Express your opinion: retell with a stance
You can repeat the facts, but when someone asks what you think, you go vague. Here you retell a news story in under a minute and add your own clear position.
A well-known theater director refused to stage a play commissioned by the city after learning that half the budget came from a developer who had torn down a historic neighborhood. The city sued him for breaking the contract. The theater company is split: some actors back the director, while others are afraid of losing their pay.
- 1A news story appears on the screen. Read it.
- 2Retell it in your own words in 40–60 seconds, and be sure to add your own position: “I think that...”, “This matters because...”, “What's really behind this is...”.
- 3You can't just repeat the facts: you need your own angle.
tip · A blogger retells. An expert comments. A thought leader takes a stand.
check yourself · After your retelling, the listener knows not only the facts but also how you feel about them.
Why it works
Many people know a lot and still sound as if they have no view. They retell, summarize and stay neutral, because stating a position feels risky. The listener gets the information but not you, and you're what they came for.
Retelling with a point of view makes the position mandatory. The facts are given, so your effort goes into the angle: what you think, why it matters and what's behind it. Phrases like “I think that…” and “This matters because…” become a habit, and it gets easier to say what you think at work, in a discussion or in an interview.
Common mistakes
- Hiding your opinion at the end. Say where you stand early, then back it up.
- Retelling every fact. Take the one or two that matter for your point; the rest is noise.
- Hedging every sentence. One “I might be wrong, but” is fine. Five make your point disappear.
- Confusing an opinion with a reaction. “This is outrageous” is a feeling. Say why.
Questions
- How do I express my opinion clearly?
- State your position in one sentence, give a reason and, if there's time, an example. Starting with “I think that…” helps you commit to it.
- How can I share my opinion without offending anyone?
- Talk about your view, not about the other person: “I see it differently, because…”. A clear reason sounds respectful; a bare verdict doesn't.
- What if I don't have an opinion on the news?
- Pick one anyway, for practice. You're training the habit of taking a position, not signing up to defend it forever.
More exercises
- Debate practice: both sides in 60 secondsQuick debate practice: argue a statement hard for 30 or 60 seconds, then switch sides on the signal and argue the reverse just as hard.
- Win an argument with questionsRead a news headline and ask one sharp question out loud that casts doubt on it, then a follow-up to the likely answer. 1, 3 or 5 minutes.
- Cut down a presentation: the elevator versionTell one detailed story in 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 30 seconds and one sentence, then cut a talk of your own the same way. A 10-minute drill.