Section 1Lesson 2~7 min read
Opinion & Argument Collocations: Persuasive Writing
Introduction
Collocations are combinations of words that frequently appear together and sound natural to native speakers. Mastering collocations can significantly improve your CELPIP score, as they enhance the fluency and coherence of your writing and speaking. In this lesson, we will focus on opinion and argument collocations that are particularly useful for persuasive writing tasks.
| # | Collocation | Meaning | CELPIP Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | make a decision | to decide | "I would make a decision based on the available data." |
| 2 | express an opinion | to state what you think | "In my essay, I will express an opinion on climate change." |
| 3 | take a stance | to adopt a position | "The government needs to take a stance on this issue." |
| 4 | provide evidence | to give proof | "It is important to provide evidence to support your argument." |
| 5 | raise an issue | to bring up a problem | "I would like to raise an issue regarding public transportation." |
| 6 | draw a conclusion | to decide after consideration | "After reviewing the facts, I can draw a conclusion." |
| 7 | concede a point | to admit a point in an argument | "I concede that there are some risks involved." |
| 8 | support an argument | to back up a point | "Statistics can support an argument effectively." |
| 9 | refute a claim | to prove a statement false | "I will refute the claim that technology harms society." |
| 10 | present an argument | to offer a point of view | "I will present an argument supporting renewable energy." |
| 11 | take into account | to consider something | "You should take into account all the factors before deciding." |
| 12 | reach a consensus | to come to an agreement | "The team needs to reach a consensus on the proposal." |
| 13 | advocate for | to publicly support | "I advocate for more green spaces in urban areas." |
| 14 | substantiate a claim | to provide evidence for | "You need to substantiate your claim with data." |
| 15 | make an assumption | to suppose something | "One should not make an assumption without facts." |
| 16 | draw a parallel | to compare two things | "I can draw a parallel between these two events." |
| 17 | voice a concern | to express worry | "Residents have voiced concerns about the new policy." |
| 18 | challenge a notion | to question an idea | "I challenge the notion that success is purely luck." |
| 19 | offer a perspective | to give a point of view | "Let me offer a perspective on this matter." |
| 20 | counter an argument | to respond to a point | "I will counter the argument with recent studies." |
| 21 | hold a belief | to have a conviction | "I hold the belief that education is crucial." |
| 22 | weigh the pros and cons | to consider the advantages and disadvantages | "It's essential to weigh the pros and cons before deciding." |
| 23 | assert a position | to state a viewpoint confidently | "I assert my position on environmental conservation." |
| 24 | take a position | to decide a viewpoint | "I take a position in favor of renewable energy." |
| 25 | highlight an issue | to emphasize a problem | "The report highlights an issue with water quality." |
| 26 | dispute a claim | to argue against a statement | "I dispute the claim that technology is harmful." |
| 27 | make a case for | to argue in favor of | "I will make a case for investing in education." |
| 28 | contradict a statement | to oppose a remark | "The evidence contradicts the statement made earlier." |
| 29 | support a proposal | to back a suggestion | "I support the proposal to improve public transit." |
| 30 | denounce an action | to publicly criticize | "I denounce the action taken by the authorities." |
| 31 | back an idea | to support a concept | "I back the idea of reducing carbon emissions." |
| 32 | undermine an argument | to weaken a point | "Lack of evidence can undermine an argument." |
| 33 | justify a decision | to explain a choice | "I can justify my decision with these reasons." |
| 34 | elaborate on a point | to give more details | "Let me elaborate on this point further." |
| 35 | oppose a view | to disagree with a perspective | "I oppose the view that technology is detrimental." |
| 36 | uphold a principle | to maintain a standard | "I uphold the principle of fairness in all dealings." |
| 37 | evaluate a situation | to assess a scenario | "We must evaluate the situation before acting." |
| 38 | formulate a plan | to develop a strategy | "I will formulate a plan to address the issue." |
| 39 | acknowledge a fact | to recognize a truth | "I acknowledge the fact that resources are limited." |
| 40 | discount an idea | to dismiss a concept | "I would discount the idea as impractical." |
Grouped by Usage
• For Writing Task 1 Emails:
- express an opinion, raise an issue, voice a concern, offer a perspective
• For Speaking Tasks:
- make a decision, take a stance, provide evidence, draw a conclusion
• For Describing Opinions:
- advocate for, substantiate a claim, hold a belief, assert a position
Example Sentences
In the Writing Task 1, you might say: "I would like to raise an issue regarding the lack of public parks in our community."
During the Speaking Task, you could express: "I support the proposal to introduce more green initiatives in our city."
In an essay, you might write: "I will substantiate my claim with recent research findings."
For a persuasive argument, you could argue: "I advocate for stricter environmental regulations to protect our planet."
💡 Pro Tip: Use collocations naturally by familiarizing yourself with them in context. Practice using them in sentences to ensure they flow smoothly in your writing and speaking.
Common Mistakes
• Wrong: I will make a decision of this.
• Right: I will make a decision on this.
• Wrong: I express opinion about this issue.
• Right: I express an opinion on this issue.
• Wrong: I support the proposal of improve public transit.
• Right: I support the proposal to improve public transit.
• Wrong: I substantiate my claim by data.
• Right: I substantiate my claim with data.
Mastering these collocations will help you sound more fluent and persuasive in your CELPIP writing and speaking tasks. Practice using them in context to improve your overall score.
🎯 Key Takeaways
✓Collocations are word combinations that sound natural to native speakers and are essential for persuasive writing in the CELPIP exam.
✓Using collocations correctly can enhance the fluency and coherence of your writing and speaking, improving your CELPIP score.
✓Different collocations are suitable for various tasks, such as writing emails, speaking tasks, and describing opinions.
✓Common mistakes include incorrect prepositions and verb forms, so it's crucial to practice using collocations in context.
📝 Quick Quiz
1. Which of the following sentences uses the correct collocation?
2. What is an important benefit of using collocations in CELPIP writing and speaking tasks?
3. Which collocation would you use to describe publicly supporting an idea?