Persuasive Essay Graphic organizer #3

The Opposing Viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph

Pick one of the following formats to use for your Opposing Viewpoint
OPTION #1
Topic
sentence

Counter
Argument

Rebuttal
with facts

Another
Counter
argument

Rebuttal
with facts

Closing
sentence

Persuasive Essay Graphic organizer #3

The Opposing Viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph

Opposing paragraph(s) for a persuasive essay arguing

against the installation of metal detectors in school
The opposing viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph is necessary in a persuasive
essay because it lets the reader know that you have considered other opinions but
that you still have proof as to why your argument is stronger.
Topic
sentence

The safety of the students at Somerset High School can and must be ensured without the
use of metal detectors.

(introduce
your overall
point)

Counter
Argument
(what the

Admittedly, an occasional fight erupts. What school doesnt have fights?

other side
would argue)

Rebuttal
with facts

Another
Counter
argument
(what the

But Somerset isnt dangerous enough to warrant the purchase of a metal detector.
Last year, while 90% of the schools in our district had an average of 30 fights over the
school year, Somerset had only 6.

It is true that metal detectors might cut down on weapons being brought on campus.

other side
would argue)

Rebuttal
with facts

Closing
sentence

However, we need to remember that running a metal detector up and down someones
body may and has initiated feelings of anger and hostility.
In a survey of 100 students at 10 schools in other districts who have installed metal
detectors, 73% of the students said that they feel violated and almost enraged when they
are treated like weapon-carrying criminals.
These are the exact feelings that may lead to fights and violence. Ironically, these are the
very activities that metal detectors are supposed to prevent.

Persuasive Essay Graphic organizer #3

The Opposing Viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph

OPTION #2
Introduce the
opposing
argument
Acknowledge
part of the
opposing
argument
that is valid
Counter the
argument
(refute /
negate) with
facts
Acknowledge
part of the
opposing
argument
that is valid
Counter the
argument
(refute /
negate) with
facts
Conclude with
a discussion
of why
oppositions
argument
isnt a
sufficient
solution

Persuasive Essay Graphic organizer #3

The Opposing Viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph

OPTION #2 Sample
Introduce the
opposing
argument

Considering the many challenges facing public schools, its understandable that many people
would be eager to pursue new options. Supporters of school choice point out that under the
current public school system, parents with economic means already exercise school choice by
moving from areas with failing or dangerous schools to neighborhoods with better, safer
schools. Their argument is that school choice would allow all parents the freedom, regardless of
income level, to select the school that provides the best education (Chub and Moe). Schools
would then have to compete for students by offering higher academic results and greater safety.
Schools unable to measure up to the standards of successful schools would fail and possibly
close.

Acknowledge
part of the
opposing
argument that
is valid

Activists within the school choice movement can be applauded for seeking to improve public
education, but the changes they propose would in fact seriously damage public education as a
whole.

Counter the
argument
(refute /
negate) with
facts

One of the biggest dangers of school choice is the power behind large corporations specializing
in opening and operating charter schools. Two notable companies are Green Dot, which is the
leading public school operator in Los Angeles (Green Dot), and KIPP, which operates 65 schools
in 19 different states [KIPP]. These companies represent a growing trend of privatization of
public schools by large corporations. It is feared that these corporations could grow to a point
that public control of education would be lost. Education policy would be left in the hands of
entrepreneurial think tanks, corporate boards of directors, and lobbyists who are more
interested in profit than educating students [Miller and Gerson].

Acknowledge
part of the
opposing
argument that
is valid
Counter the
argument
(refute /
negate) with
facts
Conclude with
a discussion of
why
oppositions
argument isnt
a sufficient
solution

ANOTHER PART OF OPPOSITION THAT IS VALID

ANOTHER FACTUAL REFUTATION / NEGATION OF THAT ARGUMENT

Education should be left in the hands of professional educators and not business people with
MBAs. To do otherwise is not only dangerous, it defies common sense.

Persuasive Essay Graphic organizer #3

The Opposing Viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph

OPTION #3
Opening
Sentence

Topic
Sentence

Expert
Evidence
Sentence

Explanation
Sentence

Example and /
or statistics
sentence

Explanation
sentence

Conclusion
sentence

Persuasive Essay Graphic organizer #3

The Opposing Viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph

OPTION #3 Explanation
1. Opening sentence. It summarizes the other sides objection and acknowledges the
validity of the objection. This sentence must contain the modal may.
Pattern: It may be true that + paraphrase of objection.
It may be true that all such requests, in which dying patients ask doctors to help them
to kill themselves, come from depression as some psychologists have claimed and that
some patients will change their minds if they participate in psychotherapy.
2. Topic sentence. It states the reason why the objection (counterargument) is wrong. It
is introduced by a transition such as however, nevertheless, or nonetheless.
Pattern: Transition + reason why the objection is wrong.
However, all of those terminally ill patients who after psychotherapy finally choose to
hasten their deaths are very determined.
3. Expert evidence sentence. This sentence backs up the topic sentence with a quotation
or paraphrase of evidence from expert(s). It includes the name of the author, name of
the article, and the date of publication.
4. Explanation sentence. It explains the supporting evidence from expert(s).
5. Example and / or statistics sentence. This sentence contains an example or statistics
that support the evidence from the expert(s).
6. Explanation sentence. It explains the significance of the examples or statistics as
related to the controlling idea, the thesis sentence.
7. Conclusion sentence. It states what conclusion can be made once people consider the
controlling idea and evidence.

Persuasive Essay Graphic organizer #3

The Opposing Viewpoint (counter argument) paragraph

OPTION #3 Example
Opening
Sentence

It may be true that all such requests, in which dying patients ask doctors to help them to
kill themselves, come from depression as some psychologists have claimed and that
some patients will change their minds if they participate in psychotherapy

Topic
Sentence

However, all of those terminally ill patients who after psychotherapy finally choose to
hasten their deaths are very determined.

Expert
Evidence
Sentence

In "Opposing Views on Assisted Suicide," Faye Girsh points 4 out that many dying
patients want to know about how to get help from a doctor to achieve a peaceful death
even if ultimately they do not choose suicide (1999).

Explanation
Sentence

In other words, terminally ill patients who voluntarily choose to ask doctors to help them
commit suicide are those who decide carefully to take advantage of the doctor-assisted
suicide law

Example and / For example, Girsh states that patients who consider assisted suicide are aware of their
or statistics
exact medical condition through a mutual exchange of information with their doctors,
sentence
these patients understand their medical treatment along with risk, benefits and other
options, and they must talk with a psychologist to determine if they are psychologically
able to make such a decision (1999).
Explanation
sentence

These are not patients who want to end their lives simply because they are depressed.

Conclusion
sentence

In short, terminally ill patients who finally choose to ask doctors to help them commit
suicide are mentally competent and very determined about what they want to choose