CounterargumentTemplate.docx
Professor Siegel
Organizing a Counterargument
Counterarguing is a high risk, high reward strategy in argumentation. A strong counterargument can successfully demonstrate why an alternative is wrong, however, a weak one can leave your argument open to attack. Remember that you can’t just burn down the alternative; you also have to salt the earth so that nothing ever grows there again.
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Address the opposition/alternative
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· This is your topic sentence
· Clearly express the subject and content of the paragraph
· Make sure key terms (and people) are defined
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Some phrases/transitions to consider:
· According to…, Popular opinion/belief states that..., While many people/experts agree/argue…
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Segue/transition into stating that this is wrong and lead into why
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· Express that the argument is incomplete, weak, or illogical
· Don’t just summarize their argument; respond to it
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Some phrases/transitions to consider:
· However, nonetheless, despite this, on the contrary…
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Provide specific examples to demonstrate
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· Identify specific examples from their side, then use evidence from your side and state why they are wrong or fallacious
· Use your argumentation strategies to demonstrate why they are wrong: Aristotelian appeals, prognostication, agitate-and-solve, etc…
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Some phrases/transitions to consider:
· Rather, yet, instead, but, nevertheless, still, regardless…
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Close by stating your position and why it is stronger
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· This is your concluding sentence
· Summarize and link back to the thesis/your position
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Some phrases/transitions to consider:
· Therefore, so, in conclusion, to sum up…
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