A supplementary PowerPoint on Counterargument

1. S
Counterargument
Using counterargument and rebuttal
to strengthen a Persuasive Essay

2. The Persuasive Essay
SThe purpose of a persuasive
essay is to convince the reader
to accept—or seriously
consider—your opinion on a
controversial issue
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3. What is Counterargument?
S A counterargument is an argument
opposed to your thesis or part of your
thesis. It expresses the view of a
person who disagrees with your
position.
S It can also be called a counterclaim.
2

4. Why Counterargument?
S Addressing the claims of the opposition is an
important component in building a convincing
argument.
S It demonstrates your credibility as a writer—you
have researched multiple sides of the argument and
have come to an informed decision.
S It shows you have considered other points of
view-- that other points of view are valid and
reasonable.
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5. Consider Your Audience
 Whom are you trying to reach?
 What do they already know about your topic?
 What is your relationship with your audience and
how does it impact your word choice and tone?
 Knowing your audience will help you to
“predict” what their counterarguments might
be.
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6. Who is the Opposing Side?
 Who might disagree with my position? Why?
 What reasons do people have for disagreeing with
me?
 What evidence would support an opposing
argument?
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7. Effective Counterclaims
S Consider the previous elements about your
audience when you offer your counterargument.
S Conceding to some of your opposition’s concerns
can demonstrate respect for their opinions.
S Remain tactful yet firm.
S Using rude or deprecating language can cause
your audience to reject your position without
carefully considering your claims.
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8. Offering a Counterclaim
S Counterarguments may be located at various
locations within your body paragraphs.
S You may choose to
S build each of your main points as a contrast to
oppositional claims.
S offer a counterargument paragraph after you have
articulated your main claims.
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9. Begin with your own claim
 Your opinion or position on an issue
 Must be supported with evidence
 (quotes, facts, data)
 Evidence must be explained
 In other words, use MEAL for each claim
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10. The Counterclaim
 Consider the opposite side (goes against your claim)
 State what this opposition might be
 Key phrases to use:
 One might object that...
 It might seem that...
 It's true that...
 Admittedly...
 Of course...
3

11. More templates for introducing
the counterclaim
S It is often [thought/imagined/supposed/etc.] that [state the
counter-argument here]
S [It would be easy to/One could easily]
[think/believe/imagine/suppose/etc.] that [state the
counter-argument here
S ] It might [seem/appear/look/etc.] as if [state the counter-
argument here]
S On the other hand, Meyer argues that...
S However, Jones takes the position that...
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12. The Rebuttal
 Turn back to your original position
 Respond to and refute issues presented by the
counterclaim with your rebuttal
 Key Phrases to use:
 but
 yet
 however
 nonetheless
 still
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13. More templates for introducing
the rebuttal
S What this argument [overlooks/fails to consider/does not
take into account] is ...
S This view [seems/looks/sounds/etc.]
[convincing/plausible/persuasive/etc.] at first, but ...
S While this position is popular, it is [not supported by the
facts/not logical/impractical/etc.]
S Although the core of this claim is valid, it suffers from a
flaw in its [reasoning/application/etc.]
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14. Where to put it? Version #1
 Some writers put their counterargument and
rebuttal at the end before the conclusion:
 Introduction
 Claim 1 Paragraph
 Claim 2 Paragraph
 Claim 3 Paragraph
 Counter Claim Paragraph
 Rebuttal
 Conclusion

15. Where to put it? Version #2
 Some writers put their counterargument and
rebuttal at the very beginning, right after their
thesis :
 Introduction
 Counter Claim Paragraph (CCP)
 Claim 1 Paragraph (Serves as Rebuttal to
CCP)
 Claim 2 Paragraph (Serves as Rebuttal to
CCP)
 Claim 3 Paragraph (Serves as Rebuttal to
CCP)

16. Where to put it? Version #3
S Some writers use it within EACH Body Paragraph, either
before or after the evidence and analysis
S Topic Sentence
S Counter claim (option #1)
S Evidence and Analysis
S Counter claim and rebuttal (option #2)
S Concluding sentence

17. Example
S (Claim) The primary focus in medical end-of-life decisions should
be on patient consent, rather than doctor intention, for it is not a
breach against a patient's rights if s/he consents to the termination
of their life.
S (Counterclaim) It is often argued that terminally ill patients are
likely to be depressed, and therefore unable to consent to their
hastened death in a balanced or acceptable way.
S (Rebuttal) However, depression can be managed. The relevance
of depression must be made on a case-by-case basis. Depression
does not warrant a general rule prohibiting patients from
consenting to a hastened death.

18. Works Consulted
1. The OWL: Purdue Online Writing Lab—”Organizing Your
Argument” PowerPoint
2. Davis Oldham. Shoreline Community College.
http://www.shoreline.edu/doldham/101/html/what%20is
%20a%20c-a.htm#pres
3. Wave riders. www.khswaveriders.org/ Argumentative
Essay PowerPoint