Authority

Lengua Inglesa VII

Seminar 4 Authority

Alejandro Gutiérrez Álvarez Luis Navarrete Carrillo Logan Prieto Marín Sara Rodil Alonso

References

Conclusion

Evaluating your own arguments

The use of 'I' and 'we'

Stating your opinion: cautious language

Developing a clear point of view

Introduction

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

01

TASK

What do you know about authority?

Let's make a little quiz to see what you already know about the principle of authority.

introduction

E.g. He spoke with authority on the topic. Source: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

"Authority is 'the power to influence people because they respect your knowledge or official position.'

THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTHORITY

How to be personal?

the principle of authority

Express your opinion and give reasons to support it

Use appropriate language to organise and present your views

• The order
• The information
• Relate the sources
• Strong arguments and explanations
• Balanced view

Present the sources appropriately

Use good sources and cite them

• How can your create your own identity when writing your essay?
• How can you make your writing more authoritative and, therefore, stronger?

02

DEVELOPING A CLEAR POINT OF VIEW

To create your own identity you need your own point of view. An attitude towards the matter. Asserting your opinions by presenting them before the data. Develop the point of view supported by the sources

What is a point of view?

how can your create your own identity when writing your essay?

WHAT NOT TO DO

WHAT TO DO

HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR WRITING MORE AUTHORITATIVE AND, THEREFORE, STRONGER?

•Draw a conclusion from sources instead of your own ideas •Base your opinion depending on the quantity of arguments •Merely list the arguments with no reasoning or opinion behind

•Preliminar investigation •Forming a personal opinion •Using sources to justify •Focusing on reason and their support

Cars have been debated for many years, some say that they are convenient, whereas other people say that they are expensive, and cause problems for traffic, human beings and the environment. As they cause so many problems, governments should ban cars.

Read and identify which author is expressing their own opinion

TASK 2

Since their invention in the late 19th century, people have owned and enjoyed driving cars. This has caused well-publicized problems both for society as a whole and for individuals, yet car ownership is still on the increase. Although banning the car would solve many problems, the popularity of the car suggests that this is not a practical option.

ANSWER

ANSWER

STATING YOUR OPINION: CAUTIOUS LANGUAGE

03

• Cautious language involves using words that express uncertainty or modesty in communication.
• Especially important in situations where certainty is not warranted.
• More accurate representations of the information.

What is cautious language?

IN WHICH CASES IS CAUTIOUS LANGUAGE IMPORTANT?

• "It is suggested that"
• "There is evidence to support"
• "The findings may imply"

Examples

Language of certainty gives no space to other opinions.

Language of certainty

It admits the limitations of research and the existence of alternative interpretations.

Why is it important?

Cautious language is important in:

• Academic writings
• Comment on data
• Conclusions & final recommendations

• Cautious language makes your statements respectful and open to debate.
• Showing respect for the interpretations that may exist.
• Demonstrating that the writer is not open imposing his perspective as the only valid one.

DOES cautious language MAKE YOUR STATEMENTS WEAKER?

Sentence with language of certainty

Sentence with cautious language

Example:

The use of cautious language

Psychologists and anthropologists have a different interpretation of what is realistic.

+ INFO

+ INFO

Psychologists and anthropologists tend to have a different interpretation of what is realistic.

Conclusions

Data Analysis

Cautious language in data analysis and conclusions

Cautious language can be employed to write conclusions and make final recommendations.

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

Cautious language can be used to comment on some statistics or data.

solution

TEXT 2

TEXT 1

Two examples of texts will be given, which one uses cautious language and which one does not?

task

• How can you show your stance in your essay better and when is it appropriate to do so?

04

THE USE OF 'I' AND 'WE'

Source: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

WHAT IS A STANCE?

• Make personal views clear: My concern is ...
• Contrast the writer’s approach with other people’s methods: My definition is based on...
• Write about the personal actions of the writer. In our experiment...
• Refer to people in general, ‘all of us’: We know that...
• Relate the reader to the writer: As we have seen.

• Avoidance of I and WE if possible
• The use of these pronouns is linked to identity.
• In some cases they can be used as well as OUR and and MY.

HOW CAN YOU SHOW YOUR STANCE IN YOUR ESSAY BETTER AND WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO DO SO?

TEXT 2

TEXT 1

EXamples

I have chosen to discuss the ‘cash for honours’ scandal, because it was the first time that a prime minister was interviewed by police investigating corruption. I will give the background of the scandal and an account of the way the different media reacted, with a particular focus on the involvement of the prime minister, Tony Blair.

+ INFO

In this essay the ‘cash for honours’ scandal was chosen, because it was the first time that a prime minister was interviewed by police investigating corruption. First, the background of the scandal will be given, followed by the way the different media reacted, especially to the involvement of the prime minister, Tony Blair.

TEXT 2

TEXT 1

EXamples

This essay argues that the worth of humanities as a subject of study cannot be measured just by economic considerations.

+ INFO

In this essay I argue that the worth of humanities as a subject of study cannot be measured just by economic considerations.

• What can you do to evaluate your own arguments?

• What ways of arguing are not acceptable?

EVALUATING YOUR OWN ARGUMENTS

05

Express your ideas cautiously-

Use sources to support your own argument

Cite multiple sources,

Use concepts from established authors to back up your own claims.

Personal pronouns can be used to convey a personal point of view.

• Show your point of view
• Use strong arguments
• Evaluate them as if they were from other people.

what can you do to evaluate your own arguments?

• Being in favour of/against an argument because a lot of people are in favour/against
• Being in favour of/against an argument because an important person is in favour/against
• Misrepresenting a view
• Saying that something is true because there is no evidence that it is false

TASK

• Bias: Neutral
• Subjectivity: No evidence,
• Personalization or anecdotal evidence: using a personal example
• Using absolutes (no one, ever, all ...)
• Attacking the person rather than arguing against what they say

what ways of arguing are not acceptable?

06

CONCLUSION

Conclusions

• Provide evidence
• Avoid certain ways of arguing

Strong arguments

• Use personal pronouns correctly
• Make personal views clear
• Relate the reader with the author

Show your stance better

• Tone down statements
• Cautious language
• Respect others' opinions

Persuasive writing

• Appropriate evidence
• Acknowledge the sources

Convincing views and strong identity

Use ideas from published authors

when arguing.

Provide solid evidence

to support your own arguments.

but only to indicate a personal point of view and to distinguish between activities of the writer and others.

Use personal pronouns

to develop your own argument.

Select sources

but always carefully.

Express your ideas

but also comment on them and make connections between them.

Don't just refer to different sources

remember

REFERENCES

07

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Kahoot

Web links

Burton, G. (2013). Presenting. Deliver Presentations with Confidence. Academic Skills Series. London: HarperCollins Publishers. Van Geyte, E. (2013). Authority. In Van Geyte, E. (Ed.), Writing. Learn to Write Better Academic Essays (pp. 90 - 99). Academic Skills Series. London: HarperCollins Publishers.

References

TASK

questions?

THANK YOU!

"Our analysis of the data indicates that the increase in product sales is associated with changes in marketing strategies. There is a clear correlation between these variables. It's evident that marketing strategies are the primary driver of increased sales. Other factors have a negligible impact on the outcome. Additional research will confirm the strength of this relationship."

Text 2

Sentence 1 says there is a pattern (‘tend to’), not a fact, so it does not claim this is always true. Readers will be more easily persuaded about the truth of this statement.

“The ratings were 4 or 5 for every aspect of the course. This is normally interpreted as evidence that the students are very satisfied with the course. However, here the relatively fast speed of completion and the lack of differentiation, i.e. the absence of ratings of 1 and 2 may also be an indication that the students did not take the questionnaire seriously enough.”

"In our analysis of the data, it appears that the increase in product sales might be associated with changes in marketing strategies. It is suggested that there may be a correlation between these variables. However, it's important to acknowledge that other factors could potentially influence the outcome. Further research is needed to ascertain the precise nature of this relationship."

Text 1

• The correct answer is text 1!
• In the first version, cautious language is used to express uncertainty and acknowledge potential alternative explanations.
• The second version is more assertive and presents the findings with confidence, but with no space for other opinions.

“In other words, this method of PR is likely to be more effective and the company could benefit from using it to avert future crises.”

Sentence 2 is a generalization, which readers may feel is too strong and they could easily say that it is incorrect.