Contoh Soal Expressing Stance (Formally and Informally)
Contoh Soal Expressing Stance (Formally and Informally) - Sharing opinions in daily life can be about many things. When you watch television, listen to radio broadcast, read newspaper, or reading profile status on social media, etc. Expressing opinion involves a thinking process.
A way of thinking about something is called stance. Expressing stance means you give an opinion or letting other people know your position about specific issues, by saying what you think, feel or believe. Take for an example, sharing opinions about the condition in your city. It can be about the traffic jam, a new open wi-fi facility in town, events at public libraries, etc. Your position can be supporting something, critical about something, or neutral.
In this topic, you will learn how to express stance or how to show where you stand (your opinion) on some issues, whether you are for (support) it, against it or do not take sides. Before you start, please read the following conversation.
Do you understand?
Conversation 1
Danang : Day by day the traffic jam is getting worse.
Dimas : I believe it is because there are too many private vehicles on the main street.
Danang : Do you think people should stop using private vehicles and start taking public transportation?
Dimas : In my point of view, if people move to public transportation, the traffic will not be this bad.
Danang : Well, it seems to me that people use private vehicles because the public transportation is not comfortable.
Dimas : In my experience not all of public transporations are uncomfortable. Besides, it is cheaper.
Danang : Yes. You are right about that.
Dimas : I believe it is because there are too many private vehicles on the main street.
Danang : Do you think people should stop using private vehicles and start taking public transportation?
Dimas : In my point of view, if people move to public transportation, the traffic will not be this bad.
Danang : Well, it seems to me that people use private vehicles because the public transportation is not comfortable.
Dimas : In my experience not all of public transporations are uncomfortable. Besides, it is cheaper.
Danang : Yes. You are right about that.
The conversation above shows how to express stance formally. When discussing a serious matter in formal settings, we tend to use formal phrase, such as in a debate, presentation or speech. The formal phrases you can use in this situation are:
I (personally) think ….
I feel that ….
I (strongly) believe (that) ….
In my opinion ….
In my experience ….
As far as I'm concerned ….
It seems to me that ….
In my (point of) view ….
To my mind ….
To be honest with you ….
I feel that ….
I (strongly) believe (that) ….
In my opinion ….
In my experience ….
As far as I'm concerned ….
It seems to me that ….
In my (point of) view ….
To my mind ….
To be honest with you ….
Conversation 2
Alia : What did you think of the Twilight movie?
Petra: I hated it.
Alia : Really? I loved it.
Petra: I think the movie is boring. The love story is just too much.
Alia : I guess it’s because you are a boy, and boys don’t like romantic movies.
Petra: Maybe. I like the music, though. In my opinion, the only good thing about the movie is the music.
Alia : Yeah. I feel that the music is really good.
Petra: I hated it.
Alia : Really? I loved it.
Petra: I think the movie is boring. The love story is just too much.
Alia : I guess it’s because you are a boy, and boys don’t like romantic movies.
Petra: Maybe. I like the music, though. In my opinion, the only good thing about the movie is the music.
Alia : Yeah. I feel that the music is really good.
The second conversation shows more casual way of expressing stance. Casual style is usually used when you discuss light issue between friends. For example, when your friend asks for your opinion about movies, music, sports, or fashion; the informalphrases you can use in these situations are:
I think ….
I feel that ….
If you ask me ….
I guess ….
You know what I think? (I think) ….
I feel that ….
If you ask me ….
I guess ….
You know what I think? (I think) ….
Keypoints
- You don’t always have to use casual phrases in informal conversations.
- Sometimes you can use formal phrases in your conversation between friends, to show you are very serious with what you say.
- The most important thing is to express what you have in mind without offending others.
- You can be strong in the position of your opinions but remain polite and not offensive.
S1
Vita: Do you still listen to the radio?
Heru: Rarely. .... listening to songs from the internet is more fun.
Vita: Oh, I see.
Heru: Rarely. .... listening to songs from the internet is more fun.
Vita: Oh, I see.
The correct words to complete the dialogue is ....
S2
Mrs. Lin: I need to buy a phone, but I don’t know what to choose, new or second-hand phone?
Mrs. Kartika: ...., the used phone is usually not in a good condition.
Mrs. Lin: I agree. I think I should buy the new one.
Mrs. Kartika: ...., the used phone is usually not in a good condition.
Mrs. Lin: I agree. I think I should buy the new one.
The right words to fill in the blank is ....
S3
Berna: I can’t believe you listen to Taylor Swift.
Tedi : Why not? She’s great.
Berna: Isn’t that music for girls?
Tedi : .... I think music is universal. It’s OK if boys want to listen to female singers.
Tedi : Why not? She’s great.
Berna: Isn’t that music for girls?
Tedi : .... I think music is universal. It’s OK if boys want to listen to female singers.
The right phrase to fill in the blank is ....
S4
Lutfi: We need to collect sources for the History project.
Mirna: I think we should search for materials from the internet.
Lutfi : Don’t you think we better go to the library and find some books?
Mirna: I guess that is impractical.
Mirna: I think we should search for materials from the internet.
Lutfi : Don’t you think we better go to the library and find some books?
Mirna: I guess that is impractical.
The underlined sentence also means....
S5
Vera: Do you know that we can take the National Examination more than once?
Hanifia: Yes, I do. I think that’s a good idea.
Vera: Why do you think so?
Hanifia: ....
Vera: I agree. It really helps those who are ill and cannot do the exam, and those who need to improve their grades.
Hanifia: Yes, I do. I think that’s a good idea.
Vera: Why do you think so?
Hanifia: ....
Vera: I agree. It really helps those who are ill and cannot do the exam, and those who need to improve their grades.
The possible words that Hanifia says is ....
S6
Thomas : Did you know what happens on the news?
Mark: What news?
Thomas: There is a country that gives a travel warning to visit Bali.
Mark: So their citizen can’t visit Bali?
Thomas: That’s right. What do you think?
Mark: I believe that not the citizens will agree to that policy. They have rights to go anywhere.
Thomas: Yeah. They are free people and they are free to choose where to spend their holidays.
Mark: What news?
Thomas: There is a country that gives a travel warning to visit Bali.
Mark: So their citizen can’t visit Bali?
Thomas: That’s right. What do you think?
Mark: I believe that not the citizens will agree to that policy. They have rights to go anywhere.
Thomas: Yeah. They are free people and they are free to choose where to spend their holidays.
The underlined words can be replaced by the following phrases, except ....
S7
Rendy: Did you watch the football match last night?
Kiki: No. I fell asleep. How was it?
Rendy: It was boring. Both of the team couldn’t score a goal.
Kiki: There achievements are not really good recently. What do you think both team should do?
Rendy: As far as I am concerned, it is urgent for them to change the managers.
Kiki: No. I fell asleep. How was it?
Rendy: It was boring. Both of the team couldn’t score a goal.
Kiki: There achievements are not really good recently. What do you think both team should do?
Rendy: As far as I am concerned, it is urgent for them to change the managers.
The sentence that has similar meaning with the underlined sentence above is ....
S8
The following conversation is for question no 8 to 10.
Hendra: Are you excited about the Academy Awards?
Clara: Of course I am.
Bella: What is Academy Awards?
Clara: People usually call it the Oscars. You know, the movie awards.
Bella: Oh, I know about the Oscars. The annual event that present awards to appreciate movies and actors.
Clara: That’s right, Bella.
Hendra: I think the best movie goes to ‘Birdman’.
Clara: Hmm, I don’t know. I feel that ‘Whiplash’ has a very inspiring story (8).
Bella: I read that ‘American Sniper’ is one of the nominees.
Hendra: To be honest with you, that movie is not as strong as the other nominees.
Clara: I agree with you. I didn’t like it .... (9).
Bella: That’s true. I also think that the actor did an amazing job.
Hendra: You know what I think? I think although his performance was in the movie, he won’t win the best actor category.
Clara: Yeah, .... (10) Probably, Michael Keaton.
Bella: Well, I think he will probably win too.
Clara: Of course I am.
Bella: What is Academy Awards?
Clara: People usually call it the Oscars. You know, the movie awards.
Bella: Oh, I know about the Oscars. The annual event that present awards to appreciate movies and actors.
Clara: That’s right, Bella.
Hendra: I think the best movie goes to ‘Birdman’.
Clara: Hmm, I don’t know. I feel that ‘Whiplash’ has a very inspiring story (8).
Bella: I read that ‘American Sniper’ is one of the nominees.
Hendra: To be honest with you, that movie is not as strong as the other nominees.
Clara: I agree with you. I didn’t like it .... (9).
Bella: That’s true. I also think that the actor did an amazing job.
Hendra: You know what I think? I think although his performance was in the movie, he won’t win the best actor category.
Clara: Yeah, .... (10) Probably, Michael Keaton.
Bella: Well, I think he will probably win too.
The underlined sentence means that ....
S9
The following conversation is for question no 8 to 10.
Hendra: Are you excited about the Academy Awards?
Clara: Of course I am.
Bella: What is Academy Awards?
Clara: People usually call it the Oscars. You know, the movie awards.
Bella: Oh, I know about the Oscars. The annual event that present awards to appreciate movies and actors.
Clara: That’s right, Bella.
Hendra: I think the best movie goes to ‘Birdman’.
Clara: Hmm, I don’t know. I feel that ‘Whiplash’ has a very inspiring story (8).
Bella: I read that ‘American Sniper’ is one of the nominees.
Hendra: To be honest with you, that movie is not as strong as the other nominees.
Clara: I agree with you. I didn’t like it .... (9).
Bella: That’s true. I also think that the actor did an amazing job.
Hendra: You know what I think? I think although his performance was in the movie, he won’t win the best actor category.
Clara: Yeah, .... (10) Probably, Michael Keaton.
Bella: Well, I think he will probably win too.
Clara: Of course I am.
Bella: What is Academy Awards?
Clara: People usually call it the Oscars. You know, the movie awards.
Bella: Oh, I know about the Oscars. The annual event that present awards to appreciate movies and actors.
Clara: That’s right, Bella.
Hendra: I think the best movie goes to ‘Birdman’.
Clara: Hmm, I don’t know. I feel that ‘Whiplash’ has a very inspiring story (8).
Bella: I read that ‘American Sniper’ is one of the nominees.
Hendra: To be honest with you, that movie is not as strong as the other nominees.
Clara: I agree with you. I didn’t like it .... (9).
Bella: That’s true. I also think that the actor did an amazing job.
Hendra: You know what I think? I think although his performance was in the movie, he won’t win the best actor category.
Clara: Yeah, .... (10) Probably, Michael Keaton.
Bella: Well, I think he will probably win too.
The possible words that Clara says is ....
S10
The following conversation is for question no 8 to 10.
Hendra: Are you excited about the Academy Awards?
Clara: Of course I am.
Bella: What is Academy Awards?
Clara: People usually call it the Oscars. You know, the movie awards.
Bella: Oh, I know about the Oscars. The annual event that present awards to appreciate movies and actors.
Clara: That’s right, Bella.
Hendra: I think the best movie goes to ‘Birdman’.
Clara: Hmm, I don’t know. I feel that ‘Whiplash’ has a very inspiring story (8).
Bella: I read that ‘American Sniper’ is one of the nominees.
Hendra: To be honest with you, that movie is not as strong as the other nominees.
Clara: I agree with you. I didn’t like it .... (9).
Bella: That’s true. I also think that the actor did an amazing job.
Hendra: You know what I think? I think although his performance was in the movie, he won’t win the best actor category.
Clara: Yeah, .... (10) Probably, Michael Keaton.
Bella: Well, I think he will probably win too.
Clara: Of course I am.
Bella: What is Academy Awards?
Clara: People usually call it the Oscars. You know, the movie awards.
Bella: Oh, I know about the Oscars. The annual event that present awards to appreciate movies and actors.
Clara: That’s right, Bella.
Hendra: I think the best movie goes to ‘Birdman’.
Clara: Hmm, I don’t know. I feel that ‘Whiplash’ has a very inspiring story (8).
Bella: I read that ‘American Sniper’ is one of the nominees.
Hendra: To be honest with you, that movie is not as strong as the other nominees.
Clara: I agree with you. I didn’t like it .... (9).
Bella: That’s true. I also think that the actor did an amazing job.
Hendra: You know what I think? I think although his performance was in the movie, he won’t win the best actor category.
Clara: Yeah, .... (10) Probably, Michael Keaton.
Bella: Well, I think he will probably win too.
The words which cannot fill in the blank no 10 is ....