American English · C1 · Unit 12
Public debate
Public debate
By the end you can
- Take part in a debate and respond on the spot
- Write a well-built opinion piece
- Understand a long debate
Words and phrases
| American English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| let me finish | don't interrupt me | Please, let me finish. |
| that's simply not true | that's false | That's simply not true, and the numbers prove it. |
| to address your point | to answer what you said | To address your point about cost, the state pays half. |
| the fact of the matter is | the truth is | The fact of the matter is that nobody uses that road. |
| you're missing the point | you don't see the main issue | With respect, you're missing the point. |
| let's be clear | I don't want any confusion | Let's be clear: this will raise taxes. |
| a straw man | a weak, false version of the other side's argument | That's a straw man argument. |
| dodge the question | avoid answering | Please don't dodge the question. |
| taxpayers | the people who pay taxes | Taxpayers deserve a straight answer. |
| by and large | mostly, in general | By and large, residents support the plan. |
Then talk it through
A live TV debate about a local issue. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.