Authority

Seminar 4 Authority

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

Lengua Inglesa VII

OUTLINE

Introduction

Conclusion

Developing a clear point of view

References

Stating your opinion: cautious language

The use of 'I' and 'we'

Evaluating your own arguments

01

INTRODUCTION

introduction

What do you know about authority?

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

TASK

THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTHORITY

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

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

the principle of authority

How to be personal?

Use good sources and cite them

Use appropriate language to organise and present your views

Express your opinion and give reasons to support it

Present the sources appropriately

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

02

DEVELOPING A CLEAR POINT OF VIEW

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

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

What is a 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

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

WHAT NOT TO DO

WHAT TO DO

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

•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

TASK 2

Read and identify which author is expressing their own opinion

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.

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.

ANSWER

ANSWER

03

STATING YOUR OPINION: CAUTIOUS LANGUAGE

What is cautious language?

• 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.

IN WHICH CASES IS CAUTIOUS LANGUAGE IMPORTANT?

Language of certainty

Cautious language is important in:

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

Why is it important?

Examples

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

Language of certainty gives no space to other opinions.

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

DOES cautious language MAKE YOUR STATEMENTS WEAKER?

• 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.

The use of cautious language

Example:

Sentence with cautious language

Sentence with language of certainty

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

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

+ INFO

+ INFO

Cautious language in data analysis and conclusions

Data Analysis

Conclusions

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

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

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

task

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

solution

TEXT 1

TEXT 2

04

THE USE OF 'I' AND 'WE'

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

WHAT IS A STANCE?

Source: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

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

• 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.

EXamples

TEXT 1

TEXT 2

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.

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

EXamples

TEXT 1

TEXT 2

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

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

+ INFO

05

EVALUATING YOUR OWN ARGUMENTS

• What can you do to evaluate your own arguments?

• What ways of arguing are not acceptable?

what can you do to evaluate your own arguments?

Cite multiple sources,

Use sources to support your own argument

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

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

Express your ideas cautiously-

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

what ways of arguing are not acceptable?

• 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

• 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

06

CONCLUSION

Conclusions

Convincing views and strong identity

Show your stance better

Persuasive writing

Strong arguments

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

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

• Provide evidence
• Avoid certain ways of arguing

• Appropriate evidence
• Acknowledge the sources

remember

Don't just refer to different sources

Use ideas from published authors

Select sources

to develop your own argument.

but also comment on them and make connections between them.

to support your own arguments.

Provide solid evidence

Use personal pronouns

Express your ideas

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

but always carefully.

when arguing.

07

REFERENCES

References

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.

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Kahoot

questions?

TASK

THANK YOU!

Text 2

"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."

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.”

Text 1

"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."

• 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.