sorry to interrupt, but...

• If I might add something...

• Can I add something here?

• Is it okay if I jump in for a second?

• Can I throw my two cents in?

Keeping the discussion going

• Let's get back to ...

• As we just heard ...

• Where were we..

Multiple Choice

You are allowed to express disagreement in a harsh way.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Explain your ideas...

• clearly

• concisely

• by giving reasons and excuses

• by giving reasons and examples

• directly

Useful Expressions for Discussions

Tips

To begin/initiate discussion/conclude

• The purpose of our discussion is....

• First, we need to...

• Can you explain your point a little more clearly?

• Can we see what other people think about this?

• Who would like to begin?

• Who has not had a chance to speak yet?

Contd.

• Is there any last comment on this point before we move on to the next one?

• So we have two opposing arguments here.

• On the one hand...

• In other words, most of us think that...

• Can we draw any conclusions from what we have been saying?

Giving Opinion

• I think that...

• In my view/opinion...

• If you ask me...

• As far as I'm concerned...

• If you want my honest opinion....

• The way I see it...

• The best way of explaining my opinion, is to give an example...

Asking for an opinion:

• What's your idea?

• What do you think?

• How do you feel about that?

• What are your thoughts on all of this?

• Do you have anything to say about this?

Multiple Select

These expressions signal initiating a discussion

• Who would like to begin?

• In other words, most of us think that...

• Who has not had a chance to speak yet?

• Can you explain your point a little more clearly?

Multiple Choice

In other words, most of us think that...

This expression is to ____ a discussion

• start

• end

• conclude

Asking questions about someone else's opinion:

• Do you mean that...? I don't fully understand.

• What do you mean when you say...?

• Can you give some examples?

Expressing agreement

• I couldn't agree with you more.

• That's exactly how I feel.

• No doubt about it.

• That's so true.

• Absolutely.

• Exactly.

Expressing disagreement

• I'm afraid I disagree. .

• I beg to differ..

• I don't think so..

• Not necessarily..

• That's not always the case..

• No, I'm not so sure about that..

Multiple Choice

Do you mean that...?

The above expression is to

• express agreement

• express disagreement

• ask for clarification

• ask for examples

Multiple Choice

No doubt about it.

Me neither.

Tell me about it!

These are expressions for

• initiating discussion

• expressing agreement

• expressing disagreement

• making conclusion

• asking opinion

Reference

1.https://www.englishclub.com/speaking/agreeing-disagreeing-expressions.htm

2. https://student.unsw.edu.au/skills