The art of debate — ready-made English lesson, C1

Lesson goal: Linking words and cleft sentences for building and challenging an argument.

Add the lesson to get your own copies of the word set and exercises; the lesson opens in the builder, where you can adjust the steps and teach it.

Lesson plan

1
Warm-up
Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.
- When did you last change your mind about something important?
- What makes an argument convincing?
- Are you better at speaking or at writing an argument?
2
New words
Meet the words and practise them in games.
FlashcardsFill the gap
nevertheless · whereas · albeit · furthermore · consequently · moreover · in spite of · provided that · hence · in contrast · thereby · notwithstanding · on the whole · to put it another way · in the event of
All words in the set
3
Exercises
The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.
1. Multiple choice
  ___ is a clear plan for reducing traffic in the city centre.
  What we needThat we needWhat do we needIt we need
2. Multiple choice
  It was the decision to cut funding ___ caused the protests.
  thatwhatwhowhen
3. Multiple choice
  Which sentence puts the most emphasis on the reason?
  The reason why I oppose the plan is that it ignores local residents.I oppose the plan because it ignores local residents.Local residents are ignored by the plan, which I oppose.I oppose the plan, and it ignores local residents.
4. Multiple choice
  What the critics object to ___ the lack of public consultation.
  isareit iswhat is
5. Fill the gap
  ___ worries me most is the cost to taxpayers.
  Answer: What
6. Fill the gap
  It wasn't until the final debate ___ the candidate admitted her mistake.
  Answer: that
7. Fill the gap
  All I'm asking for ___ a fair hearing.
  Answer: is
8. Fill the gap
  What the minister did ___ ignore the evidence completely.
  Answer: was
9. Fill the gap
  It is not the idea itself ___ the way it has been presented that I find unconvincing.
  Answer: but
10. True / false
  This sentence is correct: 'What I disagree with is the idea that young people don't care about politics.'
  Answer: True
11. Discussion question
  Give your opinion on banning cars from city centres. Start at least two sentences with 'What I think is...' or 'It is ... that...'.
  Sample answer: What I think is that a complete ban would hurt small businesses. It is public transport that needs investment first. What we really need is a gradual approach, not a sudden ban.
12. Discussion question
  Respond to this statement using cleft sentences: 'Social media does more harm than good.'
  Sample answer: What worries me is not social media itself but the way we use it. It is the endless scrolling that causes the harm. What people need to learn is how to use it with purpose.
4
Speaking
The student answers using the new words.
- Debate: 'Remote work is better than office work'
- Take a side, 3 minutes each, then rebut.
- Use at least four linking words and two cleft sentences.
5
Review
A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.
Quiz

Lesson plan

Warm-up

Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
What makes an argument convincing?
Are you better at speaking or at writing an argument?

New words

Meet the words and practise them in games.

FlashcardsFill the gap

nevertheless · whereas · albeit · furthermore · consequently · moreover · in spite of · provided that · hence · in contrast · thereby · notwithstanding · on the whole · to put it another way · in the event of

All words in the set

Exercises

The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.

Multiple choice
___ is a clear plan for reducing traffic in the city centre.
What we needThat we needWhat do we needIt we need
Multiple choice
It was the decision to cut funding ___ caused the protests.
thatwhatwhowhen
Multiple choice
Which sentence puts the most emphasis on the reason?
The reason why I oppose the plan is that it ignores local residents.I oppose the plan because it ignores local residents.Local residents are ignored by the plan, which I oppose.I oppose the plan, and it ignores local residents.
Multiple choice
What the critics object to ___ the lack of public consultation.
isareit iswhat is
Fill the gap
___ worries me most is the cost to taxpayers.
Answer: What
Fill the gap
It wasn't until the final debate ___ the candidate admitted her mistake.
Answer: that
Fill the gap
All I'm asking for ___ a fair hearing.
Answer: is
Fill the gap
What the minister did ___ ignore the evidence completely.
Answer: was
Fill the gap
It is not the idea itself ___ the way it has been presented that I find unconvincing.
Answer: but
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'What I disagree with is the idea that young people don't care about politics.'
Answer: True
Discussion question
Give your opinion on banning cars from city centres. Start at least two sentences with 'What I think is...' or 'It is ... that...'.
Sample answer: What I think is that a complete ban would hurt small businesses. It is public transport that needs investment first. What we really need is a gradual approach, not a sudden ban.
Discussion question
Respond to this statement using cleft sentences: 'Social media does more harm than good.'
Sample answer: What worries me is not social media itself but the way we use it. It is the endless scrolling that causes the harm. What people need to learn is how to use it with purpose.

Speaking

The student answers using the new words.

Debate: 'Remote work is better than office work'
Take a side, 3 minutes each, then rebut.
Use at least four linking words and two cleft sentences.

Review

A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.

Quiz