WR098 L1/M1/N1
Yoder / Spring 2015
Counterarguments (Naysayers):
Acknowledging and Responding to Alternate Points of View
*see chapter 6 of They Say/I Say
Experienced writers make their arguments stronger by comparing their own claims with other reasonable
approaches to the same issue. When readers don’t think you’ve considered the alternatives, they may question
how well you’ve thought through your own ideas; when readers see that you have considered the alternatives,
they're more likely to be persuaded that your claim is the best option among all possible perspectives. As stated in
chapter 6 of They Say/I Say, while it may seem paradoxical, “the more you give voice to your critics’ objections,
the more you tend to disarm those critics, especially if you go on to answer their objections in convincing ways.”
Other names for naysayers:
counterarguments, counter claims, alternate points of view, objections, skeptics
Templates for raising objections by unnamed naysayers:
Some readers may challenge my interpretation of ____ by insisting that…
Some might claim/argue/assert that…
Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that…
Templates for naming your naysayer*:
Here, many feminists would probably object that…
Some American immigrants might take issue with the argument that…
Conservative thinkers, of course, may question whether…
Nevertheless, both followers and critics of Karl Marx may suggest otherwise and argue that…
*Be careful in naming and labeling your naysayer, however, to avoid stereotyping. See pages 834 of They Say/I Say for suggestions.
It is also possible to introduce an objection in the form of a question:
Yet, is it necessarily true that…?
Is it always the case, as I have been suggesting, that…?
Does the evidence that I’ve cited prove conclusively that…?
Introducing an alternate point of view is not enough, however; you must also explain that view with fairness
and then respond in a convincing manner that reinforces your own argument/thesis. Rather than completely
dismissing the objection as a whole (saying, for instance, “That’s just incorrect”), you want to acknowledge
the objection’s validity and/or relevance and then respond by challenging only the part that you disagree
with. In this way, you are essentially making a concession while still standing your ground. Avoid making
definitive, “all-or-nothing” assessments of the naysayer; instead, treat the counterargument as a chance for
you to acknowledge that you’ve fully considered the alternate point of view and understand where it’s coming
from; yet, in spite of that, you still come to your own (different) conclusion.
Templates for making concessions while still standing your ground:
Although I grant that X can be interpreted as_____, I still maintain that…
While it is true that ______ , it does not necessarily mean that…
On the one hand, I agree with X that …. On the other hand, however, I still insist that…
Explanations:
These sentences make a
concession by mentioning the
main opposing argument.
Sample body paragraph:
Smokers claim that their personal rights are being
denied as more and more public places are declared
“smoke-free.” In addition, bar owners are losing business
The part in italics creates a
transition between the other
viewpoint and the writer’s.
The part in boldface introduces
the writer’s opinion, which is
the paragraph’s main idea.
because their smoking customers are staying home. While
both smokers and bar owners have valid arguments, what
they must realize is that sometimes we have to
sacrifice as individuals in order to help society as a
whole. Even though it is an individual’s choice to do
damage to his or her lungs by smoking cigarettes, innocent
The rest of the paragraph
explains the writer’s point of
view and refutes the opposing
argument.
nonsmokers do not have a choice if a smoker is around.
They should not have to expose their lungs to second-hand
smoke when they go out for a drink or a meal. In
addition, bar employees have the right to work in a smokefree environment. Smokers and bar owners can help keep
the air clean and safe for the elderly, asthma sufferers,
other customers and employees by following the law.
Exercise 1 – Read the sample body paragraph again. Underline any transition words or expressions (e.g.: but,
nevertheless, in addition…). How do these transitions help the flow of the paragraph?
Exercise 2 – Form a group with 2-4 classmates. Together with your group, choose two topics from the list
below. List the main supporting arguments on one side, and at least two opposing/alternative viewpoints on
the other side.
1. Globalization unites us more than it divides us.
2. The rise of English as a global language puts minority languages and cultures at risk.
3. Identity is determined more by nature than by nurture.
4. Nidali’s decision to move to Boston for college at the end of the book highlights the protagonist’s
irrevocably fractured relationship with her parents.
SUPPORT FOR (in favor of)
ARGUMENTS AGAINST (counter to)
1.
1.
2.
2.