Claim and Counterclaim

1. CLAIM AND
COUNTERCLAIM
Persuasive/Argumentative Writing

2. Monday, March 27
 Write the two definitions and answer the
question:
 1. A claim is an opinion based position you
take on an arguable viewpoint.
 2. A counter-argument is an argument
opposed to your thesis, or part of your thesis.
It expresses the view of a person who
disagrees with your position.
 3. Why would you include a counter-
argument in your essay? Doesn’t that
weaken your argument?

3. BW Answer
 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
who has considered both sides of the
debate. Both of these make an essay
more persuasive.

4. Tuesday, March 28
Not all evidence is created
equal. You must evaluate, or
judge your evidence.
1. What does evaluate mean?
2. What can be done to
evaluate evidence?

5. BW Answers
 1. What does evaluate mean?
 Evaluate means to judge the worth.
 2. What can be done to evaluate
evidence?
 Ask if the evidence is- 1.) clearly
related to the thesis 2.) a fact or
expert opinion 3.)up to date 4.)
unbiased and objective

6. Wednesday, March 29
1. How can a counter-
argument be rebutted, or
disproven?
2. What are faulty
assumptions?

7. BW Answer
 1. One of the most effective ways to rebut a
counter-argument is to show that it is based on
faulty assumptions. Either the facts are wrong,
the analysis is incorrect, or the values it is
based on are not acceptable.
 2. Faulty assumptions are expectations or
understandings that are based on incorrect
facts or reasons that make no sense.

8. Thursday, March 30
Topic: You want to persuade
your parents to get a dog.
1. What could be one of
their concerns?
2. How could you respond
to their counterargument?

9. Friday, March 31
 Topic: You want to persuade your
parents to get a dog.
 Your parent’s counterargument- The
money we could save not getting a
dog could go toward a family
vacation.
 1. What is your response? Create a
one to three sentence
counterargument.

10. BW Answer
 Possible Counterargument response:
 “We would have more frequent family-bonding
opportunities if we were taking care of a dog
together. These would be low cost! Also, a
compromise would be to go on a smaller, more
inexpensive vacation and adopt a dog.”

11. Monday, April 3
 1. You are putting together an argument for
year-round school. Evaluate the evidence. Write
down the one that supports the argument, then
explain why.
 --using the building all year would be cost
effective
 --many people would have strong feelings about
the change
 2. “Continuing school without a long break
would help students better remember what they
learn.” This statement could support your thesis
IF what is done with the evidence?

12. BW Answer
1. This could support
your thesis IF the
evidence is True! It
needs to be verified
(proven true) by a
reliable source.

13. Tuesday, April 4th
1. When should a counter-
argument be conceded, or
accepted?
2. How can you agree with a
counter-argument to your
point but still maintain your
stance?!

14. BW Answer
 1. When you find a counter-argument that is
TRUE and it responds to your actual argument,
you might need to agree with the point it makes.
 Then you are faced with a choice: Do you
abandon your thesis and adopt the counter-
argument as your position?
 2. Often it turns out you don’t need to abandon
your thesis, but you might need to modify or refine
it.
 Example of a modified thesis: Students should
learn what causes bullying, but should not be
constantly lectured that “bullies are bad people.”
Instead, they should be taught the causes and
motivations in a way that they find interesting and
that lets them make their own judgments.

15. Wednesday, April 5th
 1. Is a faulty assumption something to include
in your argumentative essay? Explain why or
why not.
 2. What are you doing if you are asked to
“evaluate” something?
 3. What kinds of questions should you ask
yourself when evaluating a source?

16. Thursday, April 6th
 1. What is a counter-argument?
 2. How is a counter-argument used in an
argumentative essay?
 3. What types of opinions would be best to
include as support in an essay?

17. Bellwork Quiz- Question 1
 1. What does evaluate mean?
 A. to understand
 B. to break apart
 C. to synthesize
 D. to judge
 E. to tell all about

18. Question 2
 2. A fact is statement that can be proven:
 A. with persuasive writing
 B. correct or incorrect
 C. as a person’s view, belief, or way of thinking
about something
 D. incorrect

19. Question 3
 3. What is a counter-argument?
 A. An argument opposed to your thesis, or
part of your thesis.
 B. Your secondary argument.
 C. Added information to give a detailed
response.
 D. The same argument given by another
writer.

20. Question 4
 4. What questions can be asked to evaluate
evidence?
 A. Is it a fact or expert opinion?
 B. Is it up to date?
 C. Is it unbiased and objective?
 D. All of the above.
 E. A and C only.

21. Question 5
 5. What is the definition of faulty assumptions?
 A. assuming that doctors who cut people are
criminals
 B. expectations or understandings that are
based on incorrect facts or reasons that make
no sense.
 C. assuming something about a person
without asking them first
 D. assumptions are wrong to think about
others