Moves and Countermoves A Lesson on Recognizing and

Moves and Countermoves: A Lesson on Recognizing and Writing Claims, Counterclaims, and Rebuttals © Julie Faulkner

Moves and Countermoves Watch the clip…. What are the two discussing? What is the dynamic of the conversation? https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=G 3 e. Fz. NJ 9 Cb 8

es v o m r e t nd Coun Moves a Winning Your Case To make the best argument, you must have three components: 1) The claim 2) The counterclaim 3) The rebuttal/refutation © Julie Faulkner

es v o m r e t nd Coun Moves a Claim • What is it? A claim is the main point a text is making. • A claim can also be called a stance – Example: Students should be able to have drinks in class. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Counterclaim • What is it? A counterclaim is the opposing side’s argument. • It is a point (or points) that disagrees with the point(s) you are making. These are objections to your point(s). – Example: Students should be able to have drinks in class. Many people may argue that drinks would be a distraction in class. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Counterclaim • Why would you include a counter-argument in your essay? Doesn’t that weaken your argument? – Actually, no. Done well, it makes the argument stronger. This is because it gives you the chance to respond to your reader’s objections before they have finished reading. It also shows that you are a reasonable person (ethos) who has considered both sides of the debate. Both of these make an essay more persuasive. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Counterclaim • It is important to signal the counterclaim so your readers don’t become confused about your stance. – Critics argue… – Opponents assert… – Many people say… – It is often thought… © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Rebuttal/Refutation • What is it? This is your answer to, or refutations of, the objections you've presented to your thesis (or to some of your reasons). This is where your textual evidence comes in. The rebuttal must outweigh the counterclaims. • Here you are backing up your points and tearing down the counterclaims/objections. – Example: Students should be able to have drinks in class. Many people may argue that drinks would be a distraction in class. Drinks in class, though, could actually eliminate more distractions than they would create. For example, students would no longer ask to go to the water fountain, which would cut down on class disruptions. Not only this, but students would be more focused on class and less focused on the next break where they could buy a drink. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Rebuttal/Refutation Here are some transitions or signal words for bringing the paper back to your main claim and setting up your rebuttal to the counterclaim. • What this argument [overlooks/fails to consider/does not take into account] is. . . • This view [seems/looks/sounds/etc. ] [convincing/plausible/persuasive/etc. ] at first, but… • While this position is popular, it is [not supported by the facts/not logical/impractical/etc. ] • Although the core of this claim is valid, it suffers from a flaw in its [reasoning/application/etc. ] © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Transitions Are important because they tie together thoughts and clarify relationships. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Guided Practice Task Card #1 [1] Unfortunately in the twenty-first century, Americans are still facing issues with racism. [2] Eradicating the ignorance of racism might be made more possible if all high school students were required to take a culture-awareness class before graduation. [3] Critics may say that no amount of education can change a person’s attitude. [4] However, having an understanding of differences through study, research, reading, and discussion would provide an avenue for students to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Guided Practice Task Card #1 Answer [1] Unfortunately in the twenty-first century, Americans are still facing issues with racism. [2] Eradicating the ignorance of racism might be made more possible if all high school students were required to take a culture-awareness class before graduation. [3] Critics may say that no amount of education can change a person’s attitude. [4] However, having an understanding of differences through study, research, reading, and discussion would provide and avenue for students to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Sentence #1) Attentiongetter/topic sentence Sentence #2) Stance/Claim Sentence #3) Counterclaim Sentence #4) Rebuttal/Main Points © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Guided Practice Task Card #2 [1] It's all over the news: kids are spending a lot of time on homework. [2] With the current emphasis on high-stakes testing, educators are trying to do more with less, which can result in an overabundance of schoolwork outside of school. [3] That’s not necessarily a negative thing. [4] Some critics say there is no evidence to suggest that homework is helpful to student achievement. [5] On the contrary, homework is necessary and helpful, designed so students can practice the concepts taught in class, build good study habits, and reflect on their own learning. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Guided Practice Task Card #2 Answers [1] It's all over the news: kids are spending a lot of time on homework. [2] With the current emphasis on high-stakes testing, educators are trying to do more with less, which can result in an overabundance of schoolwork outside of school. [3] That’s not necessarily a negative thing. [4] Some critics say there is no evidence to suggest that homework is helpful to student achievement. [5] On the contrary, homework is necessary and helpful, designed so students can practice the concepts taught in class, build good study habits, and reflect on their own learning. Sentence #1) Attention-getter Sentence #2) Topic Sentence #3) Claim Sentence #4) Counterclaim Sentences #5) Reiterate Stance/Rebuttal © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Guided Practice Task Card #3 [1] Lately, it seems that everyone has a smart phone, children included. [2] While most parents buy their children cell phones on the premise of safety, [3]most preteens and teens are using their phones to socialize. [4] At such a young age, children are not typically responsible enough to manage the costs that add up with having a cell phone, and they most certainly are not responsible enough to combat and resist the temptations of taunting their classmates that stem from social media interactions. [5] For those reasons and more, cell phones for children are much more of a hazard than a help. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t n u o C d n Moves a Guided Practice Task Card #3 Answers [1] Lately, it seems that Sentence #1) Attentioneveryone has a smart phone, children getter/topic sentence included. [2] While most parents buy their children cell phones on the Sentence #2) Counterclaim premise of safety, [3] most preteens and teens are using their phones to socialize. [4] At such a young age, children are not. Sentence #3) Claim typically responsible enough to manage the costs that add up with having a cell Sentence #4) Rebuttal Main phone, and they most certainly are not Points responsible enough to combat and resist the temptations of taunting their Sentence #5) Reiterate Claim classmates that stem from social media interactions. [5] For those reasons and more, cell phones for children are much more of a hazard than a help. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t nd Coun Moves a Claims, Counterclaims, and Rebuttals Topic: _____________ Article Title: ________ Claim/Stance Rebuttal Counterclaim Does the author provide any evidence? Challenge: Which point in the article best refutes the opposition’s stance? © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t nd Coun oves a M Suggested Claims, Counterclaims, and Rebuttals Answers for Children and “Slaves to “Smartphone” Topic: _____________ Article Title: ________ smartphones” article Claim/Stance Children are addicted to smartphon es and they are actually “dumbing them down” Rebuttal Counterclaim Does the author provide any evidence? Phones do 1) Reduced provide interesting more reading communic 2) “babysitting” ation and 3) Overdependence safety with on Google and location Siri makes us Challenge: Which point in the article best refutes the“dumber” opposition’s stance? services, etc. 4) Addicted to it like © Julie Faulkner

Topics for Short Research Project Animal testing Fast food options for lunch Extended school day A day care at school (for teen mothers) Students getting paid for making good grades Teachers carrying guns to school Raising the driving age Law to convict all cyberbullies with a misdemeanor charge Mandatory community service/volunteer hours for every high school graduate • Eliminating extra curricular courses and sports to save money • Cell phones permitted in schools • • • © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t nd Coun Moves a Claims, Counterclaims, and Rebuttals Topic: ___________________________ Claim/Stance Rebuttal Counterclaim 1. 2. Challenge: Now write an opening paragraph using this information. © Julie Faulkner

s e v o m r e t nd Coun Moves a Claims, Counterclaims, and Rebuttals Topic: ________ Claim/Stance: ______________ Evidence/Support Rebuttal Counterclaim Evidence/Support 1. 2. 3. 2. Evidence/Support 3. Challenge: Now write a 500 word essay using this information. © Julie Faulkner