Expanding your Argumentative Essay CounterArgument and rebuttal What

Expanding your Argumentative Essay: Counter-Argument and rebuttal What is it? How to write it effectively?

What Is a Counter. Argument? • When you write an argument, you’re making a claim using evidence and REASONS supporting your claim. • You believe what you believe for a reason right? • When you “counter-argue”, you consider possible arguments against your claim, thesis, or weaknesses in evidence or reasoning.

Why Include a Counter Argument? So you can be the kind of person who thinks outside of yourself and consider the thoughts and feelings of others. So you can learn to see the weaknesses in your own work BEFORE others do. So you can know how and where to make adjustments to strengthen

Basic Steps 1. State your claim: “I believe…” 2. Acknowledge a counter-argument: “I know others believe…” 3. Make a concession to the C. A. : “I understand some others believe…” 4. Explain your rebuttal: “Therefore I am correct because…”

Brainstorm for Counter-Arguments Ask these three questions when you are trying to write counterargument: • Who might disagree with my position and why? • What reasons do people have for disagreeing with me? (weaknesses in my argument, opposing viewpoints…) • What evidence would support an opposing argument?

Step 1 The Argument • Introduce the argument using transition phrases like: üI believe… üI think… üI argue… üI claim… üI say… • Then you explain your claim, briefly but clearly, using evidence where possible.

Step 2 The Counter-argument… • Introduce the counter-argument using transition phrases like: üOthers may say that. . . üContrary to… üIn comparison to… üOn the other hand… • Then explain a possible case against yourself, briefly but clearly, using evidence where possible. See example on your handout.

Ready to try it? Let’s go! Turn to your partner and tell them a good counter argument for some of the following arguments…

Argument Schools would be better if we brought back the cane as pupils would be afraid to misbehave Counter-argument However, if schools used violence as a punishment, pupils may come to believe that violence is an acceptable way of behaving and therefore become more violent themselves Argument Mobile phones are a waste of money since landlines are much cheaper Counter-argument Argument Smoking should be banned in all public places because passive smoking damages other people Counter-argument Argument There should be a law to make people recycle bottles and cans in order to cut down on the waste we produce Counter-argument Argument People should be allowed to download as much music as they want from the internet because CDs are overpriced Counter-argument Argument Counter-argument Thieves should be given longer prison sentences because it would cut down on crime

Step 3 The Concession • Begin a concession using transition phrases like: üI understand that… üIt might seem that… üIt's true that… üAdmittedly, • Then explain why you understand the other side of the argument and what MAY be true about it. See example on your handout.

Step 4 The Rebuttal • Your return to your own argument must involve careful reasoning. Use transitions like: übut, üyet, ühowever, ünevertheless ütherefore See example on your handout. • Show why the counter-argument is mistaken. • Acknowledge its validity or plausibility but suggest why it is less important.

Advice… • Concentrate and stay focused on thesis! • Listen and/pay attention the ideas being presented. • NEVER make personal attacks! Examples: • “Only an idiot would think that…” • “Obviously, they are ignorant country folk…” • “That’s dumb!”

Outline for an Argumentative Paragraph • I. Topic Sentence that includes the counter-argument to the Thesis • A. Background of where the counter-argument comes from. • B. Explanation of the counter-argument with citation. • C. Concession (why others might agree with C. A. ) • D. Rebuttal (why C. A. is wrong and you’re right!) • F. Conclusion (or Transition to Final Conclusion) v In an essay, the counter argument usually goes after the last body paragraph before the conclusion.