Transcript The counterclaim states the opposition’s viewpoint.

The counterclaim states the
opposition’s viewpoint.
The opposition’s viewpoint is the
opposite side of your argument.
The opposition’s viewpoint is the
opposite side of your argument.
• If you’re FER it, it’s the people who are AGIN
it.
Though many people don’t use them,
counterclaims are an important part of
defining a logical argument.
• When you state the counterclaim before your
thesis statement, you help define both sides
of the argument for the reader.
The counterclaim helps the reader
understand that you have considered
both sides of an issue.
• Although many consider bowling to be “the
sport of kings”, I for one think that hand
grenade tennis ought to be. It is much more
exciting, it is by far louder and it helps
eliminate unwanted kings.
Thesis: Predator drones help keep our
ground troops out of harm’s way.
• Counterclaim: Predator drones often kill
civilians.
Thesis: Predator drones help keep our
ground troops out of harm’s way.
Counterclaim: Predator drones often
kill civilians.
• Combined: Although predator drones
sometimes kill non-combatants, they also help
keep our ground troops out of dangerous
situations.
Combined: Although predator drones
sometimes kill non-combatants, they
also help keep our ground troops out
of dangerous situations.
• Reversed: Predator drones are sometimes
used to kill terrorists, but also have killed
many civilians as well.
Hot-Rodded: While predator drones
may help interdict and eliminate
suspects believed to be high-ranking
terrorists, many people feel that they
eliminate due process of law and
frequently engage non-combatant
targets, who are often women and
children.
Reverse it!
• Even though they may eliminate due process
of law and frequently engage non-combatant
targets who are suspected to be women and
children, predator drones often help interdict
and eliminate high-ranking terrorists.
• Note: “who are suspected” and “often”
• While predator drones may
help interdict and eliminate
suspects believed to be
high-ranking terrorists,
many people feel that they
eliminate due process of
law and frequently engage
non-combatant targets,
who are often women and
children.
• Note how the use of “May”
“suspects” and “believed to
be” soften the opposing
argument.
• Note how “Many people
feel” can be used instead of
“I think”. I call this
rhetorical plurality, or the
rhetorical we.
I) Write a counterclaim to precede the
thesis statement below:
Keywords: While, Although, Even though
Weasel words: may, believed to be, we, many people
believe, most of us feel.
• 1) There are still many
questions that remain
unanswered about the
future of nuclear power.
Reverse it!
• Although there are still
many unanswered
questions about nuclear
power.
I) Write a counterclaim to precede the
thesis statement below:
Reverse it!
• We need to consider staying
out of further engagements
in the Middle East.
Write a counterclaim to precede the
thesis statement below:
While, although, Even if , Even
though
• We need to consider
moving the Methadone
Clinic away from the
juvenile facility.
Reverse it!
Write a counterclaim to precede the
thesis statement below:
Proponents of the, Supporters
of,
• ,but informed voters know
that the new causeway will
be a road to folly.
Reverse it!
II) Write a thesis statement to follow
the counterclaim below:
• Although the verdict in the
Trayvon Martin case has
acquitted Zimmerman,
• While many people are
skeptical about marketing
Bubblecheeze
Construct your own counterclaim and
thesis statement.
• It’s your homework.
• No, it cannot be one we already used.
• Write one that you want to develop into a full
blown essay or letter.