Transcript Aim: How can we identify a counterclaim? Essential Questions: Why

Aim: How can we identify a counterclaim?
Essential Questions:
Why is it important to include a counterclaim when
you are stating a position?
Aim: How can we identify a counterclaim?
A counterclaim is an opposing viewpoint.
We use counterclaims in writing to show
the other side of a position and why they
are WRONG.
Aim: How can we identify a counterclaim?
How do counterclaims work?
State the counterclaim
Give a piece of evidence that supports this
counterclaim.
Give a rebuttal (Why is the other viewpoint
wrong? Why is your claim correct?)
Aim: How can we identify a counterclaim?
Excerpt from Open Letter to the Board by Ramon P.
You want to prevent school violence, improve student achievement, and help students from lowincome families to fit in. All of these things are great goals. But, your solution, school uniforms,
isn’t working.
Claim
School offi cials believe that uniforms can protect students from gangs and violence. Certain
gangs wear certain colors. Schools have uniforms to prevent them from wearing those colors..
But students still sag (pulling their pants down) to show that they are gang-related or bring
their colors to school on a bandana. Even if they are required to wear navy blue and white,
gang members still find a way to show their colors and violence still occurs. According to Offi
cer Woods, the police offi cer in charge of our school, “Horace Mann Middle School has more
crimes than Crawford High School.” This means that Crawford, a high school with no uniform
policy, has less violence than a middle school that has a strict uniform policy in place. Both of
these schools serve the same population. If uniforms aren’t preventing crimes and violence,
why have them?
Counterclaim
Rebuttal
Aim: How can we identify a counterclaim?
Excerpt from School Uniforms Reduce Problems by Katie B.
Claim - Students enrolled in a public high school should be
required to wear a school uniform
Some people say that uniforms infringe on students’ freedom. However,
uniforms would not cause a threat to a student’s individual freedom
because there are lots of other things that make you “you” besides
clothing. People would be noticed for who they are as individuals rather
than for what they were wearing. Because wearing uniforms would reduce
many problems and would improve grades and behavior, students enrolled
in public high school should be required to wear a school uniform.
Turn and Talk - What is the counterclaim? What is the rebuttal?
Counterclaim starters
They say that…
Some believe that…
Others say…
However, many still
believe…
• Some still think that…
• Opponents believe
that…
• Nonetheless, there are
others who think…
•
•
•
•
•
•
Some people say that…
Many disagree, stating
that…
How can we identify a counterclaim?
Using the articles and your graphic organizer, write a counterclaim
paragraph. Make sure to:
- State your counterclaim (using a counterclaim starter)
- State one piece of evidence that supports the counterclaim (the
weakest evidence)
- State why the counterclaim is wrong (attacking the evidence you
presented).
DO NOT write "The counterclaim is wrong because..."
Aim: How can we identify a counterclaim?
Exit Slip
Why is it important to include a
counterclaim when you are stating a
position?