Connecting to the World

Quarter 4 – Module 2

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English – Grade 9
Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM)
Quarter 4 – Module 2
First Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

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Development Team of the Module

Authors: Oliver D. De Rama, Melanie I. Valente

Reviewers: Ramero B. Tagum, Nestor L. Traballo, Jester C. Cayabyab,
Anibeth M. Flores
Illustrator: Tim M. Talisayon
Layout Artist: Daricel C. Atinen, Mary Ann M. Muncada
Management Team: Dr. Joel T. Torrecampo, Juan C. Obierna, Annabelle H. Nava

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 English 9
Connecting to the World
Quarter 4 – Module 2

This instructional material was collaboratively developed and reviewed by

educators from public schools. We encourage teachers and other education
stakeholders to email their feedback, comments, and recommendations to the
Department of Education at action@deped.gov.ph.

We value your feedback and recommendations.

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 Introductory Message

For the facilitator: Welcome to the English 9 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM): Connecting
to the World. This learning resource aims to engage the learners through self- learning activities.
Moreover, this also aims to help learners develop the essential 21st century skills while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.

To the parents: Parents play an essential role in educating child’s life; hence, you may also
help your child by providing them with the support, motivation, and needs to enable them make
meaning of the world. This new normal is a great opportunity for you in making your home a school
and act as a teacher to your child.

For the learner: This module was designed to provide engaging and meaningful learning
opportunities through a self-directed learning activity. In so doing in this self-learning module, you
will have a moment to engage in tasks while learning actively.

The module is divided into four lessons based on the MELCs:

MELC 1: Judge the relevance and worth of ideas, soundness of author’s reasoning, and
effectiveness of the presentation.

MELC 2: React to lay value judgment on critical issues that demand sound analysis and call
for prompt actions.

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 LESSONS
React to lay value judgment on critical
1&2 issues that demand sound analysis and
call for prompt actions

What I Need to Know

Expressing our opinion about an issue is very difficult as there are times that our ideas are against a
trend or a culture. We are forced, however, to push through because we believe that our position has
to do with the welfare of the majority. We have to take a stand no matter how unpopular it is because
doing so brings an incomparable change.
Remember the following tips on how to construct a compelling argument and stand:
• Keep it simple.
• Be fair and avoid common fallacies.
• Make your assumptions clear.
• Rest your argument on solid foundations.
• Use evidence your readers will believe.
• Avoid platitudes and generalizations.
• Understand the opposing point of view.
At the completion of these modules, you will be able to:
✓ React to lay value judgment on critical issues that demand sound analysis and call for prompt
actions
✓ Distinguish stands of a negative and affirmative teams based on a short formal argumentation
and debate
✓ Relate the material listened to into real life experiences through differentiated tasks
✓ Assess comprehensively the material viewed through an in-depth analysis
✓ Give sound advice on an issue that needs attention.

What Is It

Value judgment
A value judgment is a judgment of the rightness or wrongness of something or someone, or of
the usefulness of something or someone, based on a comparison or other relativity. As a
generalization, a value judgment can refer to a judgment based upon a particular set of values or on
a particular value system. A related meaning of value judgment is an expedient evaluation based
upon limited information at hand, where said evaluation was undertaken because a decision had to
be made on short notice.
The term value judgment can be used objectively to refer to any injunction that implies an
obligation to carry out an act, implicitly involving the terms "ought" or "should". It can be used either
in a positive sense, signifying that a judgment must be made taking a value system into account, or
in a disparaging sense, signifying a judgment made by personal whim rather than objective thought
or evidence.
In its positive sense, a recommendation to make a value judgment is an admonition to consider
carefully, to avoid whim and impetuousness, and search for consonance with one's deeper
convictions, and to search for an objective, verifiable, public, and consensual set of evidence for the
opinion.

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 In its disparaging sense the term value judgment implies a conclusion is insular, one-sided, and
not objective — contrasting with judgments based upon deliberation, balance, and public evidence.
Value judgment also can refer to a tentative judgment based on a considered appraisal of the
information at hand, taken to be incomplete and evolving—for example, a value judgment on
whether to launch a military attack or as to procedure in a medical emergency. In this case the
quality of judgment suffers because the information available is incomplete as a result of exigency,
rather than as a result of cultural or personal limitations.
Most commonly the term value judgment refers to an individual's opinion. Of course, the
individual's opinion is formed to a degree by their belief system and the culture to which they belong.
So, a natural extension of the term value judgment is to include declarations seen one way from one
value system but may be seen differently from another. Conceptually this extension of the definition
is related both to the anthropological axiom "cultural relativism" (that is, that cultural meaning derives
from a context) and to the term "moral relativism" (that is, that moral and ethical propositions are not
universal truths, but stem from cultural context). A value judgment formed within a specific value
system may be parochial and may be subject to dispute in a wider audience.

The importance of learning to make value judgments

A value judgment is a judgment of the rightness or wrongness of something or someone, or of
the usefulness of something or someone, based on a comparison or other relativity. For example, a
value judgment can refer to a judgment based upon a particular set of values as indicated earlier or
on a particular value system.
Some academics have argued that it is more important to make critical judgments about issues
than value judgments. This idea though presupposes that the person making a critical judgment is
not influenced by their background values. In reality, all critical thinking emanates from a value
position. We approach a set of facts and look at them through the prism framed by our values.
It is a mistake to think of our minds as just running decision-making algorithms – we are much
more complicated and idiosyncratic than this. How we arrive at conclusions, form beliefs and
process information is very organic and idiosyncratic. We are not just clinical truth-seeking
reasoning machines. Our thinking is also about our prior beliefs, our values, our biases and our
desires.
I think that in order to really explore the skill of critical thinking fully, we must address value
judgments. Most of the problems that young people will need to address are not black and white
issues. They are complex and therefore they involve an interplay between our values and other
components like argumentation, logic, psychology and the nature of science. I am sure there are
more, this process though occurs within our own personal values framework. It is an active process
that should be evident across the curriculum.

How does this work in the classroom?

What has traditionally been called environmental issues provide an excellent opportunity to
explore this value judgement process? Young people will normally gravitate toward basic
assumptions like pollution is bad dolphins are good. The same reaction occurs with the issue
around plastics. It is, therefore, useful to explore complex issues rather than shy away from them. I
must commend Greenpeace for their excellent video about plastics in the ocean because they
explore the complexity of the plastic issue in a way that will allow children to exercise their skills in
making value judgments. As educators, we must also let children learn the skill of disagreement.
This is an important skill.

Ponder on this_
“All have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of
law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

Here are the processes and means involved in determining the truth in facts, opinion, bias and
fallacies.

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Facts are statements that are true and can be verified objectively or proven. In other words, a fact is
true and correct no matter what.

Bias is the tendency of a human being to have a positive tendency, for something or a negative
tendency against something. Other words that describe bias are a prejudgment for or against
something. It can lead to a prejudice and a prejudice can led to stereotyping. Biases can lead to
poor judgment, poor reasoning skills, and faulty decision making because they may close the
person’s mind off to alternative ideas, truths, and opinions.

Fallacy is an idea which many people believed to be true, but which is in fact false because it is
based on incorrect information or reasoning. In addition, it is a false or mistaken idea.

It is certain that you will be asked to Agree or Disagree with the statement that is given in the
Module tasks. Most of the you will be troubled and uneasy while taking this effort because they will
have to give their opinion in this segment, and you will not be sure whether the opinion given is
correct or no.

In the English-speaking part, you are certainly asked some Yes – No questions or whether you
agree or disagree upon a specific topic. Here are some variations to give you an opinion (agree-
disagree). There are many more, a suggestion is to choose those that you feel most comfortable
with.

Agreeing with an Opinion

Here are some words and phrases you can use to agree with someone else’s point of view:

You’re absolutely right.

I couldn’t agree more
Yes, I agree.
Definitely

I think so too.
Absolutely.
That’s a good point.
Exactly.

Precisely.
I don’t think so either.
So do I.
I’d go along with that.

That’s true.
Neither do I.
I agree with you entirely.
That’s just what I was thinking.

Partially Agreeing with an Opinion

We can use these words and phrases to partially agree with someone else’s viewpoint:

I see your point but…

I see what you are getting at but…

I go along with that view to a point, but…

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That’s one way of looking at it, however…

Disagreeing with an Opinion

We use these words and phrases to disagree with someone else’s point of view

That’s different.
(I’m afraid) I don’t agree with you.
I see things rather differently
You could be right, but…

However…
I’m not so sure about that.
I agree up to a point, but…
I’m not sure that I go along with that view…
That’s not entirely true.

On the contrary,…
That’s an interesting idea, but…
I don’t really agree with that idea…
It’s unjustifiable to say that…

Actually, as a matter of fact.

I think…
I’m sorry to disagree with you, but…
That’s not how I see it.
Yes, but don’t you think…

That’s not the same thing at all.

I’m afraid I have to disagree.
I completely disagree.
I must take issue with you on that.

What’s More

1. Formal Arguments
The journey in argumentative writing begins with recognizing the distinction between informal
and formal arguments. Informal arguments are typically verbal disputes in which opponents try to
prove each other wrong. Listening and communication skills in these situations are minimal, with
little effort given to understanding conflicting viewpoints. Opponents engaged in formal arguments,
however, are not necessarily attacking or criticizing each other. Instead, opponents recognize and
respect each other's position. Another distinction is that formal argumentative essays typically deal
with complex issues. Through research and analysis, writers develop logical steps that assert,
support, and defend claims to persuade a reader to adopt a new position or a different perception.
A formal argument is more than two people contradicting each other, as they often do in an informal
argument. The gurus illustrate differences between informal and formal arguments in their
conversation while the elements of formal argument are defined by expert writers and
reemphasized in a short animation.

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1.1. How do you start a debate essay?
How to outline an argumentative essay in 4 steps introductory paragraph. The first paragraph of
your essay should outline the topic, provide background information necessary to understand your
argument, outline the evidence you will present and states your thesis. The thesis statements. Body
paragraphs. Conclusion.

1.2. What does debate mean in an essay?

A debate is an argumentative discussion in which two parties are talking over the same subject
but with different opinions. Both parties share the pros and cons of the discussion topic, supporting
either one side, and opposing the other. Generally debating in public is much simpler than writing a
paper.
In addition, debate is a communication process in which participants argue for and against a
given topic. There are many kinds of debate. Typical real-world debates may be found in a law court
and a legislative assembly such as a parliament, congress, or diet.

Some people think of a business meeting. An employee proposes a new marketing plan, but
another opposes it. You and your friend may have an informal debate. You are talking about a plan
for the coming long weekend. You suggest a trip to a spa resort, but your friend disagrees.

You can also debate by yourself. You are trying to make a future plan. “Do I want to go to a
graduate school or to find a job in a company?” You consider good points and bad points about
those two future plans. All these are daily examples of debate.

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 Should I go to a Senior High School?

There are many reasons why people debate. The most important reason is to make the best
possible decision regarding an opinion. How can we arrive at the best decision? We want to hear the
best possible defense of the opinion and best possible attack against the opinion before we decide.
If someone tries his best to find reasons for the opinion and another tries her best to find reasons
against the opinion, we will be able to hear enough information to make our decision. If they try to
attack and defend each other’s arguments, we will be able to hear better reasons for our decision.

1.3 What are the steps in a debate?

The five steps are as follows: introduction, express your message and why it’s important to your
audience, as well as yourself, statement of fact, break down the general thesis of your argument into
smaller parts: confirmation, or proof then refutation and conclusion.

1.4 How do you talk in a debate?

How to be a good debater? Keep calm - (this is the golden rule of debating), Act confident -
(this point applies not just to debating but also to life) maintain proper body language, know the form
of the debate, use of debate jargons, work on emotions, speak loud and clear, and keep the topic on
track.

1.5. Which side goes first in a debate?

1. The first persons to speak will be the first speaker for the affirmative side. 2. That person will
be allowed up to seven minutes to present his or her case.

1.5.1. What does the 1st speaker say in a debate?

The first task of the first affirmative speaker is to define the topic. The definition specifies the
important issue(s) in contention, and places boundaries on the issues that can be argued in the
debate. Certain words will have vague or multiple meanings.

1.6. How do you start a debate class?

Here are the ways on how to conduct a class debate: first, introduce the topic (all English
debates start with a topic, or resolution), second, assign the affirmative and the negative (there are
two sides to any debate), give time for research (students will need time to research the issue),
keep track of time, and make a judgment.

1.7. Who speaks last in a debate?

The affirmative gives the first constructive speech, and the rebuttals alternate: negative,
affirmative, negative, affirmative. The affirmative has both the first and last speeches of the debate.

1.8. What makes a good debate?

A good debater never deviates from the topic. He knows the topic thoroughly and has the ability
to clearly place points and express everything. Many a time debater slowly deviate from the point as
a strategy to win over the debate by straying the mind of his competitors.

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1.9. How does debating work?
A debate is a structured argument. Two sides speak alternately for and against a particular
contention usually based on a topical issue. Unlike the arguments you might have with your family or
friends however, each person is allocated a time they are allowed to speak for, and any
interjections are carefully controlled.

1.10. What is the difference between argumentation and debate?

Debate has method. Argument does not necessarily. The difference is that argument usually
has a more negative connotation to it. Debate, on the other hand, is usually a conversation between
people expressing two sides of a certain topic in a polite and respectable manner.

1.11. What do you call someone who likes to debate?

Debater – someone who engages in debate. arguer. controversialist, disputant, eristic – a
person who disputes, who is good at or enjoys controversy.

1.12. How do you start and end a debate?

The first affirmative speaker begins the debate and is then followed by the first negative
speaker. This pattern is maintained for the second and third speakers of each team. Each speaker
speaks for a set time, with a warning bell, to give them a little time to sum up and finish, then a final
bell.

1.13. How do you end a debate in English?

End your argument by thanking the members of the jury and the judge. Restate your main
points in a short sentence or two; then thank everyone for their attention. Your listener will remember
the beginning and ending of your argument more than anything else, so make your summation
count.

1.14. What are the 2 sides of a debate called?

Each debate involves two debating teams who take opposing sides of the topic, either
affirmative (for) or negative (against). The teams’ alternate speakers. The affirmative team speaks in
support of the topic.

1.15. What does THR mean in debate?

This house regrets

1.16. What are the three parts of a debate?

A formal debate usually involves three groups: one supporting a resolution (affirmative team),
one opposing the resolution (opposing team), and those who are judging the quality of the evidence
and arguments and the performance in the debate.

1.17. What are the latest debate topics?

Some debate topics nowadays can deal on the following: 1. Alternative energy can effectively
replace fossil fuels, 2. Cell phone radiation is dangerous and should be limited, 3. Euthanasia should
be banned, 4. The drinking age should be 18, 4. Vaping should be banned, 5. All high school
athletes should be drug tested, and 6. Detention should be abolished.

1.18. What are good school debate topics?

Educational debate topics: 1. Homework should be banned, 2. Public prayer should not be
allowed in schools, 3. Schools should block sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram on their
computers, 4. School uniforms should be required, 5. Standardized testing should be abolished, and
6. All students should have an after-school job or internship.

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1.19. Decision Making by Debate
Let me illustrate the point. Suppose an electric power company proposes the construction of an
atomic power plant in your town. Some people in your town welcome the plan. Others oppose it. Still
many others cannot make up their mind. There will be a town meeting about the plan of the atomic
power plant. You are concerned about the safety of atomic power plants and want to speak up in the
meeting. You will start preparing for the meeting.

You call the power company and ask for information. You also find a group of people opposing
atomic power plants in other area and ask for information. You go to a library to find several books
and articles in magazines discussing the safety of atomic power plants. By carefully reading all that
information, you may arrive at a conclusion that the atomic power plant in your town will be
dangerous. You then write up a short speech so that you can give it at the town meeting. You also
study what your electric power company has to
say about those safety questions so that you can criticize them as well as defend your opinion
against possible criticism.
By carefully reading all that information, you may arrive at a conclusion that the atomic power
plant in your town will be dangerous. You then write up a short speech so that you can give it at the
town meeting. You also study what your electric power company has to say about those safety
questions so that you can criticize them as well as defend your opinion against possible criticism.

In the town meeting, you and some others give opinions against the construction of the atomic
power plant in your neighborhood. Some others present their opinions for the construction. You
exchange some questions and answers about your opinions. You also criticize some of the points
raised by the proponents of the construction. They also attack your opinion. There are more
exchanges of opinions for and against atomic power plants.

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 In this illustration, debate is not only the discussions which take place at the town meeting, but
it includes the whole process of analyzing the question of the safety of the plant, searching for
information, and preparing your speech and possible attacks and defense. At the end of this
process, the audience can make the best possible decision. In this sense, debate is a special kind
of argumentation by which issues are critically examined and a certain position is strategically
defended. Argumentation skills can be applied in both producing and receiving messages in writing,
public speaking, negotiating, and in other communication situations.

1.20. What is Academic Debate?

When you are using this textbook in class, you will encounter debate as educational exercise.
This is called academic or educational debate. Academic Debate is different from debate in the real
world like the above debate in the town meeting. In the real-world debate, the purpose is often to
decide the future plan of the participants. In Academic Debate, the primary purpose is educational
training. Suppose we have a debate in this class on whether we should build an atomic plant in our
town. Even if we decide to build it, it will not actually be built.
There are several characteristics of academic debate for maximizing its educational benefits.
There are strict rules of speaking in terms of time, order, the use of evidence, etc. Judges often give
criticism and advice for arguments regarding both contents and skills, as well as making a decision.
It is also popular in extracurricular activities and there are local and national level competitions.
Debate has been practiced for a long time in Western societies since the time of Ancient Greece. It
is often used in classrooms and business training. Many leaders in politics, business, and
academics learned debate. Many of the U.S. presidents and British prime ministers used to practice
debate in schools and universities. In Japan, debating in English has an established tradition in
extracurricular clubs (mostly called English Speaking Societies). More recently, the high school
curriculum for English includes debate as one of the optional activities. Debate in Japanese is also
becoming increasingly popular.
In a typical setting of communication for Academic Debate, the following elements
are involved as in Figure 1.

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1.21. Identifying and understanding logical fallacies
In debating, questions are more often a means of criticizing the other side’s illogic than a
means of getting information. However, if we wish to ask strong, critical questions, we need to
identify the weak logic of the opponent’s arguments first. The argument in the table below is
illogical. What is wrong with it?

If an argument does not make sense, it contains a logical fallacy. Logical fallacies are errors in
reasoning. If you can spot the logical fallacies in your opponents’ arguments, then their arguments
will be significantly weakened.

What I Can Do

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Task 1: Vocabulary - Work on a motion related to bullying. Below are some words/ phrases on this
topic. Complete each sentence with the most suitable item in the box.

1. Bullying is a form of abuse or an attack on another student who

is usually weaker and smaller.
2. Tom was from school because he cheated in the exam.
3. One student calls another name, trying to create .
4. Some students decide that they will another student by not talking
to him anymore.
5. An student uses threats to get money from others.
6. Harsh is not effective for stopping bullying.
7. The teacher the bully for calling his classmates rude names.
8. The school awards conduct prizes to students with good
and discipline.

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Task 2. Identifying facts and opinions - Individually, look at the sentences below and write beside
each sentence F (for facts) or O (for opinions).

What is a fact? A fact is something which you can prove. For example, Ocean Park is in Aberdeen.
What is an opinion? An opinion is your view or someone else’s view. For example, fish balls are
delicious.
1. The sun sets in the west.
2. Manila is a great city.
3. Teachers are patient people.
4. Dolphins and porpoises are members of the whale family.
5. Giraffes are tall animals.
6. Raisins are made from grapes.
7. Winter is a fun season.
8. Antarctica is covered by ice.
9. The Earth has five oceans.
10. SM Mall of Asia is the largest and biggest mall in the Philippines with (4.2
million sq. ft.).

Task 2-A. Individually, write three facts and three opinions about your school in the spaces below.

FACTS
1.

2.

3.

OPINIONS
1.

2.

3.

Task 2-B: Facts and Opinions in Arguments

Directions: Read the passage carefully. Underline three facts and three opinion statements.

Exams Do Not Effectively Test Student Learning

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you today about exams. I mean the large-scale
formal exams such as the HKDSE, HKCEE and A-Level exams, the ones organized at territory-wide
level. The exam system we have follows the British system, which has been reformed many times. At
one time, a big exam at the age of eleven determined a child’s whole future, whether he or she would
be a doctor or a factory worker. Mercifully, that exam is gone, but in this speech, I will argue that the
problem is not with any specific exam. The problem is that exams, besides being stressful, are
ineffective in assessing student learning.
What is learning? Learning is a wide range of things. We start to learn from the day we are born.
We learn to walk and talk. We learn to be kind to animals. In later life, we may learn to play a musical
instrument. None of these things can be tested with pen and paper.
What is an exam? There are practical exams, of course, like cooking exams and driving
exams, but in most cases large-scale exams have to be easy to standardize, and inexpensive. In
almost all cases, that means pen and paper.

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 Pen and paper exams do test certain things effectively – knowledge of facts, for instance. What
is the capital of India? Give the value of pi to ten decimal places. These are the questions best suited
to exams. Of course, exams can do more than this, but they can’t do everything. Different subjects
are easy to test. In Britain, the increased use of standardized testing has resulted in extra time for
English and science at the expense of art. Because art and music are not so easy to test, less time
goes into teaching them in the schools. Is this a good way to plan an education? To say that real
education is testable education is, as they say, to put the cart before the horse.
The increased emphasis on testing also means that students are tested on their ability to take
tests. Students take a lot of practice tests today, practicing the process of testing itself
more than reviewing the subject matter.
If we imagine how we want a student to turn out at the end of secondary education, it is easy to
think what we want: a moral person, a socially responsible person, full of creativity and life. When we
look at the testing that students are subjected to in school,
we see a very different picture. Exams test learning only very subjectively and leave out all the most
important parts. The speech is adapted from The Case against Testing: Research Evidence by the
National Union of Teachers (NUT),
2003. <http://www.teachers.org.uk/resources/pdf/Tests-campaign-Evidence-2.pdf>2004

Task 3. Below are some faulty arguments. Match the arguments with their errors in reasoning. One
has been done for you as an example.

Task 4. Agree or disagree to the statements given below. Explain your answer.

1. The male is a stronger gender.

.

2. Parents should be held legally liable for the actions of their minor children.
.

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 3. Being a team worker is more important than being a creative person.
.

4. To succeed in business or in life, one needs to only have a likable personality.

.

5. Poverty is a hindrance to success.

.

Task 5. Study the pictures below, then, decide whether you are in favor or against the issues raised.
Answer the questions that follow.

1. What is your stand regarding the issues presented?

2. What helped you decide?

3. What did you use as basis in making your decision?

Task 6-A. Video Focus Points - Look for answers to these questions when watching the video:

Why is argumentative thinking and writing important to individuals and to society?

What compels writers to write argumentatively?

https://dlc.dcccd.edu/english2-2/formal-arguments

Task 6-B - Look for answers to these questions when watching the video:

What is the form and structure of a formal argument?

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What basic tools do writers use to build an argument?

https://dlc.dcccd.edu/english2-2/formal-arguments

Task 7. Reflection
1. What have I learned about debating in the focused discussion given?

2. What is the most challenging part of debating?

3. What can I do to improve my debating skills to participate more fully in this module?

Task 8. Read the article below and take note of the important details to be able to fill out the table of
the facts mentioned in the text.

MANILA, Philippines – Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray was among the celebrities who
spoke out against the arrest of at least 20 Pride march participants on Friday, June 26, 2020.
Members of the LGBTQ+ rights group Bahaghari and other progressive groups as well as
two drivers were arrested in Mendiola in a gathering meant to celebrate Pride month and protest the
anti-terror bill.
The groups wore masks and observed physical distancing during the protest but were
dispersed by police. The police later said they were being charged with Disobedience of Person in
Authority in relation to Republic Act 11332, otherwise known as the Law on Reporting of
Communicable Diseases, and Batas Pambansa 880, otherwise known as Public Assembly Act.
Referring to the arrests of the protesters, Catriona asked on Twitter on Friday, "Is this the new
normal? “If proper health guidelines were being followed (social distancing, mask wearing), why the
use of force?" she wrote. “Why the withholding of rights (witnesses said they were not read their
Miranda rights before arrest nor given reason of arrest)? Videos circulating online confirm this," she
added.

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 The Issue The Speaker’s Stand The Problem The Proposed
Solution

Task 9. Read the campaign ad below. Identify the stand of the speaker as well as the facts and
biases presented in his speech.

It’s Morning Again in America!

“It’s morning again in America. Today more men and women will go to work than ever before
in our country’s history. With interest rates at about half the record highs of 1980, nearly 2,000
families today will buy new homes, more than at any time in the past four years. This afternoon,
6500 young men and women will be married, and with inflation at less than half of what it was just
four years ago, they can look forward with confidence to the future. It’s morning again in America,
and under the leadership of President Reagan, our country is prouder and stronger and better.
Why would we ever want to return to where we were less than four short years ago.

Stand of the Speaker:

Facts:

Biases:

Your stand:

Task 10. Choose a political ad campaign used in the Philippines during election. Write your stand
regarding its relevance and truthfulness to the current state the country is in now.
Ad campaign: .
Your stand:

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 LESSONS React to lay value judgment on
3&4 critical issues that demand
sound analysis and call for
prompt actions

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Mistakes are innate to all people and hence inevitable. Errors are varied in nature and
sometimes hurt us; our family and community who make us feel guilty. Corrective measures can
be taken to regain redemption of our dignity in the place we live in.

In this lesson, you will learn to become assertive by taking a stand on critical issue that
affects your decision as student and as individual citizen. A sound judgment is essential skill that an
individual must learn and develop.

After this lesson, you are expected to:

1. Distinguish stands of a negative and affirmative claim from a short formal argumentation
and debate,
2. react on the materials read based on one’s value judgment,
3. assess comprehensively the material viewed through an in-depth analysis, and
4. give sound advice on an issue that needs attention.

WHAT IS IT

In the previous module, you have learned value judgment, prompt action and critical issues

which are vital in making a sound judgment and worth of ideas. Let’s take a short review.

Value judgment is a judgment of the rightness or wrongness of something or someone, or of

the usefulness of something or someone, based on a comparison or other relatively. Influenced or
based on personal beliefs or feelings rather than facts.

Sound analysis - what the speaker is saying to be able to form your own thoughts about the
speaker’s message.

Prompt of Action - performed or executed without delay

Critical issue – an extremely important subject that people are arguing about or discussing.

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Task 1: Q & A
Direction: Analyze the pictures below, and then answer the given questions.

A. B. C.

1. What is the critical issue presented in each image?

A:
B:
C.

2. What specific situation in your community can be associated to each issue?

A.
B.
C.

3. What prompt of action can you relate to each critical issue?

A.
B.
C.

WHAT’S MORE

A good listener examines sources critically and actively to enable prompt an

action to giving a value judgment. A value of judgment is simply a decision about the worth of
something. It often involves a subjective evaluation of the importance, worth, or functions of
something which is influenced or based on personal beliefs or feelings rather than facts.

Debate is a structured argument. Two sides speak alternately for and against a particular
contention usually based on a topical issue. Unlike the arguments you might have with your
family and friends however, each person is allocated a time. They are allowed to speak for,
and any interjections are carefully controlled. In each debate, there are two teams of three
speakers. The team which argues for the topic is called the affirmative. The team arguing
against the topic is called the negative. Each speaker speaks once for a defined period.

21
Task 2 A.

Directions: Identify the affirmative and negative stands of team that corresponds with the given
topic. Put check (√) if the statement is affirmative. Put cross (X) if the statement is negative.

1. Traditional Learning (Face to Face) is better than Distance Learning

A. Learners often have greater flexibility of the times they access their learning modules.
B. During lecture periods, students can physically request recognition and ask questions on
the spot in real time. Follow up questions are also possible
2. Higher education a prerequisite for an individual's financial success in the future-
A. Education is one of the most important factors which might help us decide our future goals
and career paths to lead towards financial success.
B. Having a formal degree does not directly lead to a successful career. Most of the
employees place a higher value on experience
3. Banning plastic bags and packaging
A. Banning plastic bags would be one of the most effective ways to reduce the volume of
plastic waste in the ocean.
B. Compared to plastic bags, fabric bags are good for transporting dry foods but quickly
absorbs mess leading to undesirable orders and potential for bacterial growth
4. It is appropriate to teach religion in schools
A. Teaching religion in school is an excellent way to teach values to children. Teaching
values from different religions helps to encourage personal reflection teaching to be aware
of their actions and decisions
B. Students who practice a religion that is different from the majority of the school would be
excluded from many activities during school day. This would most likely target these
students to bullying
5. Tourism affects the environment
A. People tend to become more aware and mindful of the importance of taking care and
preserving the environment through tourism.
B. The negative environmental impact of tourism is substantial including depletion of local
natural resources. Tourism puts enormous stress on local land use and can lead to soil
erosion, increase pollution, natural habitat loss and pressure on endangered species.

After determining the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition of a debate, knowing
author’s purpose can help you make connection to the text you are reading.

Have you experienced that you have just ended reading something…you understood
everything… but there is something missing? Unless you pay attention to the author's purpose, his
point of view, and tone implied, this will clarify your hanging points and satisfy your reading

22
experience. However, they are just under the surface. When you just pay attention, they are easy to
locate them. So, stick around and let us look at the author's purpose first.

These elements: author’s purpose, point -of-view, and tone in writing work together with what
the writer says and how he tells it. As a reader, uncovering these elements will help you engage in not
just simply understanding the main ideas and supporting details but also investigating the author’s
style in knitting the pieces of information into a unified and a well-written piece.
We write based on a purpose. For instance, you wish to send a message to your childhood-
friend whom you have not seen for a long time. Your purpose probably is to inform him about your
whereabouts. Your job can be to teach, to explain, to clarify, to share information, to elaborate on a
topic you wish to share.
Then, your friend opens your convo and reads that information. He realizes that you are
sharing all your whereabouts. Therefore, your friend’s goal is to learn the pieces of information you
sent him. Suppose you want to tell him about Mobile Legend BB. Can you help your friend to get to
the purpose?

How popular is MLBB?

1
Mobile Legends BB has reportedly amassed over 500 million downloads and 75 million
active players since it first launched. 2Much of its popularity is centered around Southeast Asia,
where the game has established itself as a major sport. 3The Philippines, for example, has its
own Mobile Legends sports league called MLBB Professional League. 4It recently concluded its 4th
season, with Sun sparks winning the championship and nabbing the lion’s share of the $54,000
prize pool. 5Non-professional players, meanwhile, have MLBB LIGA, a street battle event where
fans can compete against each other for prizes and bragging rights. 6Outside of the country, there is
MLBB World Championship 2019, or M1 for short, which features 16 professional teams from 14
different countries. 7Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) or Mobile Legends is the first title to be
announced as a medal game in the inaugural sports tournament of the 2019 Southeast Asian
Games (SEA Games) – Rappler.com

TASK 1: SHARING INFO

After reading the paragraph above, complete the table below to analyze the purpose. To give the
function of each component, go over with the discussion above. Then, complete the takeaway
paragraph below the table to summarize points you have learned.

Components Sentence number Function

Topic statement
Details
Closing statement

The purpose of the paragraph is . Therefore, my friend’s job is

to pay attention to , , ,
, , and .

Alright, you often read informative passages in newspapers, journal articles, textbooks, and
other sources of information. The moment you sense a passage shares information your main goal

23
(as the reader) is to understand that information. For you to do that, you need to pay attention to
statement of definition, explanation, illustration, example, and so on.
How about you write to entertain? When you write to entertain, you job is to tell an event or
describe a fascinating object. Although you need to use information to communicate, your main goal
is not fixed to explain or to try to persuade but rather it is tries to entertain. When your friend detects
that your purpose is to entertain, he needs to pay attention to details like events, literary devices such
as the characters, the plot, the use of figurative language, what the message is or the moral of the
story, and other elements. Let’s try this out
Irithel: The Strongest Marksman
1
Irithel was abandoned as a child in a jungle by her parents. 2Under the guidance of the god of
the jungle, a female Smilodon that had just given birth adopted her. 3Under the protection of mother
Smilodon, the little Smilodon Leoand Irithel learned to hunt, survive, and she grew up like an
animal.4During a territorial fight, the mother Smilodon was severely injured, when Irithel and her
“brother” Leo went into town for help, these “Smilodon children” were captured by a slave trader.
5
Irithel then met Nana and could not bear watching them getting beaten by the slave trader, so she
uses her supernatural power to save these two unfortunate children. 6With the help of Nana, Irtiherl
learned human language and how to fight. 7While Leo grew up to be a strong adult
Smilodon.8However, Irithel hates humans since that day and only trusts Leo.
(Source: https://mobilelegends.midorfeed.net/en/guide/770 )

TASK 2: TELL ME MORE WHAT IT MEANS

After reading the paragraph, work on the details you paid attention to. You may go over with the
discussion to get the function of each component. Then, complete the takeaway paragraph to
summarize what you have just realized in this part.
Components Sentence number Function
Topic statement
Events
Concluding statement

The purpose of the paragraph is . Therefore, my friend’s job is

to pay attention to , , ,
, , , and
.

Most of the time, when you read a story or sing a song, you may come to know something
about the world. Although, you may even have a message on a hot topic, the main purpose is not
really to inform or persuade but to offer an entertaining effect for your friend to appreciate.
In a different story, let's say you tell your friend that you have just got Heroes and Skins from
your previous games. You tell your friend about these stuffs. Since he is also a fanatic MBL BB
player, you think that having convo about ML is going to be a perfect time to have bonding with him.
However, after you have read an article about the positive and negative effects of Mobile Gaming,
you want to tell him about this. You want to persuade him to do something.
Now, your purpose is to persuade. In persuasive purpose, you need to use information not
only to inform but also to convince him change his opinion, his point of view, or his action. When you
write to persuade, you have put the information together to create a logical argument because you
want your friend to reach your conclusion by the time, he completes reading. Here we go.

24
 Mobile gaming addict goes blind. (Mirror.co.uk)
1
These days, kids and adults alike own mobile phones jam-packed with apps that can easily
occupy their whole day. 2One of these apps is probably Mobile Legends, a popular mobile game.
3
Come to think of it, games are there to help reduce the stress and anxiety of every day demands in
work or in school. 4However, from Clash of Clans to Mobile Legends and many other games, on
mobiles and even in PC and console formats, these game applications have turned out to cause
excessive gaming and even gaming addiction. 5Many people, from kids to teenagers and adults are
even willing to spend money to get access to more game features. 6They may also neglect their other
responsibilities as they are crouched over their phones trying to get ahead in the game. 7This is
when it becomes excessive gaming, or even problematic gaming. 8There are those who also get
treated for a behavioral addiction called gaming addiction. 9What we may not realize is that there are
real dangers from these video games, when left unchecked and unregulated.
(Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/)

Components Sentence number Function

Writer’s claim
Reasons/evidence
Final appeal

The purpose of the paragraph is . Therefore, my friend’s job is

to pay attention to , ,
, , and .

As the reader, when your friend detects your persuasive purpose, the task begins to
determine and to value the substance of your argument. Your friend will only allow you change his
idea when you present a strong argument because he does not want to be satisfied of something that
is based on deceiving info or a trick. This purpose always reveals in passages in newspaper
editorials, political speeches, advertisements, passages about controversial topics, and so forth.

The fourth purpose which people not often talk about because it can be taken together with
one of the other purposes is to share insights. Writers on occasion write simply to share insights or
feelings about an issue or a topic. In this purpose, the main goal is to share writer’s views about the
topic. However, they only wish to share them in the world. This fourth purpose is very apparent when
you read blogs. This purpose creates avenue for intellectual exercise without trying to teach or
persuade you.
Popularity in the Philippines
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a massive hit here in the Philippines. Whether you’re lining up
in the bank, waiting for your turn in the hospital or simply walking down the street (especially smoking
areas), there’s a good chance that you’ll see someone playing this game on their mobile phones.
Shanghai Moonton, the creator of the game, recognized the great number of Filipinos playing Mobile
Legends that they even created a Filipino game character who is based on our national hero Lapu-
Lapu. The character looks strikingly similar to the depiction of Lapu-Lapu in MactanShrine and his
weapon seems like a pair of kampilan. Game character based on our national hero: Lapu-
LapuLocal competitions have been organized for this mobile game like the recent Crazy Legends
last March 11 – April 8. It’s a community event that featured ten popular Filipino Mobile

25
Legends’s streamers. The celebrity gamers who participated in this event are AlodiaGosiengfiao,
Akosi Dogie, Le Josette, MoymoyPalaboy, MRVii Gaming, SolidMB, Yasumeow, Yakou,
YuriGaming, and Z4pnu (Juen, 2019).
Source: https://blog.sulit.ph/mobile-legends-bang-bang-why-is-it-so-popular

Components Sentence number Function

Topic statement
Derails
Concluding statement

The purpose of the paragraph is . Therefore, my friend’s job is

to pay attention to , , ,
, , and .

At this point, you have learned about author’s purpose. As reader, you can now enjoy
communicating with the writer on the bases of his purpose. Moreover, as a writer you can set the best
purpose to best communicate your ideas to the reader.

B. Directions: Read and analyze the song below.

EBONY AND IVORY
By: Paul Mc Cartney
: Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we?

We all know that people are the same where ever you go
There is good and bad in everyone
We learn to live, we learn to give
Each other what we need to survive together alive

Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony

Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord why don't we?

Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony

Ebony, ivory, ooh

We all know that people are the same where ever you go
There is good and bad in ev'ryone
We learn to live, when we learn to give
Each other what we need to survive together alive

Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony

Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord why don't we?

Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we

Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony
Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony
Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony
Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony
Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony
Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony

26
C. Answer the following questions, Write the answer on the space provided.
1. What emotion do you feel about the message of the song?
2. What makes the description of Ebony and Ivory effective in the song?
3. Why does the song compare Ebony and Ivory?
4. What does the song tell about people? _
5. What does the song try to suggest about discrimination?
6. Choose one of the following tasks to do:
A. Using the tone of the chorus of the song, relate a personal experience wherein you
experienced discrimination and tell why it was unfair.
B. Make a slogan about why discrimination must be stopped.
C. make a role play about your personal experience of discrimination and portray how you
solved/will solve it.
WHAT I CAN DO
Your next challenge is to determine the tone in a poem; your task is more challenging as you engage
in breaking the elements of what makes a poem.

TASK 3: BREAKING BARRIERS

Read the poem below, and then answer the guide questions.
The Telephone
by Edward Field

My happiness depends on an electric appliance

And I do not mind giving it so much credit
With life in this city being what it is
Each person separated from friends
By a tangle of subways and buses
Yes, my telephone is my joy
It tells me that I am in the world and wanted
It rings and I am alerted to love or gossip
I go comb my hair which begins to sparkle
Without it I was like a bear in a cave
Drowsing through a shadowy winter
It rings and spring has come
I stretch and amble out into the sunshine
Hungry again as I pick up the receiver
For the human voice and the good news of friends

SOURCE: Field E. (1992)

27
Task 4: In-depth Analysis

Directions: Read the lines from the Telephone. Then, answer the given questions on the
speech bubble.

My happiness depends on an electric appliance

And I do not mind giving it so much credit.

1. What is the predominant feeling of the speaker in these lines?

2. Why does he feel that way?

With life in this city being what it is

Each person separated from friends.

1. Why are friends disconnected?

Yes, my telephone is my joy

It tells me that I am in the world and wanted
It rings and I am alerted to love or gossip
I go comb my hair which begins to sparkle
1. How does the speaker justify his joy of having a telephone?

Without it I was like a bear in a cave

Drowsing through a shadowy winter
It rings and spring has come

1. To what does the speaker compare man’s situation before the

advent of the telephone?
2. What value do people give to the telephone when he has the
access to it?
3. What literary device is used here?
I stretch and amble out into the sunshine
Hungry again as I pick up the receiver
For the human voice and the good news of friends

1. What does the speaker Hunger for? Is he capable of connecting

to the world? Explain

Task 5. PROs & CONs OF TELEPHONE USE

Although telephone proves to have a lot of benefits, there are still drawbacks in its use.

A. Direction: Use the diagram to list the advantages and disadvantages of using a phone.

Advantage Disadvantage

28
B. FUN in Poem Writing

Now that you have explored the wonders and downside of a telephone and its use, create a
poem of advice of your own version of the “Telephone” in this New Normal applying sound
judgment, prompt action, critical issues, and tone.

29
 Answer Key
Lessons 1 & 2

References:

http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addbios/bellag.html
http//www.britishdebate.com/resources/hb oxfordguide.htm
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com

30
Lessons 3 & 4

31
References:
Lessons 1 & 2
https://www.yourdictionary.com
https://dav,com.au>itd_speakers_roles
Bridgesfhope.com (2020). Accessed April 17, 2021
Juen, E. (2019). Accessed April 17, 2021 from
https://www.wonderingwanderer.com/mobile-legends-bang-bang-craze/
Rappler.com (2019). Accessed April 17,
https://www.rappler.com/technology/features/mobile-legends-what-to-know-sea-games-2019
Subari, H. (n.d.). Accessed April 17, 2021 from
https://duniagames.co.id/discover/article/inilah-3-kisah-sedih-hero-mobile-legends-yang-bisa
-bikin-kamu-depresi/en

https://ieltsmaterial.com/agree-disagree-ielts-speaking-part/

https://ieltsmaterial.com/agree-disagree-ielts-speaking-part/

https://dlc.dcccd.edu/english2-2/formal-arguments

http://www.flc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/~inouen/bioethics/debate2009bio.pdf

https://ottovonschirach.com/how-do-you-start-a-debate-essay/

https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/curriculum-development/kla/eng-edu/Debate/PDF/Learning
%20English%20through%20Debating%20booklet.pdf

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/debate-activities-classroom-farah-najam

https://eslflow.com/debateanddiscussionlessons.html

https://cxdebate.fandom.com/wiki/CX_Debate

https://mbhsdebate.wixsite.com/debate/kritik

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate

Lessons 3 & 4
Bridgesfhope.com (2020). Accessed April 17, 2021 from
http://bridgesofhope.com.ph/index.php/mobile-legends-addiction-excessive-gaming-damages/

Juen, E. (2019). Accessed April 17, 2021 from

https://www.wonderingwanderer.com/mobile-legends-bang-bang-craze/

Rappler.com (2019). Accessed April 17, 2016 from

https://www.rappler.com/technology/features/mobile-legends-what-to-know-sea-games-2019

Subari, H. (n.d.). Accessed April 17, 2021 from

https://duniagames.co.id/discover/article/inilah-3-kisah-sedih-hero-mobile-legends-yang-bisa-bikin-k
amu-depresi/en

32