ACADEMIC WRITING I
June 12th 2012
Today
• Last class!!
• Look at opposing arguments and rebuttals
• Reminders for Paper 6
Paper 6
Due date change: June 21st (Thursday)
Requirements:
At least 5 references (but more is OK).
- in-text citations AND References section.
- Follow APA citation method!
Cover page
Page numbers
Running head: LEFT-aligned
CAPITAL LETTERS
Page numbers: RIGHT-aligned
Top- right corner
Opposing arguments (counter-arguments)
• A view/opinion/idea OPPOSED to your thesis.
WHY would want to give the
readers an opposing view??
I’m trying to PERSUADE
them…idiot.
Opposing arguments (counter-arguments)
• A view/opinion/idea OPPOSED to your thesis.
• Wouldn’t this WEAKEN the argument?
• If used incorrectly…
•
•
OF COURSE.
BUT…
Opposing arguments (counter-arguments)
• If used well, counter-arguments make YOUR argument
stronger.
• It gives you the chance to respond to the readers’
possible objections to your ideas BEFORE they even
finish reading.
• It also demonstrates that you are a reasonable person
who has considered both sides of the argument.
How to present a counter-argument
• You should express the counter-argument objectively.
(do not present it using overly negative language)
i.e., “Some people foolishly believe that…”
“For some crazy reason, it is thought that…”
Present the opposing view objectively, without any bias.
Remember: The point is to show the reader that you have
considered both sides.
How to present a counter-argument
• You should express the counter-argument objectively.
- You can express the counter-argument in one sentence
(or a few sentences) in a point-by-point argumentative
paper.
- The important thing is to make sure you have presented
the counter-argument clearly and with enough detail that it
is understandable to the reader.
How to present a counter-argument
• In other forms of argumentative essays, sometimes entire
paragraphs may be dedicated to the counter-argument (to
show you have thoroughly researched the issue and that
you are capable of acknowledging other points of views).
How to present a counter-argument
• How can a counter-argument be introduced?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
Many people [believe/argue/feel/think/suppose/etc.] that
[counter-argument].
i.e., “Many people argue that chocolate ice cream should
be banned from the KMU campus.”
How to present a counter-argument
• How can a counter-argument be introduced?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
It is often [thought/imagined/supposed/etc.] that [counterargument]
i.e., “It is often supposed that chocolate ice cream is
dangerous because it makes students too happy.”
How to present a counter-argument
• How can a counter-argument be introduced?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
[It would be easy to/One could easily]
[think/believe/imagine/suppose/etc.] that [counter-argument]
i.e., “One could easily believe that chocolate ice cream is
dangerous because it makes students too happy.”
How to present a counter-argument
• How can a counter-argument be introduced?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
It might [seem/appear/look/etc.] as if [counter-argument ]
i.e., “It might seem as if chocolate ice cream is dangerous
because it makes students too happy.”
How to present a counter-argument
• Regardless of the language you use to present a counter-
argument, the important point is to try to present the
counter-argument clearly and in an objective fashion.
Rebutting a counter-argument
• Here is the important part.
• This is your turn to persuade the reader against the
counter-argument.
• The rebuttal.
Rebutting a counter-argument
• We have already looked at how to generally rebut
opposing views (using logic and evidence).
• Here, we will discuss rebuttals in more detail.
Rebutting a counter-argument
• One of the most effective ways to rebut a counter-argument
is to show that it is based on faulty assumptions:
• - either the facts are wrong
• Or
• - the analysis is incorrect
• Or
• - it is based on values that are not acceptable.
Rebuttals - Examples
NOTE: These examples are related to a claim from
James Loewen’s book, Lies My Teacher Told Me (1995).
Our central claim: “To function adequately in civic
life…students must learn what causes racism.”
Thesis: Despite objections to this claim, to function
adequately in civic life…students must learn what causes
racism.
Counter-argument: Racism is a thing of the past; therefore,
students don’t need to bother with it.
“Some people argue that racism is a thing of the past;
therefore, students don’t need to bother with it.”
This is faulty factual assumption.
What is the faulty (wrong) assumption here?
“Racism is a thing of the past”.
Counter-argument: “Some people argue that racism is a
thing of the past; therefore, students don’t need to bother
with it.”
This is faulty factual assumption.
“Racism is a thing of the past”.
One response could be to give facts (evidence) that show
that racism continues to be a problem.
Counter-argument: “Some people argue that racism is a
thing of the past; therefore, students don’t need to bother
with it.”
A second faulty assumption here:
- Student’s don’t need to think about what was is in the
past.
- Another possible response could be to show that students
must understand that past as well as the present “to
function adequately in civic life.”
How to present a rebuttal
• If the counter-argument requires clear signaling, than so
does the rebuttal (perhaps even more importantly!).
In stating a counter-argument, your essay has made a 180°
turn away from your claim, for the rebuttal, it is time to do
another 180° to complete your circle (return to YOUR
claim).
Clearly, the readers will benefit from a clear signal that the
rebuttal will begin.
How to present a rebuttal
• How can you transition into a rebuttal?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
What this argument [overlooks/fails to consider/does not
take into account] is ...
i.e., “What this argument fails to consider is that racism
continues to be a problem in school and in everyday life
(SOURCE).”
How to present a rebuttal
• How can you transition into a rebuttal?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
This view [seems/looks/sounds/appears.]
[convincing/plausible/persuasive/etc.] at first, but ...
i.e., “This view appears plausible at first, but the reality
is racism continues to be a problem in school and in
everyday life (SOURCE).”
How to present a rebuttal
• How can you transition into a rebuttal?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
While this position is popular, it is [not supported by the
facts/not logical/impractical/etc.]
i.e., “While this position is popular, it is not supported
by the facts.
How to present a rebuttal
• How can you transition into a rebuttal?
Here are some typical introduction phrases:
Although the core of this claim is valid, it suffers from a flaw
in its [reasoning/application/etc.]
i.e., “Although the core of this claim is valid, it suffers
from a flaw in its reasoning.
Counter-argument: “Some people argue that racism is a
thing of the past; therefore, students don’t need to bother
with it.”
This is faulty factual assumption.
“Racism is a thing of the past”.
One response could be to give facts (evidence) that show
that racism continues to be a problem.
“What this argument fails to consider is that racism
continues to be a problem in school and in everyday life
(SOURCE).”
Counter-argument: Learning about racism might make
students more racist.
“One could may believe that learning about racism might
make students more racist.”
This is faulty analytical assumption.
What is the faulty (wrong) analysis here?
- Assuming that learning ABOUT racism can MAKE you
racist.
Counter-argument: “One could may believe that learning
about racism might make students more racist.”
This is faulty analytical assumption.
- Assuming that learning ABOUT racism can MAKE you
racist.
The response could be that understanding the causes of a
problem is not that same as causing or creating the
problem.
Counter-argument: Who cares if students are racist?
Some people may ask the question, “who cares if
students are racist?
This is an example of faulty values.
What is the faulty value here?
- Assuming that people don’t care about students being
racist.
Counter-argument: Some people may ask the question, “who
cares if students are racist?
This is an example of faulty values.
- Assuming that people don’t care about students being racist.
This counter-argument is based on an assumed value that the
readers probably do not share.
The response would be to point out this value, and state why you
do not believe your readers share this value.
The key is to base your arguments on values that MOST readers
are likely to share (there are bound to be a few racists out there,
sadly).
Counter-argument: Previous generations didn’t study the
causes of racism, so why should we start now?
This is counter-argument makes your argument stronger.
How?
- The response here would be to show that previous
generations did not “function adequately in civic life,”
because they had a lot of problems with racism (i.e.,
segregation and more hidden forms of discrimination).
Counter-argument: Previous generations didn’t study the causes
of racism, so why should we start now?
This is counter-argument makes your argument stronger.
- The response here would be to show that previous generations
did not “function adequately in civic life,” because they had a lot
of problems with racism (i.e., segregation and more hidden
forms of discrimination).
Therefore, the fact that previous generations did NOT learn
about causes of racism (along with your evidence) supports that
claim that students DO need to learn what causes racism.
NOTE: This counter-argument also shows faulty assumption).
• Counter-argument : Students are already familiar with
racism; they don’t need to study it in school.
• This is true but irrelevant.
Our claim is not that students need to learn ABOUT racism
(that is assumed, many students already know about
racism); our claim is that students need to learn what
CAUSES racism.
What is a good counter-argument?
• Obviously, some counter-arguments are better than
others.
• You want to use ones that are at least somewhat
persuasive.
• You don’t gain anything by rebutting counter-arguments
that no one believes!
What is a good counter-argument?
• Two things to look for in counter-arguments are:
• Reasonableness (could person possibly believe this
counter-argument?)
•
and
• Popularity (is it a well-known argument?)
What is a good counter-argument?
• From our previous examples:
• Most people probably would not think the “Who cares if
students are racist?” counter-argument very convincing.
• On the other hand, “racism is a thing of the past..” may be
something other people actually believe.