Remembrance Day debate

Debating expressions – talking about controversial topics

Giving Agreeing Conceding Disagreeing Avoiding giving

an opinion strongly a point tactfully an opinion

I can see both

I think I’m right in I hadn’t thought I see what you’re
That’s so true. sides of the
saying that … of that. saying, but …
argument.

Some people I can see why That’s a really

You’re absolutely That’s a really
would argue someone might tricky one, to be
right. good point.
that … think that, but … honest.

I don’t know
I agree with you I’m not sure there
about you, but I totally agree I take your
up to a point, are any right or
it seems to me with you. point.
but … wrong answers.
that …

This is just my
That’s exactly I think it’s a bit
personal opinion, You may well I’ll have to think
what I was going more complicated
but I believe be right. about that.
to say. than that.
that …

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 Remembrance Day debate

Debating expressions – talking about controversial topics

Sort the expressions into categories

I can see why I’m not sure there I can see both
That’s a really I hadn’t thought
someone might are any right or sides of the
good point. of that.
think that, but … wrong answers. argument.

I think it’s a bit That’s a really

I see what you’re I take your You may well
more complicated tricky one, to be
saying, but … point. be right.
than that. honest.

I don’t know This is just my

I agree with you
about you, but I totally agree I’ll have to think personal opinion,
up to a point,
it seems to me with you. about that. but I believe
but …
that … that …

That’s exactly Some people

You’re absolutely I think I’m right in
what I was going That’s so true. would argue
right. saying that …
to say. that …

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 Remembrance Day debate

Debate topic – Should we still commemorate Remembrance Day? – Teaching notes

This debating resource is designed to be used with your tutor group in the week leading up to Remembrance Day, but it could also be
used to practise oracy as part of a secondary English lesson or to support the teaching of citizenship.

Starter

A starter activity is provided in the accompanying PowerPoint. Students study an image of a Remembrance Day ceremony at the
Cenotaph in London and answer questions about Who?, What?, Where?, When? and Why?

Reading text

A reading text answering those questions is provided on slide 2 of the PowerPoint. The comprehension questions on slide 5 could be
used straight after the reading text, as an extension task, as a plenary or as homework – if appropriate in your context. Answers are
included on slide 6.

Quotations

Slides 3 and 4 of the PowerPoint show quotations about commemorating Remembrance Day. These are differentiated for different
levels of ability. Slide 3 is a more accessible version with general opinions for or against commemorating Remembrance Day. Slide 4 is a
more challenging version that uses real quotations from poets, a journalist and an academic. Students can sort the statements into ‘for’
and ‘against’ and rephrase them in their own words.

Debating expressions – talking about controversial topics

Debating expressions are provided as a pre-sorted list on p.2 above and as cards on p.3. Students could:
• colour-code the cards to categorise them
• cut out the cards and sort them into categories
• be given a set of three or four expressions to use while they are speaking
• play bingo with the cards, ticking off the expressions that they hear other students using.

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