Backing Up Your Opinion

1. The Foundation: Giving a Reason with "Because" and "Since"

The most direct way to support an opinion is to give a reason. The words you use to connect your opinion to your reason are called "connectors" or "conjunctions." The most important ones are because, since, and due to.

Let's watch a short video that explains how to use these essential connectors.

As the video explained, these words have slightly different uses:

• Because: The most common and direct way to give a reason.
  • Example: "I think we should replace the LNB on this satellite dish because it's over ten years old."
• Since: Use this when the reason is already known or obvious to the listeners.
  • Example: "Since the customer is reporting intermittent signal loss, we should check the cable connections first."
• Due to / Because of: These are more formal and are followed by a noun or noun phrase, not a full sentence.
  • Example: "The installation was delayed due to bad weather." (Correct)
  • Example: "The installation was delayed because of the storm." (Correct)
  • Incorrect: "The installation was delayed due to it was raining."

The image below provides a great summary of these phrases and more.

2. Making Your Reason Stronger: Providing an Example or Evidence

A reason explains why you have an opinion. An example or piece of evidence shows proof and makes your argument much more credible. This is especially important in technical discussions.

A simple and effective structure for this is the PREP method:

• Position: State your opinion.
• Reason: Explain why you think that.
• Evidence: Give a specific example or data.
• Position: Restate your opinion to conclude.

Let's focus on the "E" for Evidence. The most common phrases to introduce an example are for example and for instance.

Let's build on our previous example:

1. Position: "I think we should replace the LNB on this satellite dish."
2. Reason: "...because it's over ten years old and likely causing the signal degradation."
3. Evidence: "For example, we serviced a similar system last week with the same issue, and a new LNB fixed it immediately."
4. Position: "That's why I'm confident that replacing the LNB is the right solution here."

This is much more persuasive than just saying "I think we should replace the LNB."

Here are some phrases you can use to introduce examples.

3. Building a Complete Argument

Now let's put it all together. You can use the PREP method as a mental guide to structure your thoughts before you speak. You can also strengthen your argument by providing more than one reason.

Let's watch two final clips. The first shows how to add more reasons, and the second shows the full PREP method in action.

Let's see this in a work scenario for a SAT technic consultant:

Scenario: Your team is discussing whether to switch to a new, more expensive type of coaxial cable for installations.

• (P)osition: "I strongly believe we should switch to the new quad-shielded coaxial cable."
• (R)eason 1: "The main reason is that it offers much better protection against signal interference."
• (E)vidence 1: "For instance, in urban areas with a lot of radio frequency noise, our current cables often lead to customer complaints about poor picture quality."
• (R)eason 2: "On top of that, the new cable is more durable and has a longer lifespan."
• (E)vidence 2: "The manufacturer's data shows it can withstand harsh weather for over 15 years, which is 5 years longer than our current cable. This means fewer service calls for us in the long run."
• (P)osition: "So, although it's more expensive initially, I'm convinced it will improve customer satisfaction and save us money over time."

4. Practice Scenario

Now it's your turn to build a complete argument.

Situation: In a team meeting, a colleague suggests that to save time, technicians should stop providing a basic system tutorial to new customers after an installation. You disagree.

Use the PREP structure to form your argument. State your opinion (you disagree), give a reason, and provide an example.

Conclusion

Excellent work! Today you've moved from simply stating an opinion to building a logical, evidence-based argument. This is a powerful skill for being respected and influential in professional discussions.

Key Takeaways:

• Always support your opinion with a reason. Use connectors like because, since, and due to.
• Make your reason more powerful with a specific example or piece of evidence. Use phrases like for example or for instance.
• Use a clear structure like PREP (Position, Reason, Evidence, Position) to organize your thoughts.
• To make your argument even stronger, add more reasons using phrases like in addition or another reason is....

Preview of the Next Lesson:
Now that you can confidently express and support your own opinions, the next step is to interact with the opinions of others. In our next lesson, we will learn how to use expressions for agreeing with a colleague's point, such as "I agree" and "That's a good point." This will help you build positive relationships and contribute constructively in team discussions.