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Counterclaim and rebuttal
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Your claim
Turn it around!
Counterclaim and Rebuttal
What is a
counterclaim?
- An argument opposed to your thesis, or part of your thesis
- It expresses the view of a person who disagrees with your position - has a contrary (adj. - opposing; different from) opinion.
Skeptical (adj). - not
easily convinced; doubtful
Refute (v)
Some people are skeptical about the evidence presented, as there may be many other reasons why a person's health is poor, besides his/her weight.
disprove; declare
to be untrue
The purpose of a
counterclaim:
The Rebuttal
- To address positions that many people hold/ are skeptical about but that you think are mistaken
"Knock out" the counterclaim by:
- To present you as a reasonable writer and thus persuade the reader further
- To strengthen your position
Introducing your counterclaim:
You can use phrases such as:
OR
You can use a question that challenges your stand:
•Refute it, showing how it is based on faulty assumptions.
•Acknowledge its validity, but suggest why it's relatively less important or less likely than what you propose, and thus doesn't overturn it.
- One might object here that...
- It might seem that...
- It is true that...
- Admittedly...
- Of course...
- But how...?
- But why...?
- But is this not just...?
- But if this is so, what about...?
Your Counter-Argument
Make it
sound like
you may
be wrong,
Point out:
or that you
may agree
with an
opposing
viewpoint.
- a different conclusion that could be drawn from the same facts
- certain evidence is ignored or played down
•one or more drawbacks to what you propose
•an alternative explanation or proposal that
makes more sense.
Drawback - (n) disadvantage; downside
Your opponent's claim
Ex: Another drawback of technology is one can no longer speak to a real person when calling a customer service line.