CounterargumenCounterargumentstsand and RebuttalsRebuttalsDr. ArnettDr. Arnett ENGL 1102ENGL 1102

What are we talking about?

Counterarguments valid objections to your argument

Rebuttals counter-counterarguments reasons why the counterarguments

are wrong reasons why your claim is better than the

counterarguments

Why include counterarguments? You don’t have to (unless an assignment requires them)

You can… demonstrate your open-mindedness make your own position clearer identify reasons for disagreement challenge an opposing viewpoint’s evidence challenge an opponent’s logic identify weaknesses in your own argument gain strength by admitting your weaknesses avoid looking stupid

How do you use counterarguments?

1. Choose their locations2. Decide on a rebuttal strategy3. Execute your plan

Where do counterarguments fit? Four popular locations to put

counterarguments: at the end, after all the evidence points throughout the paper, after each evidence point at the beginning, before any of the evidence

points throughout the paper, before each evidence

point

You can combine these strategies, but you’re probably better off sticking with just one

After all evidence points

Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is also native to America.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.

After each evidence point

Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is native to America.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.

Before any evidence points

Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Counterargument: The bald eagle is a better choice because turkeys are stupid, many things besides turkeys are native to America, and the bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Check it out…with this strategy, the counterargument

effectively becomes the thesis, and your

evidence points become counterarguments!

Before each evidence point

Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird, but some people claim the bald eagle is a better choice. Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is native to America, and it’s not worthy of being our national plant.Point 2: The turkey is both beneficial and native to America.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.

The same thing happens here!

Why include rebuttals?

An un-rebutted counterargument will wreck your argument

Demonstrate that your argument is solid you’ve thought the issue through

How do you use rebuttals?

Identify a counterargument Choose a rebuttal strategy

refutation concession qualificationYou can use any

combination of these

three strategies.

You can use any of these

three strategies with any of

the evidence-

counterargument patterns.

Where do rebuttals fit?

Most often, right after a counterargument But…can’t my opponent offer a

counterargument to the rebuttal? And a counterargument to that rebuttal?

YES try not to get sidetracked stick to your main point and move on maybe promote the sub-argument to a separate

counterargument-rebuttal pair only delve into sub-sub-arguments if you’re

writing a really long argument

Rebuttal #1: Refutation

“No, you’re wrong, and here’s why.”

Attack the counterargument’s logic evidence sheer existence

Avoid ad hominem attacks

http://www.123coloring.com/coloringpages/everyday/judo/images/judo_016.gif

Rebuttal #1: Refutation

On the plus side, you’ll… make a strong case for your point make your argument difficult to re-counter

On the minus side, you could… sound like a jerk and/or ignorant insult or anger the reader lose the entire argument at once

Rebuttal #1: Refutation

Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 1: Wild turkeys are very smart.Counterargument 1: Domesticated turkeys are really stupid.Rebuttal 1: We’re not talking about domesticated turkeys. We’re talking about wild turkeys.

http://www.civumalta.org/masd-dept/judo.gif

Rebuttal #2: Concession

“You’re partially right, but here’s why I’m more right.”

Find an area of agreement between the positions Differentiate your positions Use qualifiers when admitting

weaknesses in your position admittedly I agree/must admit that granted even though while it is true that

Rebuttal #2: Concession

On the plus side, you’ll… demonstrate that you’re open-minded establish empathy with the reader

On the minus side, you could… make a dangerous compromise seem wishy-washy

Rebuttal #2: Concession

Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 2: The turkey is native to America.Counterargument 2: Ragweed is native to America.Rebuttal 2: True, just because a plant or animal is native to America doesn’t mean it’s an appropriate symbol of our country. However, the wild turkey is a useful and beneficial bird, unlike the allergy-causing ragweed, so the comparison doesn’t make sense.

Rebuttal #3: Qualification

“I’m gonna go back and rethink my thesis.”

Revise your thesis to fit the counterargument Maybe use qualifiers to make the thesis less

sweeping perhaps in many cases tentatively often probably

may might sometimes usually likely

Rebuttal #3: Qualification

On the plus side, you’ll… be fair to the other side acknowledge that you don’t have a lock on

the truth make your claim harder to refute

On the minus side, you could… weaken your claim until it doesn’t actually

mean anything seem very wishy-washy

Rebuttal #3: Qualification

Thesis: The turkey should be the United States’ national bird.Point 3: The bald eagle is a carrion feeder.Counterargument 3: The bald eagle’s talons show that the United States isn’t to be trifled with.

Revised Thesis: The peaceful wild turkey, not the warlike bald eagle, should be the United States’ national bird.

Thoughts on organization

After all evidence points

ThesisEvidence Point 1Evidence Point 2Evidence Point 3Counterargument RebuttalCounterargument RebuttalCounterargument Rebuttal

Easy Allows the author

to weave the evidence points together

The most common technique

Predictable, but safe

Thoughts on organization

After each evidence point

ThesisEvidence Point 1Counterargument RebuttalEvidence Point 2Counterargument RebuttalEvidence Point 3Counterargument Rebuttal

Easy Allows the author

to emphasize individual evidence points

Second-most common technique

Potentially dull

Thoughts on organization

Before evidence points

ThesisCounterargument(s)Evidence Point 1Evidence Point 2Evidence Point 3orThesisCounterargument 1Evidence Point 1Counterargument 2Evidence Point 2(et cetera)

Hard Uncommon,

therefore interesting

Potentially confusing

Summary

Whenever you create an argument, consider including counterarguments and rebuttals

Decide where you want to put the counterarguments

Choose a rebuttal strategy Execute your plan Win the argument

This is you