How to disagree productively by Julia Dhar

How to disagree productively by Julia Dhar

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THE BLUE TREE

Better
Communicator

CEF B1

CEFR C2

Proficiency

Practise speaking by describing this image
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warm up

  • Why do people argue?
  • Do you usually win or lose arguments?
  • Would the world be a better place if people knew how to argue productively?
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part one

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is the state of public discourse?
  • How do many arguments finish?
  • What is Julia’s life mission?
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part two

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • Why did Julia’s parents send her to a debating club?
  • How does formal debating work?
  • How did Julia’s first attempt at debating go?
  • How good did she become eventually?
  • What are the three elements of a productive debate?
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part three

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key language

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COMPREHENSION

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is a rebuttal and why is it so important for debating?
  • What was Julia’s initial thought on successful debaters?
  • What is the first step to a productive disagreement?
  • Why is it more beneficial to debate face to face?
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part four

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is the second step towards a productive disagreement?
  • What is the best strategy to win a debate?
  • How can this principle be used in public discourse?
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part five

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is the third key to a productive disagreement?
  • What are the benefits of practising intellectual humility?
  • What question does Julia recommend we all ask ourselves?

Julia Dhar

What is it that you have changed your mind about? And why?

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follow up

Julia describes at length how Fred Rogers convinced Senator Pastore to change his mind about funding public television. 

Would you like to see a short clip about this hearing? Here it is, and I cannot recommend it enough 🙂

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watch the video

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POLL

Coming Soon
Julia Dhar believes we should all do three things to make our disagreements more productive. Which of these three things, do you think, is the most difficult to put to practice?
Total Votes : 5
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lesson glossary

Disagreeing Productivity

Can money buy happiness?

Can money buy happiness?

Can money buy happiness?
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THE BLUE TREE

Opinions

CEF B1

CEFR B1

Intermediate

THESIS: Money is essential for happiness

Can money buy happiness? Are people who earn 2 dollars a day sad? According to some statistics, half of the world’s population live on less than $2 a day. What is their life like? Can a person in India, for example, who earns $2/day live a happy and satisfying life? Or maybe the poverty standards are set by people who think luxury is the only mode of happiness?

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VIEW A

Money is definitely not essential for happiness. As long as your basic amenities – food, shelter, clothing are provided you can live a happy and satisfying life. Moreover, aren’t the most important things in life – family, community, love – for free?

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VIEW B

Money is essential for happiness, full stop. It’s almost non-negotiable that only having accumulated enough wealth, one can secure their future. Having money allows us not only to live fully but also to practise generosity which is a source of happiness in itself, isn’t it?

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POLL

Cast your vote below. How does your opinion compare with the rest of the responders?

Coming Soon
Money is essential for happiness.
Total Votes : 15
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COMMENTS

Read the comments left by other users of The Blue Tree and submit your own view.