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What are we talking about?
Counterarguments valid objections to your argument
Rebuttals counter-counterarguments reasons why the counterarguments
are wrong reasons why your claim is better than the
counterarguments
Why include counterarguments? You don’t have to (unless an assignment requires them)
You can… demonstrate your open-mindedness make your own position clearer identify reasons for disagreement challenge an opposing viewpoint’s evidence challenge an opponent’s logic identify weaknesses in your own argument gain strength by admitting your weaknesses avoid looking stupid
How do you use counterarguments?
1. Choose their locations2. Decide on a rebuttal strategy3. Execute your plan
Where do counterarguments fit? Four popular locations to put
counterarguments: at the end, after all the evidence points throughout the paper, after each evidence point at the beginning, before any of the evidence
points throughout the paper, before each evidence
point
You can combine these strategies, but you’re probably better off sticking with just one
After all evidence points
Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is also native to America.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.
After each evidence point
Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is native to America.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.
Before any evidence points
Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Counterargument: The bald eagle is a better choice because turkeys are stupid, many things besides turkeys are native to America, and the bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Check it out…with this strategy, the counterargument
effectively becomes the thesis, and your
evidence points become counterarguments!
Before each evidence point
Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird, but some people claim the bald eagle is a better choice. Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is native to America, and it’s not worthy of being our national plant.Point 2: The turkey is both beneficial and native to America.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.
The same thing happens here!
Why include rebuttals?
An un-rebutted counterargument will wreck your argument
Demonstrate that your argument is solid you’ve thought the issue through
How do you use rebuttals?
Identify a counterargument Choose a rebuttal strategy
refutation concession qualificationYou can use any
combination of these
three strategies.
You can use any of these
three strategies with any of
the evidence-
counterargument patterns.
Where do rebuttals fit?
Most often, right after a counterargument But…can’t my opponent offer a
counterargument to the rebuttal? And a counterargument to that rebuttal?
YES try not to get sidetracked stick to your main point and move on maybe promote the sub-argument to a separate
counterargument-rebuttal pair only delve into sub-sub-arguments if you’re
writing a really long argument
Rebuttal #1: Refutation
“No, you’re wrong, and here’s why.”
Attack the counterargument’s logic evidence sheer existence
Avoid ad hominem attacks
http://www.123coloring.com/coloringpages/everyday/judo/images/judo_016.gif
Rebuttal #1: Refutation
On the plus side, you’ll… make a strong case for your point make your argument difficult to re-counter
On the minus side, you could… sound like a jerk and/or ignorant insult or anger the reader lose the entire argument at once
Rebuttal #1: Refutation
Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Rebuttal 1: We’re not talking about domesticated turkeys. We’re talking about wild turkeys.
http://www.civumalta.org/masd-dept/judo.gif
Rebuttal #2: Concession
“You’re partially right, but here’s why I’m more right.”
Find an area of agreement between the positions Differentiate your positions Use qualifiers when admitting
weaknesses in your position admittedly I agree/must admit that granted even though while it is true that
Rebuttal #2: Concession
On the plus side, you’ll… demonstrate that you’re open-minded establish empathy with the reader
On the minus side, you could… make a dangerous compromise seem wishy-washy
Rebuttal #2: Concession
Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is native to America.Rebuttal 2: True, just because a plant or animal is native to America doesn’t mean it’s an appropriate symbol of our country. However, the wild turkey is a useful and beneficial bird, unlike the allergy-causing ragweed, so the comparison doesn’t make sense.
Rebuttal #3: Qualification
“I’m gonna go back and rethink my thesis.”
Revise your thesis to fit the counterargument Maybe use qualifiers to make the thesis less
sweeping perhaps in many cases tentatively often probably
may might sometimes usually likely
Rebuttal #3: Qualification
On the plus side, you’ll… be fair to the other side acknowledge that you don’t have a lock on
the truth make your claim harder to refute
On the minus side, you could… weaken your claim until it doesn’t actually
mean anything seem very wishy-washy
Rebuttal #3: Qualification
Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.
Revised Thesis: The peaceful wild turkey, not the warlike bald eagle, should be the United States’ national bird.
Thoughts on organization
After all evidence points
ThesisEvidence Point 1Evidence Point 2Evidence Point 3Counterargument RebuttalCounterargument RebuttalCounterargument Rebuttal
Easy Allows the author
to weave the evidence points together
The most common technique
Predictable, but safe
Thoughts on organization
After each evidence point
ThesisEvidence Point 1Counterargument RebuttalEvidence Point 2Counterargument RebuttalEvidence Point 3Counterargument Rebuttal
Easy Allows the author
to emphasize individual evidence points
Second-most common technique
Potentially dull
Thoughts on organization
Before evidence points
ThesisCounterargument(s)Evidence Point 1Evidence Point 2Evidence Point 3orThesisCounterargument 1Evidence Point 1Counterargument 2Evidence Point 2(et cetera)
Hard Uncommon,
therefore interesting
Potentially confusing
Summary
Whenever you create an argument, consider including counterarguments and rebuttals
Decide where you want to put the counterarguments
Choose a rebuttal strategy Execute your plan Win the argument
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