This document provides guidance on using counterarguments and rebuttals to strengthen a persuasive essay. It explains that a counterargument addresses views that disagree with the thesis to demonstrate the writer considered alternative perspectives. Including counterarguments establishes credibility and shows other views are valid. The document advises determining opposing views and audiences' potential counterarguments. It provides templates for introducing counterarguments and rebuttals to refute issues raised. Finally, it discusses strategies for including counterarguments and rebuttals within body paragraphs or at the beginning or end of the essay.

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.
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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...
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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