Build sophisticated arguments with thesis, evidence, and conclusion
🎓 Discourse & AcademicYou've mastered B1 fluency and interaction. Now it's time to sound more sophisticated - like someone who has studied a topic deeply.
Compare these responses to: "What do you think about artificial intelligence in education?"
❌ B1 Level
"Well, I think AI is good for education. It helps teachers. I'm not entirely convinced about everything though. There are some problems."
Vague, lacks structure, limited evidence
✓ B2 Level
"My main argument is that AI personalizes learning, but the evidence suggests concerns exist. Research shows students lose important social interaction. In conclusion, I'd argue for limited integration rather than wholesale replacement."
Clear thesis, evidence, nuanced conclusion!
Academic structure means organizing your thoughts like a mini-argument: introduction (your main point), supporting evidence (what research says), and conclusion (what you conclude).
Today you'll learn: Five key phrases for building persuasive, well-structured academic arguments in conversation.
Academic speaking has a clear pattern. Master these five phrases to build sophisticated arguments:
Examples:
"My main argument is that renewable energy should be prioritized over fossil fuels."
"My main argument is that social media has fundamentally changed how we process information."
Start with: "My main argument is that remote work is..."
Examples:
"The evidence suggests that exercise improves mental health significantly."
"The evidence suggests people learn more through collaborative projects than lectures."
Complete: "The evidence suggests that climate change..."
Examples:
"Research shows that bilingual people have improved cognitive flexibility."
"Research shows children learn languages best with native speaker exposure."
Try: "Research shows that university education..."
Examples:
"This supports the view that companies need to invest in employee wellbeing."
"This supports the view that traditional manufacturing will decline in developed nations."
After evidence, add: "This supports the view that..."
Examples:
"In conclusion, I would argue that technology has fundamentally improved how we connect."
"In conclusion, I would argue for a balanced approach rather than extremes."
End with: "In conclusion, I would argue that..."
For each topic, build a complete three-part argument:
Build your argument (45+ seconds)
💡 Try: "My main argument is... The evidence suggests... This supports the view that... In conclusion, I would argue..."
Respond with nuance and structure
💡 "Research shows... but this supports the view that... Rather, in conclusion, I would argue..."
Give a full academic response (60+ seconds)
💡 Use all five phrases to build a sophisticated argument
Discuss these topics using academic structure. Build thesis → evidence → conclusion!
Goal: Structure each response as thesis → evidence → conclusion. Support with specific examples!
Click to test your memory!
1. Introduction - State your position clearly
2. Development - Explain with reasons and examples
3. Conclusion - Summarize your view
"For example, when..."
"For instance, I..."
"This is particularly evident when..."
"Firstly..." "Secondly..." "Finally..."
"Because of this..." "As a result..." "This leads to..."
Build an argument using STRUCTURE + EXAMPLES + ACADEMIC PHRASES:
"Do you think big cities are better than small towns?"
Try: "My main argument is... The evidence suggests... For example... This supports the view that... In conclusion, I would argue..."
I can structure academic arguments with thesis, evidence, and conclusions
How confident do you feel?
1 = Need more practice | 5 = I've got this!
✓ Thesis: "My main argument is that..."
✓ Evidence: "The evidence suggests..." / "Research shows..."
✓ Support: "This supports the view that..."
✓ Conclusion: "In conclusion, I would argue..."
✓ Examples: Link back to Lesson 33 phrases
You're entering advanced territory! B2 focuses on sophisticated discourse, academic language, professional communication, and nuanced argument construction. You have 35 more lessons to reach C1 fluency!
Listen to academic lectures, TED talks, or podcasts. Notice how speakers structure their arguments: main point first, evidence in the middle, conclusion at the end. You'll see this pattern everywhere!