Debate about guns and gun control
We are to debate the issue of guns and gun control in America. To prepare for the debate, you will be divided into groups. Each group must prepare a main statement about the issue and find at least three supporting arguments.
Groups:
1. Parents for gun control | 2. Police officers |
3. Members of the NRA | 4. Ifeminists |
5. Supporters of "open carry" | 6. High School Students |
Gun vocabulary: amendment, militia, assassination, automatic weapon, natural causes, background check, sawed-off shotgun, Congress, Constitution, firearms, to bear arms, to enact, free state, to impose, gun control, to infringe, individual rights, to open fire, legislation, to regulate, machine gun, to restrict
Verbs: argue, sum up, disagree, be in favour of, be right, be wrong, object, be opposed to, prove,
suggest, criticize, overestimate, convince, be aware, realise, be prejudiced against, be in favour of,
contradict, suppose, support, insist, maintain, generalize, interrupt, point out, underestimate, concur
Nouns: argument, relevance, point of view, pros and cons, validity
Phrases to emphasise: I honestly feel that ..., I strongly believe that ..., I’m convinced that ..., Without a
doubt ..., I’m positive ..., I’m absolutely certain that ..., The fact of the matter is ...
Phrases to show agreement: You’re absolutely right ..., I agree ..., I concur...
Phrases to contradict: To my mind ..., What I’m more concerned with is ..., In my case ..., But the question is ..., But can’t you see ..., I personally believe ..., But what about ..., That’s just not true ..., As far as I’m concerned ..., On the other hand ..., In my opinion ...
Phrases to show respect for other opinions: Perhaps you won’t agree with me, but ..., Don’t misunderstand me, but ..., There are exceptions, of course ..., One exception is ..., I’d like to comment on that ..., Sorry, I don’t follow you ...
Phrases to explain or elaborate: If I said that, I didn’t mean to ..., Let me rephrase what I just said ..., That’s not what I said at all ..., In general ...