Harvey, G. (1999). Counterargument. Excerpt from writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/counter-Argument This is an example of a controversial thesis because reasonable people might disagree with it. Some people may think that this is how we should spend the nation`s money. Others may think that we should spend more money on education. Still others might argue that businesses, not the government, should pay to limit pollution. When counter-arguments are taken into account, some authors discover that their own views change, resulting in an essay or article being written from the page they were originally opposed to. This is one of the most important reasons to think about counter-arguments. Some students worry that using a counter-argument will distract from their overall argument, but a counter-argument can make an essay more convincing because it shows that the author has taken into account several sides of the problem.

Barnet and Bedau (2005) suggest that critical thinking is improved by presenting both sides of an argument. Ultimately, an argument is reinforced by a counter-argument. This thesis limits the scope of the argument by indicating not only how much money is used, but also how the money could actually help control pollution. We could refine any contentious thesis from the previous examples as follows: Respectfully acknowledge evidence or views that deviate from your argument. In this example, there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens may think that focusing on recycling programs rather than private cars is the most effective strategy. Activity ~ Practice with counter-arguments, concessions and rebuttals 2. Bullying is often seen as a natural part of society and if a person is bullied, the perpetrator must be punished. Without interference, it becomes a cycle, bad for the victim and the tyrant, who in retrospect feels powerful and sometimes ashamed.

One counter-argument is to present evidence that the focus should be on prevention rather than continuing the cycle: punishing bullying then. This thesis is not debatable. First of all, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in one way or another. In addition, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply do not agree on the impact or magnitude of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is clearly good. B. Write your own counter-argument, concession, and rebuttal for each thesis statement. 3.

A child can plead for a dog. Parents remind the child that his sister is allergic to dogs. The boy uses the counter-argument that she was with dogs without any problems. He is ready for any argument against the dog and can say that there are hypoallergenic breeds of dogs. He may also argue that a dog will strengthen the sister`s tolerance. Writing an opinion, an academic essay, or another article that shows both sides of a problem involves including an argument. A thesis is proposed, and then evidence is proposed that indicates that the thesis is true. A counter-argument is essentially the argument or point of view of a problem on the other side. A counter-argument is something to consider against the thesis or part of the reason behind the thesis. Using a counter-argument is an effective method for testing content ideas when writing, reviewing, and editing the essay. The finished essay may then contain a convincing tactic that often disarms the reader.

In this way, the author seems to be a person who is more interested in dealing with the difficulties entangled in the argument and not simply rejecting them. The author is more interested in discovering the truth than in earning a point. The counter-argument is not a competition or a game to defeat the other party. When using a counter-argument, common sense prevails. Any objection does not need to be argued against it, and do not include it just to include it. However, imagine different points of view, whether it`s another person`s resistance or your own resistance to the argument. Using counter-arguments will sharpen your own thinking when you write the trick against it. While the scope of your article may seem overwhelming at first, the narrower the thesis, the more effective your argument will generally be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim, the more evidence you need to convince readers that your position is correct. Can be placed in the introductory paragraph to create a contrast for the thesis statement. Inserting a counter-argument paragraph when writing an argumentative article will show your reader that you know and understand that other positions exist, that you have taken them into account, and that you can answer them.

This gives you credibility and can strengthen your own reasoning. There are several reasons why this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the „drugs“ category? Is the author talking about illicit drug use, recreational drug use (including alcohol and cigarettes), or all drug uses in general? Second, how are drugs harmful? Does drug use cause deaths (and does the author equate overdose deaths with drug-related violence deaths)? Does drug use change the moral climate or lead to a decline in the economy? Finally, what does the author mean by „society“? Is the author referring only to America or to the world`s population? Does the author distinguish between effects on children and adults? There are simply too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all the topics listed above, but the universality of the claim leaves all these possibilities open for discussion. An argumentative or persuasive writing should begin with a controversial thesis or statement. In other words, the thesis must be something about which people could reasonably have different opinions. If your thesis is something that is generally accepted or accepted as fact, then there is no reason to try to convince people. Your paragraph would then continue your rebuttal by explaining more reasons why the counter-argument is weak. It also serves to explain why your initial argument is strong.

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