Planning a speech and building your counter-argument
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can structure my speech around a central message and use a counter-argument to strengthen my overarching argument.
Key learning points
- Take a clear stance for or against the statement - alternative arguments should be refuted at least once in the piece.
- Contrast creates a robust sense of a writer's perspective, by demonstrating feeling towards all angles of an argument.
- Use rhetorical questions, direct address and hyperbole to expose the flaws of the opposition in an emotive way.
- Carefully sequence and vary subtle and dramatic shifts in tone, to draw reactions from the reader.
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
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.
Teacher tip
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.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Opinion pieces are often found in which type of daily print?
Q2.When you are writing a persuasive opinion piece it is good practice to refute opposing ideas. What does refute mean in this context?
Q3.Which of the following are examples of where a serious style, tone and register would be appropriate?
Q4.Which is not an example of transactional writing?
Q5.Why do we need to consider the 'form' of a piece of writing?
Q6.Which of the following should be considered when approaching a transactional writing task?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.To refute something means 'to something wrong or untrue'
Q2.Which of these statements about speech writing isn't accurate?
Q3.What is the name for the group of people who listen to a speech?
Q4.When you consider the opposite view to your central argument, it's called including a .
Q5.Which persuasive devices help best to add impact to your counter-argument?
Q6.Imagine you are writing an opinion piece arguing that fairs should be banned. What are some reasonable counter-arguments we could expect?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Planning a speech and building your counter-argument, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Planning a speech and building your counter-argument, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Non-fiction: changing views unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.