FORMULATING

MEANINGFUL
COUNTERCLAIMS
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Objectives

In this unit you should be able to ,

define what a counterclaim is and explain its importance;


 formulate meaningful counterclaims that disprove, weaken, or undermine claims
of fact, value, and policy, and;
 use textual evidence to validate counterclaims.
 Lesson 1
The Nature and Importance of
Counterclaims
 A counterclaim is a statement that goes against or disagrees
with a stated claim. In persuasive or argumentative writing, a
writer can cite several counterclaims to his or her own claims.
The purpose of such counterclaims is to show all the sides of
What is a the issue at hand. By providing counterclaims and explaining
the pros and cons of the counterclaims, the writer further
counterclaim? strengthens his or her own claims. He or she can use phrases
like “An opposing point of view is . . .” “One counterclaim to
this is . . .” and “Analternative viewpoint to consider is . . .” to
introduce thecounterclaims
 Lesson 2
Formulating Counterclaims that
Disprove Claims of Fact
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Claims

• Claims are debatable, that is, they are open

to argument and discussion. Therefore, a
counterclaim should cite evidence or
counterarguments to rebut or disprove the
claim.
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Formulating title
Counterclaims

1 2 3 4
• Understand the •Determine the •Think of opposing Formulate your
main claim of the strengths and arguments that can counterclaims and
author and examine weaknesses of the disprove or weaken provide necessary
the supporting author's claims. the author's mainclaim support. Be clear,
and cite textual concise, and precise.
information. evidence. This
evidence may come
from the author's
writing or from other
credible sources.
 Lesson
3
Formulating Counterclaims that
Weaken Claims of Value
 Formulating Counterclaims
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A claim of value is more subjective
than any other type of claim
because it is largely influenced by a
person’s own culture, background,
religion, and other personal factors.
 FORMULATING
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COUNTERCLAIMS

 
The subjectivity of a claim of value leaves ample room for discussion
and argument. To take advantage of that subjectivity, you can do any
of the following:

● Identify the limitations of the author’s point of view. Then select one
that you can use in your counterclaim.
● Find flaws in the author’s reasoning. Then select one and build
your counterclaim on
it.
● Examine the standards that the author uses as a basis for his or
her claim. Then from your perspective, evaluate the author’s claim
based on his or her own standards. State whether it falls short of its
own standards or if the standards themselves are not an appropriate
measure.
 Lesson
4
Formulating Counterclaims
that Undermine claims of
Policy
 Formulating
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Counterclaims
 

A claim of policy argues for

or against a course of
action. In the paragraph
below, the author argues
for a course of action.
Notice the author’s claim of
policy made in the first
sentence.
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Formulating Counterclaims

 
A claim of policy argues for or against a course of
action. In the paragraph below, the author argues for a
course of action. Notice the author’s claim of policy
made in the first sentence.
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WRAP UP

• A Claim of Fact is an "Objective Fact".

• A Claim of Value is a "Subjective Opinion".
• A Claim of Policy is a "Proposed Action".
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WRAP UP

● A ​counterclaim​is a statement that goes against or disagrees with a stated claim.

● To formulate meaningful counterclaims, a reader should look at a text with a critical
eye​.
● The reader should consider the different sides of the issue that the author excludes
from his or her argument.
● Being able to formulate meaningful counterclaims helps one become better at
argumentation​.
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Tips for Good Counterclaims

● Verify the cited source of the claim.

● Check other sources that support the claim.
● Identify the limitations of the author’s point of view.
● Find flaws in the author’s reasoning.
● Examine the standards that the author uses as a basis for his or her claim.
● Based on some known standards, assess the course of action proposed by the
author in terms of its feasibility and effectiveness.
● Cite some critical studies related to the author’s proposition..
THANK YOU