Ways to open a debate

• As the proposition, we would like to begin with defining the following….

• To set the framework for our motion, we believe it is necessary to propose the following definitions….

• We would like to introduce our stand by giving the following definitions. …

• In order to effectively debate this topic, we as the proposition, would like to propose….

• By giving this definition, a number of key issues arise from this problem which merit closer examination.

• We, the proposition, will elaborate one of the most striking features of this problem, namely…

• In the first place we would like to make clear that….

• The main argument focuses on….

How to convince in a debate

• The opposition have tried to make some good points, however, they forgot to think about some very important issues, namely….

• We hear what the opposition are saying but we do not agree. We will prove to you…

• That’s one way to think about it, however,….

• Not to play the Devil’s Advocate, but we will prove to you exactly the opposite.

• The proposition’s motion may seem plausible at first glance, however, we as the opposition, would like to remind you of recent developments in this area. According to ….

• At first sight, the proposition’s argument seems to be true. But….

• We have thought about the proposition’s proposal, however, research findings strongly support our motion of…..

• The proposition unfortunately failed to reveal the truth of the matter,….

• It is easy enough to make broad generalisation about...like the opposition just did, but in reality it is a very complex issue.

• The arguments presented by the proposition are by no means sufficient enough to back up the claim that….

• It is generally excepted these days that….

• It is only a matter of time until it will become evident that the opposition’s stand must fall due to the following reasons….

• One must take into account that….

Possible conclusions

• This motion must fall because….

• To conclude, we must emphasise our motion of…., hence the opposition’s point of view can no longer be supported.

• To sum up, our motion must stand, simply because during the debate we have shown….

• This debate has made obvious that the opposition’s motion cannot stand since…..

• The simple truth is…

• The proposed arguments lead us to the irrefutable conclusion that…

• To draw a line under this debate, …

• After careful consideration, we must conclude that….

Modes of Address

All references to other speakers should be in the third person, e.g. Points of Information should begin with a phrase such as:

• Point of Information, Sir/Madam!

• Is the Speaker aware that...

• Mr / Madam Chairman...

• I request the floor...

• Are the Chair / the Speaker (not) aware that...

• I yield the floor to points of information / to the Chair / to another delegate.

• Does the Speaker (not) agree that...?

GRAMMAR SUPPLEMENT

MODALS

Review the following basic rules of the use of the modals in the English language.

The most commonly used modal verbs are can, may, must, should and have to. Most of the modals do not need any auxiliary to make a question or a negative form (except for have to). We normally do not use a particle to after the modals before the verb (except for have to).

modal	usage	example
can	- to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something; - be able to is possible instead of can, but can is more usual; - sometimes could is the past of can.	- We can nominate him for this post. - Can you speak any foreign language? - I cannot (can’t) come to the meeting. - Very few people are able to reach this peak. - We were completely free. We could do what we wanted.
may might	- to say that something is a possibility; - usually you can say either may or might.	It may be true. or It might be true.
must have to	- to say that it is necessary to do something; - must is more personal; - have to is more impersonal; -you can use must to talk about the present or the future; - you can use have to in all forms.	- I must go. or I have to go. - She is a really nice person. You must meet her. - You can’t turn right here. You have to turn left.
should	- to say it is a good thing to do or the right thing to do something; - you can use should to give advice or to give an opinion; - should is not as strong as must	- The government should do more to help the homeless people. - You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspapers.

Task 1. Choose the best alternative a), b) or c).

1. The supporters of the necessity of written constitution in Britain believe that it … be organized in such a way that the public as whole has access to it.

a) can; b) should; c) has to

2. The Commonwealth of Nations … be listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest political alliance comprising 54 countries located in various parts of the world.

a) can; b) cannot; c) have to

3. It is accepted that a department ministers … resign if he / she looses confidence of the House of Commons.

a) can; b) has to; c) must

4. Voting to the House of Commons is on the same day in all constituencies, and the voting stations … be kept open from seven in the morning until nine at night.

a) may; b) cannot; c) should

5. The Parliament Act 1911 fixed the life of a Parliament (the House of Commons) at five years, although it … be dissolved before the fixed term.

a) should; b) may; c) must

6. The need for cooperation among the early American colonists strengthened the belief that, in New World, people … be on an equal footing, with nobody having special privileges.

a) should; b) could; c) might

7. Americans do not … join a political party to vote or to be a candidate for public office.

a) must; b) can; c) have to

8. At the national level, elections in the USA … be held every two years, in even-numbered years, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November.

a) must; b) can; c) have to

9. People …actively participate in the election process by working as volunteers for a candidate.

a) must; b) should; c) may

10. Before the new government could become a reality, a majority of citizens in nine of 13 states … approve the Constitution of 1787.

a) must; b) could; c) had to

11. Any citizen of the Republic of Belarus who has reached the age of 21…become a deputy of the House of Representatives.

a) may; b) must; c) should

12. The heads of different central bodies of state administration …be members of the Government of the Republic of Belarus.

a) could; b) should; c) may

13. According to the Constitution elections of deputies …be direct and voting is secret.

a) can; b) must; c) may

14. A citizen …reach the age of 30 and be a resident of a region if he / she wants to become a member of the Council of Republic.

a) could; b) might; c) should

15. The powers of Parliament …be extended by law only in case of war.

a) have to; b) must; c) may

REPORTED SPEECH

Study the table and review the general rules of changing direct speech into indirect or reported.

direct speech	indirect / reported speech
Commands
Keep quiet! Don’t make noise!	He told me to keep quiet. He asked me not to make noise.
Affirmative statements
His friend is a politician. He works as a volunteer.	He said (that) his friend was a politician. He mentioned that he worked as a volunteer.
I met him at the anti globalization demonstration yesterday.	He confirmed that he had met him at the anti globalization demonstration the day before.
Ann will work as a volunteer in the election campaign.	We learned that Ann would work as a volunteer in the election campaign.
Questions
Are you participating in the elections?	She asked if I was participating in the elections.
Did you watch TV yesterday?	He was interested whether I had watched TV the day before.
Who will be elected president?	I wondered who would be elected president.
When are the new parliamentary elections planned?	They wanted to know when the new parliamentary elections were planned.

Remember you should change the adverbial modifier of time while making statements reported. The following table will help you.

direct speech	indirect / reported speech
today	that day
yesterday	the day before
tomorrow	the next day
… ago	… before
this …	that …
these …	those …
here	there
last year	the year before
last month	the month before
last …	the … before …
next …	the following …

Task 1. Change the following extracts from different interviews of famous politicians into reported speech. You can use the following words to introduce the reported sentence “said, affirmed, expressed, approved, agreed, noted, stated, etc,.”

1. Mr. Lukashenko said: “I am sure, mutual turnover could exceed $30bn”.

2. President Medvedev noted, recalling South Ossetia situation: “There are challenges in our modern world. I’d like to discuss how our cooperation with the CSTO should develop”.

3. The Belarusian President gave his own assessment of the Russian actions; “This was a calm, composed reaction which has resulted in peace being established in the region. I think it will be long lasting”.

4. “We are proud of having close relations with such huge, successful country as China”, noted President Lukashenko during the meeting with the Chinese delegation.

5. “I’m confident that our countries (Belarus and the South African Republic) can play a key role in strengthening the Non-Aligned Movement Organization, particularly against the background of contemporary challenges”, assets Mr. Lukashenko.

6. In her message at the end of the presidential bid Hillary Rodham Clinton advised; “Never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on”.

7. Hillary Clinton stressed: “Children today will grow up taking for granted that an African-American or a woman can become the president of the United States”.

(from “The Minsk Times” August 28, 208, September 18, 2008,

“The Moscow News” June 19, 2008)

Task 2. Organize the following text in the form of the interview.

Parliamentary election campaign enters its most interesting and intense stage. The central Election Commission has registered the first international observers. Lidia Yermoshina, Chair of the Central Election Commission, made some comments in the interview. On the question about the number of the registered initiative groups she mentioned 455 applications which were submitted, but 23 of them were refused and 8 candidates withdrew independently. She was asked why political parties had chosen the procedure of collecting signatures. Lidia Yermoshina explained that such decision could mean that a party was badly structured. The Chair of the Commission was also asked if she had met and what her impressions were about the heads of the CIS observer delegation and the OSCE experts. She explained that they had issued the first 12 certificates to international observers – all from the CIS. She underlined that the Commonwealth representatives had great experience of working with election campaigns. The same was true of the OSCE mission. She remarked that everything depends on the positioning from the ideological point of view.

(from “The Minsk Times” August 7, 2008)

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