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title: Debating and discussion — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics
description: «Debating and discussion», a lesson of the english course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: A debate is an argument with rules: two sides, a topic called the motion ("Homework should be banned"), turns to speak and, at the end, a vote.
---

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# Debating and discussion

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Lesson 49 of the english course of Mova's primary school: 14 sentences, each with its syntax tree and pragmatics. The lessons are written for Mova, and their agreed trees are part of Mova corpus 0.4 (CC BY-SA 4.0). How Mova does on its tests: [the lesson at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/english/49-debating-and-discussion/).

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- [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/0/) — A debate is an argument with rules: two sides, a topic called the motion ("Homework should be banned"), turns to speak and, at the end, a vote.
- [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/1/) — Each point works best as point, reason, evidence: "Homework should stay, because practice helps memory; our spelling scores went up when we practised at home."
- [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/4/) — Picture Liam in Leeds muttering "Nah, that's mardy" ("mardy" means grumpy or sulky) about the other side: the teacher asks him to explain why he disagrees, because a reason can persuade and a grumble cannot.
- [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/5/) — The motion is the topic of a debate, such as "Homework should be banned".
- [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/6/) — One side argues for the motion and the other side argues against it.
- [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/7/) — Shouting does not persuade anyone; reasons and evidence do.
- [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/8/) — Sentence stems such as "I agree with \_\_\_ because…" and "I disagree because…" help you give reasons.
- [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/9/) — A rebuttal answers the other side's point, which shows you listened: "You said \_\_\_, but…"
- [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/10/) — Calling something a lie does not prove it is false; you need evidence.
- [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/11/) — Taking turns makes a discussion fair; interrupting stops people being heard.
- [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/12/) — Summarising both sides fairly before a vote shows you understood them.
- [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/14/) — Changing your mind when you hear a better reason is a sign of a good thinker.
- [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/15/) — Politicians, lawyers and scientists all use debate skills, and arguing respectfully is a skill, not bad behaviour.
- [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/49-debating-and-discussion/16/) — Slang to know: "cap" means a lie (Gen Alpha), "mardy" means grumpy (Leeds and the Midlands), "can or not?" means "is it allowed?" (Singapore English), and "y'all" means you all (the southern USA).

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