5A Speaking Evaluating ideas

• I can evaluate ideas when talking about stress.

Is life getting more stressful?

1 Life is said to be getting more and more stressful for people. How far would you agree? Say why. Think about the different age groups in the box.

• adolescents
• children
• middle-aged people
• parents
• retired and elderly
• young adults

The street survey: which stress-busters work?

Now hear how real people beat stress, and weigh their ideas.

• 1 Which activities do the people mention?
• 2 What reasons do they give for and against doing these activities?
• 3 Which person do you think you are most similar to? Say why.

Which activities do the people mention?

What reasons do they give for and against doing these activities?

Evaluating an idea: the phrases to use

• There's a lot to be 1 ___ for …
• That’s all very well, but what if …
• It sounds a pretty half-baked theory to me.
• It has a lot 2 ___ for it.
• I don’t think they’ve thought this through.
• I think this idea has legs.
• It doesn't go 3 ___ enough.
• It sounds good 4 ___ theory.
• It’s a perfectly reasonable idea, but …
• I take issue with some of the claims, namely …

“It’s a perfectly reasonable idea, but …” is a concession that opens a reservation.

There's a lot to be ___ for …

It has a lot ___ for it.

It doesn't go ___ enough.

It sounds good ___ theory.

Which phrases can be used for more formal evaluation?

Say it right: reservations and pausing

• 1 It sounds good in theory, but in practice I can’t see it working.
• 2 The idea has a lot going for it, but there are too many negatives for me.
• 3 It’s a perfectly reasonable idea, but I don’t think anyone will accept it.
• 4 It sounds a pretty half-baked theory to me, but I imagine a lot of people will go for it.