CLAIM AND

COUNTERCLAIM
Persuasive/Argumentative Writing
 Write the two definitions and answer the question:
 1. A claim is an opinion based position you take on

an arguable viewpoint.
 2. A counter-argument is an argument opposed to

your thesis, or part of your thesis. It expresses the

view of a person who disagrees with your position.
 3. Why would you include a counter-argument in

your essay? Doesn’t that weaken your argument?

Answer
 Actually, no. Done well, it makes the
argument stronger. This is 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. Both
of these make an essay more persuasive.
 Not all evidence is created equal.
You must evaluate, or judge your
evidence.
 1. What does evaluate mean?

 2. What can be done to evaluate

evidence?
Answers
 1. What does evaluate mean?
 Evaluate means to judge the worth.

 2. What can be done to evaluate

evidence?
 Ask if the evidence is- 1.) clearly related

to the thesis 2.) a fact or expert opinion

3.)up to date 4.) unbiased and objective
1. How can a counter-
argument be rebutted, or
disproven?
2. What are faulty

assumptions?
Answer
 1. One of the most effective ways to rebut a
counter-argument is to show that it is based on
faulty assumptions. Either the facts are wrong, the
analysis is incorrect, or the values it is based on are
not acceptable.
 2. Faulty assumptions are expectations or
understandings that are based on incorrect facts or
reasons that make no sense.
Thursday, March 30

Topic: You want to persuade

your parents to get a dog.
1. What could be one of their

concerns?
2. How could you respond to

their counterargument?
 Topic: You want to persuade your
parents to get a dog.
 Your parent’s counterargument- The

money we could save not getting a dog

could go toward a family vacation.
 1. What is your response? Create a one

to three sentence counterargument.

Answer
 Possible Counterargument response:
 “We would have more frequent family-bonding
opportunities if we were taking care of a dog
together. These would be low cost! Also, a
compromise would be to go on a smaller, more
inexpensive vacation and adopt a dog.”
 1. You are putting together an argument for year-
round school. Evaluate the evidence. Write down the
one that supports the argument, then explain why.
 --using the building all year would be cost effective
 --many people would have strong feelings about the
change
 2. “Continuing school without a long break would
help students better remember what they learn.” This
statement could support your thesis IF what is done
with the evidence?
Answer

1. This could support your

thesis IF the evidence is
True! It needs to be
verified (proven true) by a
reliable source.
 1. When should a counter-
argument be conceded, or
accepted?
 2. How can you agree with a

counter-argument to your point

but still maintain your stance?!
Answer
 1. When you find a counter-argument that is TRUE and it
responds to your actual argument, you might need to agree
with the point it makes.
 Then you are faced with a choice: Do you abandon your
thesis and adopt the counter-argument as your position?
 2. Often it turns out you don’t need to abandon your
thesis, but you might need to modify or refine it.
 Example of a modified thesis: Students should learn what
causes bullying, but should not be constantly lectured that
“bullies are bad people.” Instead, they should be taught
the causes and motivations in a way that they find
interesting and that lets them make their own judgments.
 1. Is a faulty assumption something to include in
your argumentative essay? Explain why or why
not.
 2. What are you doing if you are asked to
“evaluate” something?
 3. What kinds of questions should you ask yourself
when evaluating a source?
 1. What is a counter-argument?
 2. How is a counter-argument used in an
argumentative essay?
 3. What types of opinions would be best to include
as support in an essay?
Quiz- Question 1
 1. What does evaluate mean?
 A. to understand
 B. to break apart
 C. to synthesize
 D. to judge
 E. to tell all about
Question 2
 2. A fact is statement that can be proven:
 A. with persuasive writing
 B. correct or incorrect
 C. as a person’s view, belief, or way of thinking
about something
 D. incorrect
Question 3
 3. What is a counter-argument?
 A. An argument opposed to your thesis, or part of
your thesis.
 B. Your secondary argument.
 C. Added information to give a detailed response.
 D. The same argument given by another writer.
Question 4
 4. What questions can be asked to evaluate
evidence?
 A. Is it a fact or expert opinion?
 B. Is it up to date?
 C. Is it unbiased and objective?
 D. All of the above.
 E. A and C only.
Question 5
 5. What is the definition of faulty assumptions?
 A. assuming that doctors who cut people are
criminals
 B. expectations or understandings that are based on
incorrect facts or reasons that make no sense.
 C. assuming something about a person without
asking them first
 D. assumptions are wrong to think about others