Expressing an opinion/ Supporting an opinion

In academic settings, it is imperative to articulate your perspectives with clarity. When you are confident in your stance, you might assert, "I firmly believe that...". However, if you harbor doubts about a concept, employing terms such as "possible,""likely," or "maybe" can provide a nuanced expression of your uncertainty.

With Certainty:

"I am convinced that..."

"I am absolutely certain that..."

"I firmly believe that..."

"I am confident in stating that..."

"I am of the opinion that..."

With Moderate Certainty:

"I tend to think that..."

"I would argue that..."

"I am inclined to believe that..."

"It is my view that..."

"I consider it likely that..."

With Some Uncertainty:

"I suspect that..."

"It might be the case that..."

"It could be argued that..."

"It is possible that..."

"There is a chance that..."

With High Uncertainty:

"I am not entirely sure, but it might be..."

"It is conceivable that..."

"There is a possibility that..."

"It is not unlikely that..."

"I am not certain, but one could suggest that..."

With Caution:

"With caution, I would say that..."

"While being tentative, I believe that..."

"With reservations, I propose that..."

"I would cautiously suggest that..."

"I am tentatively of the view that..."

With Conditional Agreement:

"If I were to agree, I would say that..."

"Under certain conditions, I would argue that..."

"Given certain premises, it could be suggested that..."

"Assuming X to be true, I would contend that..."

"On the condition that Y, I would assert that..."

With Objectivity:

"It is an objective fact that..."

"The evidence suggests that..."

"Based on the data, it can be concluded that..."

"The research indicates that..."

"Empirical findings support the idea that..."

With Disagreement:

"I respectfully disagree, as I believe that..."

"While I understand the argument, I contend that..."

"I take issue with the notion that..."

"I would challenge the assertion that..."

"I must object to the idea that..."

Supporting an opinion

To fortify your argument and ensure it is persuasive, it is imperative to substantiate your stance with credible evidence. Commonly employed types of evidence encompass:

examples

reasons

facts and figures

findings of research / studies

The following language patterns can be used to present different types of evidence:

Statistical Evidence:

"According to the latest data,..."

"The statistics reveal that..."

"As evidenced by the numbers,..."

"The figures indicate a clear trend towards..."

Expert Testimony:

"Renowned expert [Name] asserts that..."

"As [Expert] has pointed out,..."

"Drawing from [Expert]'s extensive research, we can see that..."

Empirical Research:

"Empirical studies have demonstrated that..."

"The findings of [Research Title] support the notion that..."

"Based on the results of [Research], it is evident that..."

Anecdotal Evidence:

"Personal accounts, such as [Example], suggest that..."

"The story of [Individual] illustrates the point that..."

"A case in point is the experience of [Person or Group], which shows..."

Historical Precedent:

"History has shown us that..."

"Looking at past events, such as [Historical Event], we can deduce that..."

"The precedent set by [Historical Figure or Event] supports the idea that..."

Legal or Policy Documents:

"As stated in [Document orLaw],..."

"The provisions of [Policy or Act] clearly indicate that..."

"The text of [Legal Document] providesevidence for..."

Comparative Analysis:

"Comparing [Item A] with [Item B], it becomes apparent that..."

"A comparative study between [Two Items] reveals that..."

"The contrast between [Two Situations] highlights..."

Scientific Findings:

"Recent scientific discoveries have shown that..."

"The latest research in [Field] supports the hypothesis that..."

"Laboratory results confirm that..."

Visual Evidence (Graphs, Charts, Images):

"The graph clearly illustrates the correlation between..."

"As depicted in the chart,..."

"The image serves as a compelling visual representation of..."

Literature Review:

"A comprehensive review of the literature indicates that..."

"The consensus among scholars is that..."

"Cross-referencing various sources leads to the conclusion that..."

Task1. Work in a group. Adopt the useful language you have learnt and discuss the following topics about energy and power. Try to make good arguments by putting forward clear opinions and supporting them with various forms of evidence. A sample dialogue of the first topic has been given.

1) The Future of Solar and Wind Power: AreThey Viable Alternatives to Fossil Fuels?

2) Nuclear Energy: A Sustainable Solutionto the World's Energy Needs?

3) The Impact of Energy-EfficientTechnologies on Reducing Energy Consumption.

4) The Role of Battery Technology in theTransition to a Low-Carbon Economy.

Sample dialogue:

Student A: Hey, I've been thinking aboutour discussion topic today: "The Future of Solar and Wind Power: Are They Viable Alternatives to Fossil Fuels?" I firmly believe that solar and wind energy are the future. They're clean, abundant, and becoming more efficient by the day.

Student B: That's an interesting point, but I'm not entirely sure if they can fully replace fossil fuels just yet. While I consider solar and wind power to be promising, there are still significant challenges, such as intermittency and the need for energy storage solutions.

Student A: I agree with your concerns, but I would argue that technological advancements are addressing these issues. For instance, the latest research indicates that energy storage technologies, like advanced batteries, are improving rapidly.

Student B: Drawing from expert [Dr.Energy]'s extensive research, we can see that the cost of solar panels has dropped significantly over the past decade, making them more accessible. However, I suspect that the infrastructure for widespread adoption still lags behind.

Student A: True, but with the data showing a clear trend towards increased investment in renewable energy, I am confident that the infrastructure will follow suit. The figures indicate a shift inpublic and private support for solar and wind power.

Student B: I take issue with the notion that solar and wind can provide base load power. Historical precedent shows that fossil fuels have been the backbone of our energy system, providing consistent power supply. The contrast between the reliability of coal and the variability of wind and solar highlights this challenge.

Student A: I respectfully disagree. While it's true that fossil fuels have been dominant, I believe that the integration of smart grids and energy storage can mitigate the variability of solar and wind. The evidence from countries that have successfully implemented these technologies supports this view.

Student B: I see your point, but I must object to the idea that this transition will be seamless. The transition to renewable energy sources requires significant investment and time. It's not unlikely that we'll continue to rely on a mix of energy sources, including fossil fuels, for the foreseeable future.

Student A: I am cautiously optimistic about the transition. While I acknowledge the challenges, I believe that the momentum for renewable energy is growing. The consensus among scholars is that solar and wind power will play a central role in our energy future.

Student B: Well, it's clear we both see the potential in solar and wind power, but we differ on the timeline and the extent of their current viability. It's a complex issue, and I think ongoing research and development will be crucial in shaping our energy landscape.

Student A: Absolutely, and I look forward to seeing how these technologies evolve. The future of energy is an exciting field to watch, and I'm eager to see the innovations that will come from our pursuit of cleaner, more sustainable power sources.

Task2. Find the topic in Task 1 on which the group has provided most opinions. Make a list of those opinions as well as the supporting evidence and ask a group member to report to the whole class.