Expression Bag for Subtopic 7: Debate Corner
💚 Level 1: Beginner (Junior High to Senior High)
Vocabulary and Phrases
1. agree
Simple meaning: have the same opinion as someone.
Example: I agree that food is easier to buy today than in the past.
2. disagree
Simple meaning: have a different opinion from someone.
Example: I disagree that convenience is more important than nutrition.
3. opinion
Simple meaning: what someone thinks about something.
Example: In my opinion, both food and supplements can be useful.
4. reason
Simple meaning: why someone thinks or does something.
Example: My main reason is that real food has many nutrients together.
5. example
Simple meaning: something used to show or explain an idea.
Example: One example is that many people eat fast food at lunch.
6. true
Simple meaning: correct or real.
Example: It is not always true that modern people get enough vitamins.
7. important
Simple meaning: having a big effect or value.
Example: Nutrition is important, but price is also important for many families.
8. easy
Simple meaning: not difficult.
Example: It is easy to buy snacks, but not always easy to eat well.
9. in my opinion
Simple meaning: a phrase used to give your own view.
Example: In my opinion, the modern food industry helps in some ways but creates new problems too.
10. for example
Simple meaning: a phrase used to give one case or fact.
Example: For example, some people take pills but still eat poorly.
Sentence Patterns
11. I agree that ...
Simple meaning: use this to say you have the same view as someone.
Example: I agree that vitamin deficiencies are less common than before, but they are not gone.
12. Do you think that ...?
Simple meaning: use this to ask for someone's opinion.
Example: Do you think that convenience is now more important than nutrition?
💛 Level 2: Intermediate (College English Test Band 4)
Vocabulary and Phrases
13. statement
Simple meaning: a clear sentence that says an idea or opinion.
Example: The statement says the modern food industry has made vitamin deficiencies rare.
14. evidence
Simple meaning: facts or information that show whether something is true.
Example: We need evidence before we accept that claim.
15. argument
Simple meaning: a reason or set of reasons used to support an opinion.
Example: Her argument is that fortified foods help busy people.
16. claim
Simple meaning: something someone says is true, sometimes without proof.
Example: The claim that supplements can replace food is too strong.
17. support
Simple meaning: give reasons or facts to show an idea is true.
Example: Can you support your view with an example from daily life?
18. reliable
Simple meaning: able to be trusted.
Example: Reliable nutrition information should come from doctors or official sources.
19. balanced
Simple meaning: fair and considering both sides.
Example: A balanced view sees both the benefits and the risks of convenience food.
20. common
Simple meaning: happening often or found in many places.
Example: It is common to see people choose food by taste and price.
21. take a balanced view
Simple meaning: consider both the good and bad sides of an issue.
Example: We should take a balanced view of the modern food industry.
22. be based on
Simple meaning: use something as the reason or foundation.
Example: A good opinion should be based on facts, not only feelings.
Sentence Patterns
23. While I accept that ..., I still believe that ...
Simple meaning: use this to agree with one point but keep a different main opinion.
Example: While I accept that food is more available now, I still believe that poor diets are common.
24. The main reason why ... is that ...
Simple meaning: use this to give your most important reason.
Example: The main reason why I prefer food to pills is that food provides many nutrients together.
🔴 Level 3: Advanced (College English Test Band 6)
Vocabulary and Phrases
25. controversial
Simple meaning: causing strong disagreement among people.
Example: The idea that convenience matters more than nutrition is controversial.
26. assertion
Simple meaning: a strong statement that something is true.
Example: The assertion that vitamin deficiencies are rare needs more evidence.
27. counterargument
Simple meaning: an argument that opposes another argument.
Example: A strong counterargument is that many people still eat too little fresh food.
28. validity
Simple meaning: how true, reasonable, or acceptable something is.
Example: We should question the validity of simple nutrition claims.
29. substantiate
Simple meaning: prove something with evidence.
Example: It is difficult to substantiate the claim that supplements are always enough.
30. overstate
Simple meaning: describe something as bigger or more important than it really is.
Example: People often overstate the power of vitamins to solve health problems.
31. nuance
Simple meaning: a small but important difference or detail.
Example: The debate needs more nuance because diet and health are complex.
32. misconception
Simple meaning: a wrong belief about something.
Example: A common misconception is that all processed food is unhealthy.
33. play devil's advocate
Simple meaning: argue the opposite side just to test an idea.
Example: Let me play devil's advocate and ask whether convenience really harms nutrition.
34. weigh the pros and cons
Simple meaning: compare the good and bad points of something.
Example: We should weigh the pros and cons before saying convenience is more important.
Sentence Patterns
35. It would be an oversimplification to claim that ...
Simple meaning: use this to say an opinion ignores important details.
Example: It would be an oversimplification to claim that the modern food industry has made vitamin deficiencies rare.
36. The extent to which ... depends on ...
Simple meaning: use this to say how true something is changes with conditions.
Example: The extent to which convenience food harms nutrition depends on a person's whole diet.
