Taking a Stance in Academic argument

Task 1 Taking a nuanced stance using limits and conditions

Consider the claim Smoking is dangerous. Think about the limits and conditions that could apply to the claim.
How could the claim be expresses more cautiously?

Task 2 Reading critically to identify and analyze stance

In the following staternents (a-d), four academic writers take a sirnilar stance to each other in relation to
smoking in private vehicles.

2.1 In what ways are their stances subtly different? Which two are most similar?

a Smoking is a danger not only to the health of smokers, but also to others in the vehicle who have
to inhale their smoke.

b Clearly, smoking is a danger not only to the health of smokers, but also to others in the vehicle
who have to inhale their smoke.

c There is a widely held view that smoking is a danger not only to the health of smokers, but also to
others in the vehicle who have to inhale their smoke.

d Smoking is a danger not only to the health of smokers, but also possibly to others in the vehicle
who have to inhale their smoke.

2.2 What words or phrases express the differences? Highlight them and suggest alternative
expressions that maintain the subtle differences between the stances taken.

• Do you ever use software to translate information from one language to another?
• How effective is it?
• How much do you know about how machine translation software works?
Task 3 Endorsing a claim
3.1 Decide on your own stance in relation to the claim

Machines can never replace humans in translating from one language to another.

3.2 This claim is very strong. You would probably prefer to endorse a more nuanced claim.

Think about what limits and conditions you want to apply and rewrite it as a claim you feel more
able to endorse.

Task 4 Reading critically

4.1 Read texts A, B and C and decide what stance is taken by the following in relation to the claim in
Task 3.1:

• ALPAC
• academic blogger
• academic writer
• EAMT

4.2 Make notes from the text you read on:

• support for the claim

• reasons for rejecting it

4.3 Examine the claim you wrote in Task 3.2 and modify it if you wish now you have read the texts.
Task 4 Investigating language for strengthening, hedging and distancing
4.1 Read the statements in Task 2.1 and the three texts on machine translation again and identify any
strengthening, hedging and distancing language for nuanced endorsement

4.2 Write a brief answer to the following exam question: To what extent can machines replace
humans in translating from one language to another?

4.3 Find a text from your own field in which a writer discusses an important issue. Find examples of
endorsement that the writer uses, and any hedging and distancing