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Year 10
Edexcel

Planning a speech and building your counter-argument

I can structure my speech around a central message and use a counter-argument to strengthen my overarching argument.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Planning a speech and building your counter-argument

I can structure my speech around a central message and use a counter-argument to strengthen my overarching argument.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Take a clear stance for or against the statement - alternative arguments should be refuted at least once in the piece.
  2. Contrast creates a robust sense of a writer's perspective, by demonstrating feeling towards all angles of an argument.
  3. Use rhetorical questions, direct address and hyperbole to expose the flaws of the opposition in an emotive way.
  4. Carefully sequence and vary subtle and dramatic shifts in tone, to draw reactions from the reader.

Common misconception

Refuting counter-arguments is enough to create an impact.

Although it is good practice to refute counter-arguments, we can also use language devices when we do so to make them even more powerful.

Keywords

  • Authorial voice - the language a writer uses to communicate their perspective- this could be serious, hopeful or fun etc.

  • Rhetorical question - questions posed for effect, not requiring an answer, to emphasise a point

  • Refute - to prove something wrong or untrue

  • Hyperbole - exaggerated claims not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis

  • Direct address - speaking directly to the audience using 'you' to engage and involve them in the message

This lesson focuses on writing an opinion piece about fairs and festivals. You may wish to change the question stem so that it better fits the needs or context of your class.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Opinion pieces are often found in which type of daily print?
Correct Answer: newspapers, the newspaper, a newspaper
Q2.
When you are writing a persuasive opinion piece it is good practice to refute opposing ideas. What does refute mean in this context?
Correct answer: prove opposing ideas wrong
accept that opposing ideas may have a point but you don't agree with it
agree with opposing ideas
ignore opposing ideas
Q3.
Which of the following are examples of where a serious style, tone and register would be appropriate?
writing an email to friends about a holiday
Correct answer: writing a letter to your MP about climate change
writing a speech to give at a wedding
Correct answer: writing a speech to school governors about extra curricular activities
Q4.
Which is not an example of transactional writing?
letter
speech
article
Correct answer: poem
leaflet
Q5.
Why do we need to consider the 'form' of a piece of writing?
to impress readers with elaborate language
to express the writer's personality and emotions
Correct answer: to ensure language is appropriate, organised, and effectively communicates
to create a unique, unconventional writing style
Q6.
Which of the following should be considered when approaching a transactional writing task?
narrative
Correct answer: form
Correct answer: audience
Correct answer: purpose

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
To refute something means 'to something wrong or untrue'
Correct Answer: prove
Q2.
Which of these statements about speech writing isn't accurate?
A good speech often includes rhetorical devices to engage the audience.
Correct answer: The tone of a speech should always be formal and serious.
Understanding the audience is crucial for effective speech writing.
Repetition can be used in speeches to emphasise key points.
Q3.
What is the name for the group of people who listen to a speech?
Correct Answer: audience, listeners
Q4.
When you consider the opposite view to your central argument, it's called including a .
Correct Answer: counter-argument, counter argument
Q5.
Which persuasive devices help best to add impact to your counter-argument?
Correct answer: hyperole
anecdotes
analogies
Correct answer: direct address
Correct answer: rhetorical questions
Q6.
Imagine you are writing an opinion piece arguing that fairs should be banned. What are some reasonable counter-arguments we could expect?
Correct answer: Fairs are fun.
Correct answer: Fairs bring money to the local economy.
Fairs cause anti-social behaviour.
Fair have a very negative impact on the local environment.
Correct answer: Fairs celebrate a local area's cultural diversity.