Argumentative Essay
with a Counterargument
Argumentative Essay
Your Salem Witch essay is a one-sided argument
Your thesis statement answers the question: What caused the Salem
Witch Trial Hysteria of 1692?
Then, you have 2 body paragraphs each with a reason that prove
your point and evidence to back up your argument
You DO NOT have a COUNTERARGUMENT – This week we will write
an essay just like the last week’s essay and ADD a counterargument
This will be a 5-paragraph essay
The 3rd body paragraph will be the counterargument
Counterargument
A counterargument is opposed to the thesis of your paper
It expresses the view of a person that disagrees with you
Then, it refutes this view
Done well, a counterargument makes the argument
stronger because it gives you the chance to respond to your
reader’s objections before they have finished reading
It also shows that you are a reasonable person who has
considered both sides of the debate.
Essay Outline including a Counterargument
Introduction:
Thesis:
Body Paragraphs
I. Your reason
II. Your reason
III. Counterargument HERE
Conclusion:
Anatomy of a Counterargument
Counterclaim – One idea that opposed your view
point
Try to think of a reason someone would oppose
your viewpoint
Consider your audience – who would be reading
this? For what purpose? Why might they disagree?
Don’t spend too much time explaining! You don’t
want to argue for the other side!
Anatomy of a Counterargument
Rebuttal – The reasons why the counterclaim you
presented in wrong
Be careful to remain tactful
Use evidence to support your point of view
Do NOT repeat information that you already
presented earlier in the essay (paraphrase)
This paragraph will not be as long as the other 2
body paragraphs – Rejoice!
Possible Counterargument Sentence
Starters
Critics argue that…
While it might be true that…. All in all…
Others may say that….but I argue that…
A common argument against this position is…but…
It is easy to think….but when you look at the facts one sees…
While some research says…Never the less…
It is often thought…
 Imagined…
 Supposed…
Sample Essay
1. Highlight the thesis and write in the margin what the paper is arguing.
2. Underline the topic sentence of each body paragraph and write in the margin
the argument for each paragraph.
3. Put a box around the FACTS in each paragraph.
4. Highlight the counterarguments and write the counterargument in the margin.
5. *****Counterarguments are in different paragraphs. Be careful to find them
all.*****
6. Put a squiggly line under the author’s rebuttal. (Information the author used to
refute the counterargument.)
*****Sometimes author’s use facts in their rebuttal. So, you may have a box around
and a squiggly line under the same sentence….I know…mind blown!*****