COUNTERCLAIM

Presented by:
Jasmin & Lester
 WHAT IS COUNTERCLAIM

-a claim made to rebut a previous claim.

- o f t e n v i ewe d a s t h e o p p o s i t e o f c l a i m .
-creates a stronger and well-rounded argument.
Examples:
CLAIM: Some schools require that each student to participate in community
service. People at these schools argue that “mandatory volunteerism” is an
important part of the educational experience and that there should be a rule
requiring community involvement, in order to foster a sense of citizenship.
Others argue that students should be free to decide whether or not they
wish to participate in community service. Write an essay for a classroom
instructor in which you take a position on whether participation in
community service should be required.

COUNTERCLAIM: Adding community service requirements would stress

high school students out since they already have busy schedules.
CLAIM: Water bottles should be allowed in schools because they could
increase grades, help students stay healthy, and reduce drowsiness.

COUNTERCLAIM:If students start bringing water bottles to class, they

might have to go leave to the bathroom more often.
CLAIM: McDonald’s should be considered a healthy restaurant because they
offer water, fruit, and salad.

COUNTERCLAIM: Even though they have a few healthy options on the

menu, McDonald’s should not overall be considered “healthy” because the
vast majority of their options are greasy, fried, and high in calories.
 REBUT & REFUTE

REBUT REFUTE

-to argue against something, • -to prove that a statement or a

to offer a counterargument.
-from an old French word
reboter meaning to thrust
back.
concept is incorrect, to
disprove an argument or idea.
• -from the Middle French
word réfuter and the Latin
word refutare meaning drive
back.
 REMEMBER

Rebut means to make an If you rebut something,

argument against an idea,
whether or not that
argument is correct.
Refute means to successfully
prove an idea is wrong.
you haven't necessarily
won the argument; you've
only presented your side
of it.
If you refute something,
you successfully win the
argument
Why should you include a counter-argument in your essay?
Doesn’t that weaken your argument?
Because it makes the argument stronger. 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. Both of these make an essay more persuasive.

Where does the counterargument of your essay go?

You have two options here:

1. The challenge: Make it your third body paragraph
2. Add it as part of your conclusion
 STEP-BY-STEP:
COUNTERCLAIM AND REBUTTAL
 Step 1: Write a Step 2: Explain the Step 3: Rebut the
counterclaim. counterclaim. counterclaim.

Write a sentence that The more “real” you make the Write a response to the
contradicts the claim. opposing position, the more counterclaim that shows why it
For example, if your “right” you will seem when you is wrong or unimportant.
thesis says, disprove it. For example, “Ice cream
“Everyone should eat manufacturers can use artificial
chocolate ice cream,” then For example, “People who are ingredients to duplicate the flavor
your counterclaim might allergic will want to avoid eating of chocolate. This makes it
be, chocolate ice cream.” possible for people who are
allergic to chocolate to eat
“Some people are allergic to “chocolate” ice cream without
chocolate.” risking an allergic reaction.
 Make the counterclaim
real.
You will not fool anyone by
misrepresenting people
who disagree with you; in
SOME THINGS fact, you will only weaken
TO REMEMBER your own position because
you will appear to fear the
truth. Bring up a
counterclaim that
represents a (seemingly)
valid objection to your
claim.
Never write a
counterclaim you
cannot rebut.
Bringing up the opposing
viewpoint and then failing
to show why it is wrong
will cause your audience to
doubt that your position is
the only right one (which is
the point of persuasion,
after all).
Make it clear that you Do not repeat a reason You are allowed to have
do not agree with the you have already given more than one rebuttal.
counterclaim. to rebut the
counterclaim.
The more reasons you can
Do not allow your audience give to show that the
to think you are simply The rebuttal should focus counterclaim is wrong, the
contradicting yourself. specifically on the objection better.
How can you persuade in the counterclaim. If you
someone to accept your merely repeat what you
claim if you sound like you have already said, your
do not completely accept audience will assume you
it? cannot think of an effective
response.
Start introducing the counterclaim Start the rebuttal in a number of ways,
with phrases such as: such as:
The opposing view is that…. Despite this information….
Some people think… Nevertheless…
Some may say that….
However…
Others may believe…
 Example: Team Sports Should be Required in Middle School

Some may believe that team sports could intimidate children. Some
children may be physically smaller than others. Others may not be as
athletic as other team members. When they cannot run as fast as other
team members, or are not as agile, they fear (and may receive) ridicule.
However, learning to work as part of a team is essential to success in
many other areas. Children have to learn to cooperate both at home and
school. In school, children are expected to work together without conflict.
At home, children are expected to be part of the family team and help
with chores that need to be done.