© Boardworks Ltd 20031 of 12

Your Point of View

For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.

This icon indicates the slide contains activities created in Flash. These activities are not editable.

This icon indicates that teacher’s notes are available in the Notes Page.

This icon indicates that a useful web address is included in the Notes page.

© Boardworks Ltd 20032 of 12

Your point of view

These people all have a point of view on a subject.

What do you think their point of view might be?

Science teacher – smoking

Church of England Minister – religion

Vote Labour

Believe in God

Don’t smoke

PM Tony Blair – election

When might they express their point of view? Can you think of someone who might disagree with them?

© Boardworks Ltd 20033 of 12

Using evidence

The use of supporting material can make a point of view more convincing. What evidence might these speakers use to support their arguments?

The evidence might be facts, examples, statistics, etc.

PM Tony Blair

Science teacher

Church of England Minister Bible

Lung cancer deaths

Education funding

© Boardworks Ltd 20034 of 12

Using evidence

© Boardworks Ltd 20035 of 12

A good start

If you have a speech or statement to make, a strong start is essential. You will want to interest your listeners right from the start – to grab their attention and win them over.

Which of these beginnings do you think would be most effective?

The openings of some of the most famous speeches from the plays of Shakespeare have memorable wording. See how many you know on the next slide!

I’m not sure whether bullying is really a problem here or not….

Are you scared to go to school everyday?…

Bullying is nasty and shouldn’t be allowed…

© Boardworks Ltd 20036 of 12

A good start

© Boardworks Ltd 20037 of 12

Rhetorical devices

As well as creating a striking beginning, there are a number of other techniques that will help you.

Lists of three provide a neat structure to your speech and can help to pinpoint important features to your argument.

E.g. Football hooliganism is detrimental – for the clubs, for the fans and for the game.

Politicians use lists of three a great deal. Listen out for it in speeches.

Education. Education. Education.

© Boardworks Ltd 20038 of 12

Rhetorical questions can also be a useful device. They are questions which do not expect an answer. They are meant to be attention-grabbing and make the reader think about the issue.

E.g. Would you like planes flying over your house?

Rhetorical questions can be particularly useful at the beginning of an argument or speech.

Rhetorical devices

Are you scared to go to school everyday?…

© Boardworks Ltd 20039 of 12

Repetition is another device used to reinforce a point of view. An important idea or word might be repeated a number of times in a speech. This gives it prominence.

A famous example of this is the ‘Dream’ speech of civil-rights leader, Martin Luther King. He anticipated a time where people were not discriminated against because of the colour of their skin. A number of the sections of his speech begin ‘I have a dream’. These famous words have inspired many millions of people.

Rhetorical devices

© Boardworks Ltd 200310 of 12

The ending

It is important to finish your argument or statement strongly. You will probably want to reinforce the message you have made, perhaps using one of the techniques we have looked at – such as a rhetorical question.

E.g. If we want to protect our future, we must protect our planet. Global warming is a real threat. If we don’t do something, who will?

© Boardworks Ltd 200311 of 12

What’s your point of view?

Children should start work when they are 12.

Music should be banned.

Respond to these arguments giving your point of view. Try and use some of the rhetorical devices you have learnt. What evidence do you have to support your opinions?

Smoking is good for you.

© Boardworks Ltd 200312 of 12

Quiz