4th Intense Hour: Zero Marginal Cost Society: the Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons and the Eclipse of Capitalism -Pro & Con Arguments

The language used to make pro and con arguments is the focus of this 4th  hour.

First, let's consider the following:  Jeremy Rifkin proposes that the end of capitalism is on the horizon. In this Hard Talk episode host Jeremy Sakur asks Rifkin to explain his theories then offers strong rebuttals. Rifkin's book Zero Marginal Cost Society: the Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons and the Eclipse of Capitalism is used as the frame for the Hard Talk discussion.

Pros & Con Arguments: Practice by doing the following
"Are we entering the post-capitalist age?" is just one of the questions debated on the show. For language learning practice while watching the program:
1) You can listen for the language used by Rifkin and Sakur as they make their pro and con arguments/points regarding capitalism's demise. (You can also select one of the other main points in the discussion as your focal point).
2) You can write down the phrases you find interesting or unusual.
3) Notice whether you use the phrases you hear in the program when make pro and con arguments.
4) Are there any phrases you would like to use in the future? If yes, make a note of them and then use them to make pro and con arguments of your own concerning the discussion in the Hard Talk program.


Some Helpful Language when making pro & con arguments

Expressing Both Sides
pros and consadvantages and disadvantagesplus and minus

Providing Additional ArgumentsWhat is more,In addition to ..., the ...Further, Not only will ...,
but ...
will also ...Similarly,
AdditionallyAnotherAlsoMoreover

Showing Cause-Effect (words about things which make other things happen)So,
thus
Therefore,
hence
Consequently
Due to

Contrast/Opposition (words that signal a conflict or problem)

However, but, though
On the other hand,
Although .....,
Unfortunately,
Conversely
Yet
Nonetheless, nevertheless

Ordering

First of all,
Then,
Next,
Finally,

First, Second, Third,

Next, following

Summarizing

To sum up,
In conclusion,
In summary,
All things considered,

Expressing Your Opinion

In my opinion,
I feel / think that ...
Personally,

An interesting resource for great examples of pro and con arguments.

ProCon.org is a website that provides relevant information on both sides of common controversial topics.   It has over 1,000 different topics from the death penalty to steroid use to government bailouts and each topic provides both the pros and cons of each side of the issues.  Besides being interesting topics that you can read up on they contain good examples of the type of language used to make pro and con arguments.

Next post will be on grammar --