Topic
Skill
EBA Activity
Claim and
Counterargument
Procedure
Timing/ Pacing
Notes
Follow-Up Activity
Text
Equilibrium Constant K
Responding to Counterarguments
Defeating Counterarguments Class Challenge: See Page ______
Claim: A large equilibrium constant is better for chemistry
experiments
Counterargument:
[3 minutes] DO NOW: What does it mean when a system is in a
state of dynamic equilibrium?
[2 minutes] Discussion of do now.
[10 minutes] Lesson: Students will learn about the equilibrium
constant K.
[30 minutes] Defeating Counterarguments Class Challenge.
[10 minutes] Closing/ Summary and discussion of homework.
 The previous lesson dealt with dynamic equilibrium.
Before this activity has taken place, students would have
learned about the equilibrium constant K.
 This activity will take 30 minutes.
 This activity would take place during the period. After
this lesson, students would learn about equilibrium
calculations.
This is a standard Defeating Counterarguments Class Challenge.
Groups of 2-4 students will present their response to the
counterargument soapbox style.
To add a writing component, students could complete a
Defeating The Critic Paragraph.
Standard Chemistry Text
Boston Debate League © 2012
Name:_____________________________________ Class: ________________ Date:______________
Defeating the Critic Paragraph
Choose a controversial thesis statement about the following topic. Instead of providing reasons why
your claim is true, however, come up with two reasons that someone might disagree with your thesis
statement. Then write a paragraph that addresses both potential counter-arguments.
Topic:
A large equilibrium constant is better for chemistry experiments
Possible Structure:
Sentence 1- CLAIM
Sentence 2- However, others believe [COUNTERARGUMENT 1]
Sentence 3- In addition, others believe [COUNTERARGUMENT 2]
Sentence 4- Yet, the former is wrong; [CLAIM] is more valid than [COUNTERGUMENT 1] because
[RESPONSE TO COUNTERARGUMENT 1].
Sentence 5- Second, the latter is wrong; [CLAIM] is more valid than [COUNTERGUMENT 2] because
[RESPONSE TO COUNTERARGUMENT 2].
Write your paragraph below:
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Boston Debate League © 2012