Lesson

Debates & Discussions

Academic discussion vocabulary

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

What are Debates & Discussions?

Debates and discussions are structured ways to exchange ideas, evaluate options, and make decisions. In business contexts, they help teams analyze proposals, highlight risks, and reach agreements. Knowing the right vocabulary improves clarity and professionalism.

  • Debates: formal exchanges where opposing viewpoints are presented.
  • Discussions: broader conversations to explore ideas and build consensus.
  • Useful skills: presenting a case, offering counterarguments, and summarizing conclusions.

Table

Key Debates & Discussions Vocabulary

Word Part of Speech Business Example
argument noun She made a clear argument for increasing the marketing budget.
counterargument noun He responded with a counterargument about resource constraints.
rebuttal noun Her rebuttal addressed each point in the proposal.
consensus noun The team reached a consensus after the third meeting.
moderator noun A moderator guided the panel discussion to keep time.
concede verb The manager conceded that the timeline was optimistic.
point of view expression From a financial point of view, the plan is feasible.

Tip

How to present your position clearly

When discussing or debating, structure your contribution to be persuasive and concise:

  • State your main claim first: 'My main point is...'.
  • Support it with evidence or data: 'According to the report...'.
  • Use signposting language: 'Firstly', 'However', 'In conclusion'.
  • Anticipate counterarguments and address them briefly.

Be concise: strong, supported points win over long monologues.

Example

Examples in context

I would argue that outsourcing could reduce costs by 15%.

Her counterargument focused on quality control concerns.

After a long discussion, the committee found a consensus.

The moderator reminded participants to keep comments to two minutes.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these universal errors when using debate vocabulary:

  • Confusing similar nouns: 'argument' (a reason) vs 'discussion' (an exchange).
  • Using weak evidence: making claims without data or examples.
  • Poor structure: presenting multiple points without clear signposting.
  • Overusing emotional language instead of objective reasoning.
  • Mixing register: switching between informal and formal language in the same meeting.

Focus on clarity: choose precise terms and support claims with evidence.

Quiz

Which sentence correctly uses 'counterargument'?

Hint: Check noun usage and prepositions.

Quiz

Complete: She presented a strong _____ to support the proposal.

Hint: Think of a noun that means 'reason in favor of something'.

Quiz

Which connector best introduces a counterargument?

Hint: Look for the word used to show contrast.

Key Points

Vocabulary

argument

noun CEFR B1 //ˈɑːrɡ.jə.mənt//

A reason or set of reasons given to persuade others that an idea is correct.

The sales team presented several arguments for expanding into the new market.

Vocabulary

counterargument

noun CEFR B2 //ˌkaʊn.tərˈɑːrɡ.jə.mənt//

An argument presented to oppose or refute another argument.

Her counterargument pointed out the hidden costs of the proposal.

Vocabulary

rebuttal

noun CEFR B2 //rɪˈbʌt.əl//

A reply intended to show fault in an opposing argument.

In his rebuttal, he cited industry benchmarks to contradict the claim.

Vocabulary

consensus

noun CEFR B2 //kənˈsen.səs//

General agreement among a group, often reached after discussion.

Management worked to build a consensus before approving the budget.

Vocabulary

moderator

noun CEFR B1 //ˈmɒd.ə.reɪ.tər//

A person who guides and controls the flow of a discussion or debate.

The moderator kept the meeting on schedule and allowed equal speaking time.

Vocabulary

concede

verb CEFR B2 //kənˈsiːd//

To acknowledge reluctantly that something is true or valid, often in an argument.

He conceded that the timeline would need to be extended.

Expression

point of view

expression CEFR B1 //pɔɪnt əv vjuː//

A particular attitude or way of considering a matter; an opinion.

From a project-management point of view, the proposal is risky.