counterclaim for an argumentative essay

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How to write a Counterclaim Paragraph, Sentence or Rebuttal

by Joseph Kenas
January 18, 2024

If you are writing an argumentative essay, you will find yourself including counterclaims. In this guide, we guide you on how to write a good counterclaim in an essay and how to frame your counterclaim sentence and paragraph in rebuttal.

Counterclaims are mostly included in an argumentative essay where you are required to convince your readers to agree with your arguments and point of view concerning the topic in question.

What is a Counterclaim in an Essay?

A counterclaim can be regarded as the argument or arguments that oppose the thesis statement in your essay. Within the introduction, you introduce the topic and create a thesis statement in the last sentence that makes it clear to your audience the point(s) you want to prove and the strategy you will use to prove it.

The counterclaim demonstrates to the reader that you have put into consideration the perspectives of the opposing side and you find such perspectives to be weak.

As such, a counterclaim will allow you to respond to the potential arguments of your readers before they complete reading the essay.

Additionally, a counterclaim demonstrates that both sides of the debate have been put into consideration, hence strengthening your position.

Difference Between a Claim and a Counterclaim

There is a big difference between a claim and a counterclaim. When writing essays, one may need to include both in the same essay, especially when presenting an argumentative topic.

The difference between a claim and a counterclaim lies in their assertion. A claim is a statement that demonstrates the position of argument or the assertion of a fact or a truth. On the other hand, a counterclaim is an argument that negates a specific claim by rebutting it. While a claim asserts the writer’s argument, a counterclaim rebuts.

When writing an essay, particularly an argumentative essay, you will have a topic and a thesis statement that will show the readers the points you are going to prove and how you will prove them.

Most of your paper will be dedicated to proving your claim to the reader so that they can agree with your point of view.

A good claim should be arguable and at times controversial to allow the readers to think otherwise about your perspectives as the writer.

It can also come up with their interpretations concerning the topic.

Because of this, the essay will be based on the claim and you will demonstrate why your claim is accepted. On the other hand, a counterclaim is a statement of opposition that will allow the readers to perceive the whole picture of the arguments.

Though this is the case, the counterclaim demonstrates that the writer has anticipated arguments against their claim and has provided proof, through the counterclaim, that the readers’ perspectives are false or weak.

As such, when the counterclaim is stated, it is addressed concerning its weaknesses or limitations. This enhances the claim’s strength.

How to Write a Good Counterclaim in an Essay

If you wish to write a good counterclaim, make sure that it takes the form of two stages.

The first stage is where you go against your claim or argument so that you can challenge it and the second stage is where you turn back to your claim or argument to re-affirm it.

When writing a good counterclaim, you imagine that some of your readers will be skeptical and you have to make them agree with you.

For example, if you want to present a counterclaim showing that there was a problem with how you demonstrated your claims, like an unwarranted assumption, certain evidence was played down or ignored, and so on, you can support the counterclaim by presenting the disadvantages or drawbacks of the issues with the presentation. Then, give an alternative proposal or alternative that would make more sense to the readers.

To refute the counterclaim, you announce with words like ‘yet’, ‘but’, ‘however’, ‘still’, or ‘nevertheless’ to indicate that you are about to show why the counterclaim is wrong. Acknowledge that it is a good claim but demonstrate that yours might help the argument more.

Where to Write a Counterclaim in an Essay

A counterclaim can be included anywhere within the body of the essay except the conclusion. There are some cases where you can write a counterclaim at the second last sentence of the introduction paragraph followed by the thesis statement which acts as the refutation.

You can also write a counterargument after the introduction to show the anticipated reaction to your point of view before moving forward with writing your actual claims.

Moving forward, the reason why you cannot place the counterclaim within the conclusion is that you have to include a rebuttal paragraph or statements after you have written the counterclaim. Therefore, a counterclaim located at the conclusion will miss the rebuttal paragraph or statements.

However, argumentative essays can take different structures. Even though such essays will have a basic structure of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, the differences will occur within the body paragraphs. Such differences dictate where the counterclaim(s) are located.

There is a structure where the counterclaims are located within all the body paragraphs. In this case, you will write your claim, followed by a counterclaim, and then a rebuttal. This means that for every claim you present to support your thesis, there will be a counterclaim and a rebuttal.

The most common structure is where you present your claims and present the counterclaim(s) before the conclusion. The counterclaim is immediately followed by a rebuttal.

Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Counterclaim

When it comes to the dos of writing a counterclaim, always ensure that it is followed by a rebuttal to demonstrate that your claims are superior to it. Secondly, courteously present your counterclaims to avoid upsetting the reader.

Acknowledge the anticipated arguments from the readers.

Demonstrate that the readers’ points of view are valid but your perspective makes more sense.

Finally, appeal to the logic of the readers through the use of valid evidence.

Concerning the don’ts when writing a counterclaim, do not include a counterargument just for the sake of it.

Make sure that the counterargument is valid in its own right and it is verifiable through evidence.

This is because your readers will also use logic and evidence when thinking about your claims. Secondly, do not use a disrespectful or uncourteous tone when addressing the other side of the argument.

Examples of Counterclaims

A counterclaim in a separate paragraph.

Counterclaim: “Opponents argue that after-school sports can increase the likelihood of sports-related injuries (Bancroft, 2018). Even minor injuries sustained from participation in after-school sports increase absent rates and the expense of creating injury reports for students (Sizemore, 2019)” .

Refutation: “Although students do suffer both serious and minor injuries in after-school sports, these injuries are quite rare (Kinney, 2016) .

Embedded Within a Paragraph

“Without free after-school sports programs, many students would still play sports without adult supervision and even more injuries would result”. Counterclaim : “However, some people would argue that after-school sports can increase the likelihood of sports-related injuries (Sizemore 2019)”. Refutation: “Although students do suffer both serious and minor injuries in after-school sports, without school-sponsored sports, the likelihood of more injuries from less supervised recreational leagues or privately sponsored leagues with fewer safety regulations would be much worse” .

How Long Should a Counterclaim Be?

A counterclaim can be as long as a paragraph if it appears after the introduction paragraph or at the end of the body before the conclusion. However, if a counterclaim is located within a paragraph, it can be a few sentences long (2-3).

However, the length of a counterclaim depends on the length of a claim in general. You can learn more about how to write a claim paragraph in that guide so that you can learn the two in general.

How many Counterclaims can you Put?

This depends on the structure of the essay. If the counterclaim appears after the introduction or before the conclusion, then it will only be one. However, if it is embedded within paragraphs, then they will be as many as the supportive augments.

This is because they will be used to refute every claim made within the body paragraph. If your supporting claims are 5 then the counterclaims will be 5 and so on.

Check out how to write college essays in our guide that we hope will lead you to score well.

Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.

Consider the following thesis for a short paper that analyzes different approaches to stopping climate change:

Climate activism that focuses on personal actions such as recycling obscures the need for systemic change that will be required to slow carbon emissions.

The author of this thesis is promising to make the case that personal actions not only will not solve the climate problem but may actually make the problem more difficult to solve. In order to make a convincing argument, the author will need to consider how thoughtful people might disagree with this claim. In this case, the author might anticipate the following counterarguments:

By encouraging personal actions, climate activists may raise awareness of the problem and encourage people to support larger systemic change.
Personal actions on a global level would actually make a difference.
Personal actions may not make a difference, but they will not obscure the need for systemic solutions.
Personal actions cannot be put into one category and must be differentiated.

In order to make a convincing argument, the author of this essay may need to address these potential counterarguments. But you don’t need to address every possible counterargument. Rather, you should engage counterarguments when doing so allows you to strengthen your own argument by explaining how it holds up in relation to other arguments.

How to address counterarguments

Once you have considered the potential counterarguments, you will need to figure out how to address them in your essay. In general, to address a counterargument, you’ll need to take the following steps.

State the counterargument and explain why a reasonable reader could raise that counterargument.
Counter the counterargument. How you grapple with a counterargument will depend on what you think it means for your argument. You may explain why your argument is still convincing, even in light of this other position. You may point to a flaw in the counterargument. You may concede that the counterargument gets something right but then explain why it does not undermine your argument. You may explain why the counterargument is not relevant. You may refine your own argument in response to the counterargument.
Consider the language you are using to address the counterargument. Words like but or however signal to the reader that you are refuting the counterargument. Words like nevertheless or still signal to the reader that your argument is not diminished by the counterargument.

Here’s an example of a paragraph in which a counterargument is raised and addressed.

Image version

The two steps are marked with counterargument and “counter” to the counterargument: COUNTERARGUMENT/ But some experts argue that it’s important for individuals to take action to mitigate climate change. In “All That Performative Environmentalism Adds Up,” Annie Lowery argues that personal actions to fight climate change, such as reducing household trash or installing solar panels, matter because change in social behavior can lead to changes in laws. [1]

COUNTER TO THE COUNTERARGUMENT/ While Lowery may be correct that individual actions can lead to collective action, this focus on individual action can allow corporations to receive positive publicity while continuing to burn fossil fuels at dangerous rates.

Where to address counterarguments

There is no one right place for a counterargument—where you raise a particular counterargument will depend on how it fits in with the rest of your argument. The most common spots are the following:

Before your conclusion This is a common and effective spot for a counterargument because it’s a chance to address anything that you think a reader might still be concerned about after you’ve made your main argument. Don’t put a counterargument in your conclusion, however. At that point, you won’t have the space to address it, and readers may come away confused—or less convinced by your argument.
Before your thesis Often, your thesis will actually be a counterargument to someone else’s argument. In other words, you will be making your argument because someone else has made an argument that you disagree with. In those cases, you may want to offer that counterargument before you state your thesis to show your readers what’s at stake—someone else has made an unconvincing argument, and you are now going to make a better one.
After your introduction In some cases, you may want to respond to a counterargument early in your essay, before you get too far into your argument. This is a good option when you think readers may need to understand why the counterargument is not as strong as your argument before you can even launch your own ideas. You might do this in the paragraph right after your thesis.
Anywhere that makes sense As you draft an essay, you should always keep your readers in mind and think about where a thoughtful reader might disagree with you or raise an objection to an assertion or interpretation of evidence that you are offering. In those spots, you can introduce that potential objection and explain why it does not change your argument. If you think it does affect your argument, you can acknowledge that and explain why your argument is still strong.

[1] Annie Lowery, “All that Performative Environmentalism Adds Up.” The Atlantic . August 31, 2020. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/your-tote-bag-can-mak…

picture_as_pdf Counterargument

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Organizing Your Argument

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How can I effectively present my argument?

In order for your argument to be persuasive, it must use an organizational structure that the audience perceives as both logical and easy to parse. Three argumentative methods —the Toulmin Method , Classical Method , and Rogerian Method — give guidance for how to organize the points in an argument.

Note that these are only three of the most popular models for organizing an argument. Alternatives exist. Be sure to consult your instructor and/or defer to your assignment’s directions if you’re unsure which to use (if any).

Toulmin Method

The Toulmin Method is a formula that allows writers to build a sturdy logical foundation for their arguments. First proposed by author Stephen Toulmin in The Uses of Argument (1958), the Toulmin Method emphasizes building a thorough support structure for each of an argument's key claims.

The basic format for the Toulmin Method is as follows:

Claim: In this section, you explain your overall thesis on the subject. In other words, you make your main argument.

Data (Grounds): You should use evidence to support the claim. In other words, provide the reader with facts that prove your argument is strong.

Warrant (Bridge): In this section, you explain why or how your data supports the claim. As a result, the underlying assumption that you build your argument on is grounded in reason.

Backing (Foundation): Here, you provide any additional logic or reasoning that may be necessary to support the warrant.

Counterclaim: You should anticipate a counterclaim that negates the main points in your argument. Don't avoid arguments that oppose your own. Instead, become familiar with the opposing perspective. If you respond to counterclaims, you appear unbiased (and, therefore, you earn the respect of your readers). You may even want to include several counterclaims to show that you have thoroughly researched the topic.

Rebuttal: In this section, you incorporate your own evidence that disagrees with the counterclaim. It is essential to include a thorough warrant or bridge to strengthen your essay’s argument. If you present data to your audience without explaining how it supports your thesis, your readers may not make a connection between the two, or they may draw different conclusions.

Example of the Toulmin Method:

Claim: Hybrid cars are an effective strategy to fight pollution.

Data1: Driving a private car is a typical citizen's most air-polluting activity.

Warrant 1: Due to the fact that cars are the largest source of private (as opposed to industrial) air pollution, switching to hybrid cars should have an impact on fighting pollution.

Data 2: Each vehicle produced is going to stay on the road for roughly 12 to 15 years.

Warrant 2: Cars generally have a long lifespan, meaning that the decision to switch to a hybrid car will make a long-term impact on pollution levels.

Data 3: Hybrid cars combine a gasoline engine with a battery-powered electric motor.

Warrant 3: The combination of these technologies produces less pollution.

Counterclaim: Instead of focusing on cars, which still encourages an inefficient culture of driving even as it cuts down on pollution, the nation should focus on building and encouraging the use of mass transit systems.

Rebuttal: While mass transit is an idea that should be encouraged, it is not feasible in many rural and suburban areas, or for people who must commute to work. Thus, hybrid cars are a better solution for much of the nation's population.

Rogerian Method

The Rogerian Method (named for, but not developed by, influential American psychotherapist Carl R. Rogers) is a popular method for controversial issues. This strategy seeks to find a common ground between parties by making the audience understand perspectives that stretch beyond (or even run counter to) the writer’s position. Moreso than other methods, it places an emphasis on reiterating an opponent's argument to his or her satisfaction. The persuasive power of the Rogerian Method lies in its ability to define the terms of the argument in such a way that:

your position seems like a reasonable compromise.
you seem compassionate and empathetic.

The basic format of the Rogerian Method is as follows:

Introduction: Introduce the issue to the audience, striving to remain as objective as possible.

Opposing View : Explain the other side’s position in an unbiased way. When you discuss the counterargument without judgement, the opposing side can see how you do not directly dismiss perspectives which conflict with your stance.

Statement of Validity (Understanding): This section discusses how you acknowledge how the other side’s points can be valid under certain circumstances. You identify how and why their perspective makes sense in a specific context, but still present your own argument.

Statement of Your Position: By this point, you have demonstrated that you understand the other side’s viewpoint. In this section, you explain your own stance.

Statement of Contexts : Explore scenarios in which your position has merit. When you explain how your argument is most appropriate for certain contexts, the reader can recognize that you acknowledge the multiple ways to view the complex issue.

Statement of Benefits: You should conclude by explaining to the opposing side why they would benefit from accepting your position. By explaining the advantages of your argument, you close on a positive note without completely dismissing the other side’s perspective.

Example of the Rogerian Method:

Introduction: The issue of whether children should wear school uniforms is subject to some debate.

Opposing View: Some parents think that requiring children to wear uniforms is best.

Statement of Validity (Understanding): Those parents who support uniforms argue that, when all students wear the same uniform, the students can develop a unified sense of school pride and inclusiveness.

Statement of Your Position : Students should not be required to wear school uniforms. Mandatory uniforms would forbid choices that allow students to be creative and express themselves through clothing.

Statement of Contexts: However, even if uniforms might hypothetically promote inclusivity, in most real-life contexts, administrators can use uniform policies to enforce conformity. Students should have the option to explore their identity through clothing without the fear of being ostracized.

Statement of Benefits: Though both sides seek to promote students' best interests, students should not be required to wear school uniforms. By giving students freedom over their choice, students can explore their self-identity by choosing how to present themselves to their peers.

Classical Method

The Classical Method of structuring an argument is another common way to organize your points. Originally devised by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (and then later developed by Roman thinkers like Cicero and Quintilian), classical arguments tend to focus on issues of definition and the careful application of evidence. Thus, the underlying assumption of classical argumentation is that, when all parties understand the issue perfectly, the correct course of action will be clear.

The basic format of the Classical Method is as follows:

Introduction (Exordium): Introduce the issue and explain its significance. You should also establish your credibility and the topic’s legitimacy.

Statement of Background (Narratio): Present vital contextual or historical information to the audience to further their understanding of the issue. By doing so, you provide the reader with a working knowledge about the topic independent of your own stance.

Proposition (Propositio): After you provide the reader with contextual knowledge, you are ready to state your claims which relate to the information you have provided previously. This section outlines your major points for the reader.

Proof (Confirmatio): You should explain your reasons and evidence to the reader. Be sure to thoroughly justify your reasons. In this section, if necessary, you can provide supplementary evidence and subpoints.

Refutation (Refuatio): In this section, you address anticipated counterarguments that disagree with your thesis. Though you acknowledge the other side’s perspective, it is important to prove why your stance is more logical.

Conclusion (Peroratio): You should summarize your main points. The conclusion also caters to the reader’s emotions and values. The use of pathos here makes the reader more inclined to consider your argument.

Example of the Classical Method:

Introduction (Exordium): Millions of workers are paid a set hourly wage nationwide. The federal minimum wage is standardized to protect workers from being paid too little. Research points to many viewpoints on how much to pay these workers. Some families cannot afford to support their households on the current wages provided for performing a minimum wage job .

Statement of Background (Narratio): Currently, millions of American workers struggle to make ends meet on a minimum wage. This puts a strain on workers’ personal and professional lives. Some work multiple jobs to provide for their families.

Proposition (Propositio): The current federal minimum wage should be increased to better accommodate millions of overworked Americans. By raising the minimum wage, workers can spend more time cultivating their livelihoods.

Proof (Confirmatio): According to the United States Department of Labor, 80.4 million Americans work for an hourly wage, but nearly 1.3 million receive wages less than the federal minimum. The pay raise will alleviate the stress of these workers. Their lives would benefit from this raise because it affects multiple areas of their lives.

Refutation (Refuatio): There is some evidence that raising the federal wage might increase the cost of living. However, other evidence contradicts this or suggests that the increase would not be great. Additionally, worries about a cost of living increase must be balanced with the benefits of providing necessary funds to millions of hardworking Americans.

Conclusion (Peroratio): If the federal minimum wage was raised, many workers could alleviate some of their financial burdens. As a result, their emotional wellbeing would improve overall. Though some argue that the cost of living could increase, the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks.

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Writing Tips

A Guide to Rebuttals in Argumentative Essays

4-minute read

27th May 2023

Rebuttals are an essential part of a strong argument. But what are they, exactly, and how can you use them effectively? Read on to find out.

What Is a Rebuttal?

When writing an argumentative essay , there’s always an opposing point of view. You can’t present an argument without the possibility of someone disagreeing.

Sure, you could just focus on your argument and ignore the other perspective, but that weakens your essay. Coming up with possible alternative points of view, or counterarguments, and being prepared to address them, gives you an edge. A rebuttal is your response to these opposing viewpoints.

How Do Rebuttals Work?

With a rebuttal, you can take the fighting power away from any opposition to your idea before they have a chance to attack. For a rebuttal to work, it needs to follow the same formula as the other key points in your essay: it should be researched, developed, and presented with evidence.

Rebuttals in Action

Suppose you’re writing an essay arguing that strawberries are the best fruit. A potential counterargument could be that strawberries don’t work as well in baked goods as other berries do, as they can get soggy and lose some of their flavor. Your rebuttal would state this point and then explain why it’s not valid:

Read on for a few simple steps to formulating an effective rebuttal.

Step 1. Come up with a Counterargument

A strong rebuttal is only possible when there’s a strong counterargument. You may be convinced of your idea but try to place yourself on the other side. Rather than addressing weak opposing views that are easy to fend off, try to come up with the strongest claims that could be made.

In your essay, explain the counterargument and agree with it. That’s right, agree with it – to an extent. State why there’s some truth to it and validate the concerns it presents.

Step 2. Point Out Its Flaws

Now that you’ve presented a counterargument, poke holes in it . To do so, analyze the argument carefully and notice if there are any biases or caveats that weaken it. Looking at the claim that strawberries don’t work well in baked goods, a weakness could be that this argument only applies when strawberries are baked in a pie.

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Step 3. Present New Points

Once you reveal the counterargument’s weakness, present a new perspective, and provide supporting evidence to show that your argument is still the correct one. This means providing new points that the opposer may not have considered when presenting their claim.

Offering new ideas that weaken a counterargument makes you come off as authoritative and informed, which will make your readers more likely to agree with you.

Summary: Rebuttals

Rebuttals are essential when presenting an argument. Even if a counterargument is stronger than your point, you can construct an effective rebuttal that stands a chance against it.

We hope this guide helps you to structure and format your argumentative essay . And once you’ve finished writing, send a copy to our expert editors. We’ll ensure perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation, referencing, and more. Try it out for free today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a rebuttal in an essay.

A rebuttal is a response to a counterargument. It presents the potential counterclaim, discusses why it could be valid, and then explains why the original argument is still correct.

How do you form an effective rebuttal?

To use rebuttals effectively, come up with a strong counterclaim and respectfully point out its weaknesses. Then present new ideas that fill those gaps and strengthen your point.

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How To Write A Counterclaim For A Successful Result

You might have probably heard about a counterclaim or written one that did not go well with you, which is why you are here. We understand your frustrations and anxiety about writing counterclaims, which is why we developed this comprehensive article.

Here is what to expect:

An in-depth explanation of what a counterclaim is The necessity of a counterclaim How to write a good counterclaim Characteristics of an excellent counterclaim Structure and formatting of counterclaims

After reading this post, you will have all the information you need to craft an award-winning paper. We will not leave anything to chance until you know how to write a counterclaim like a top-class student!

What is a counterclaim in writing, why is a counterclaim necessary, how to write a counterclaim from scratch, detailed guide on how to start a counterclaim paragraph, how to write rebuttal, characteristics of a good counterclaim, example of a good counterclaim.

A counterclaim refers to an argument that opposes the author’s claim. The writer presents the claim and then refutes it, giving reasons why others should not take up the contrary view and agree with their initial stand.

The counterclaim opposes the thesis statement in your essay. So, this is how a counterclaim comes about:

You first introduce the topic in the introductory paragraph
Create a thesis statement in the last sentence
Write a counterclaim that rebuts the initial argument

Many students fail to appreciate the fact that there is a difference between a claim and a counterclaim. The claim demonstrates your position of argument or the assertion of a fact, whereas a counterclaim negates a specific claim by refuting it.

Any top-rated argumentative will always have a counterclaim which disagrees with and disapproves of a claim. Such a claim also provides reasoning that further clarifies a particular argument. The two main purposes of a counterclaim are as follows:

It enhances the credibility of the author: A strong argumentative essay will utilize the rhetorical appeal of ethos. With a counterclaim, a writer will prove that they researched extensively on the topic and are not trying to hide possible information from the audience. It also allows the writer to provide a rebuttal to the essay. The rebuttal is used to disprove the counterclaim within the writer’s argument.

For instance, if the claim is that the government should ban gun use, the counterclaim would be that it should not ban it because it infringes on human rights. There should always be reasons and evidence for you to have a successful counterclaim.

In the next few lines, we will provide all you need to know about starting a counterclaim and delivering the best! So stay tuned.

Every successful essay begins with thorough background research on the topic of discussion. Exploring all possible angles of your essay before embarking on the writing process is recommended—those who end up with a good counterclaim put in extra hours in research and extensive consultation.

You can read thousands of articles on how to write a counterclaim, but without the right background research strategies, that great essay might amount to nothing. So, if you want to crack your counterclaim paragraph like a guru, here are excellent tips for you:

Understand your topic Explore what previous authors have done on it Identify the knowledge gaps Seek facts to defend your claim

Once you have all the information needed for your topic, nothing will stand in the way of you writing a top-notch paper that will impress your professor. When you have factual proof of every statement you make in your essay, you will have a non-biased and credible paper. That means that the sources you use should always be credible and directly relevant to the topic of your essay.

After stating all the base knowledge you need about counterclaims, we now want to dive into the practical part of writing a counterclaim argument. Let’s explore how to write counterclaims by looking at the elements needed:

The main counterclaim: It states an opposing argument to the claim.
The evidence includes a previous position to show that others welcome the view.
An explanation entails providing reasons why people hold the particular view you presented.
A rebuttal: Here, you will explain the weakness of the counterclaim and present show why your original position is correct.

The process might be challenging initially, but with the right tools and expert advice, you will be up and running in minutes. A counterclaim is included in argumentative writing to address the opposite side of the argument and provide a rebuttal.

The process of writing an outstanding counterclaim in an argumentative essay is as follows:

Where do you put a counterclaim in an essay? Every top-ranking essay begins with a catchy intro comprising statistics or a rather dramatic intro to a particular problem. The thesis statement follows, and the then claim comes on stage. Therefore, the counterclaim comes after you have backed up your claims with evidence and further arguments. How long is the counterclaim? It depends on the number of counterclaims and the overall length of your essay. A typical counterclaim should be at least one paragraph long. Remember that you are not just stating it but explaining why it is so. That is why most guides on writing a counterclaim and rebuttal will recommend either writing them in one paragraph or separately. What different points of view do others hold? You should always understand all the possible points that may arise to counter your claim. Researching why people oppose your claim will give you room for a balanced and reliable paper. It requires a creative mind to determine how your claim goes against the common view. How to introduce a counterclaim now: The general rule is that you should present the contrary opinion fairly. You will only be ready to craft a brilliant counterclaim once you dive into the possible arguments that others who oppose your thesis make. Sincerely present the contrary opinion fairly.

Always remember to use transitions when moving on to present your counterclaim. Just like in a debate, the contrary side will come after the proposers have made their submissions. Therefore, you can begin your counterclaim paragraphs with the following:

On the contrary, side
Critics say that

Having presented the other side, you will detail why people also hold that view. It is where the evidence comes in to solidify your counterclaim.

It is advisable to have it in a similar paragraph where your counterclaim is, but if that is not possible, begin it in a new paragraph. However, always remember to keep it short while bringing out the following:

How the contrary position in your counterclaim is false or weak.
Presenting the advantages in the counterclaim but giving reasons why the opposite view may not hold water.
Describe how your main argument outweighs the risks in the counterclaim.

After introducing the counterclaim, you have to discuss why the counterclaim is incorrect. You can start the rebuttal in several ways, such as:

Despite this information Nevertheless However

It is your opportunity to prove why the contrary view is wrong.

You cannot achieve this milestone without considering all sides of the argument first. That is why most researchers in college and university take their time before beginning the writing process. It provides a base for the facts and opinions and saves the time one will spend completing the argumentative essay.

Acknowledging the valid points of the other side is necessary for any form of argumentative writing. This practice eliminates the thought of narrow-mindedness from the reader’s point of view, which may make your essay less effective.

Instead of making your argument look weak, a counterclaim will strengthen your essay by proving that you thoughtfully considered all possible angles before writing your essay. Nobody will accuse you of bias or inadequate research when you have a formulated counterclaim.

A good counterclaim, therefore:

Acknowledges what the opposing side says Provides evidence from the opposing side Refutes the point of view and evidence

It is also crucial to state that when you have more than one claim in your paper, there is always an option of writing a counterclaim for each. You are not limited to presenting the different counterclaims in the same essay. However, follow the structure outline above in terms of length and format.

Additional characteristics of a world-class essay include:

Objectivity in the language use
Fairness in the diction
Evidence to back up the counterclaim
Fairness in the rebuttal

By validating any underlying concerns, you eliminate room for doubt or error. Remember also to explain why your argument works in that context.

Below is a brief example of what a good counterclaim can look like, from professional dissertation writers :

“On the other hand, some students say homework presents unnecessary stress and pressure. This point of view makes sense because the article states that too much homework may be overwhelming for students, which is why most of them do not complete it. However, homework does not harm the student because the article also says that homework is necessary to test students’ understanding after classroom learning. Therefore, even though homework may cause stress and pressure on the student, it does not harm the student in any way.”

From the example, you can note the following:

Phrases that can begin a counterclaim:

On the other hand, some people say Admittedly, some people say Certainly, some people say

Phrases to refer to the initial claim:

However Nevertheless On the other hand

Phrases to bring paragraph to a conclusion:

Thus Therefore As a result

A good counterclaim will always give you an edge over your competitors in any case.

Writing A Counterclaim Can Be Very Easy

Writing an all-inclusive counterclaim is not a big deal if you have all the facts rights – our writing service and master thesis help offers top-notch assistance with an incredible team of writers and research gurus. We will help you identify winning arguments and provide you with the best rebuttals.

Do not second guess what you will score in your counterclaim essay when you can try out our custom thesis writing service today. Make your pick today and improve your score effortlessly.

How to Write a Counterclaim [Explained Simply!]

Counterclaims are an essential part of a top-notch argumentative essay. After all, they show that you’ve thoroughly researched and considered both sides of the issue before deciding on your particular stance.

There’s just one problem: they can be a little tricky to write without weakening your main argument, as you may already be aware!

That’s why we put together this guide on writing a counterclaim that will only enhance your position in an argumentative essay and not take anything away from it.

By the end of this article, you’ll be writing counterclaims like a pro – and get that grade you deserve on your next paper. Let’s get started!

What Is a Counterclaim in Writing?

Before we get into how to write one, let’s clarify what we mean by “counterclaim.” In writing, a counterclaim is an opposing argument that goes against the thesis statement of a paper.

It shows your audience that you have researched the topic thoroughly by looking into both sides of the issue and that you’re not trying to hide any important information that refutes your thesis.

Not only that, a well-written counterclaim can even help you win over those who don’t agree with your main claim or argument – especially when you make some good points in your rebuttal paragraph (which we will get into as well).

For example, let’s say you’re writing an argumentative essay on the use of cellphones in schools. If your claim is that they should be allowed at all times because they can help support learning, then the counterclaim could be that they’re more distracting than anything else.

How to Write a Counterclaim

The key to excellent argumentative writing is to make your position convincing and clear while acknowledging – not to mention rebutting – the counterarguments. Fortunately, you can break down the process of crafting a great counterclaim into four simple steps:

1. Research, Research, Research

Of course, a thorough understanding of your position on the topic is essential, but you should also have a good grasp of the main arguments of your opponents.

It’s not enough to just know what the arguments are – you need to know why other people feel this way.

For example, going back to our cellphone paper. If one of the main counterclaims is that cellphones are distracting in schools, you need to find out what is driving these opinions. Are there facts to back it up, or is this purely based on anecdotal evidence?

Once you feel like you have a firm grasp on the opposing view, you can move on to the next step.

2. Determine Where to Put the Counterclaim

A well-written essay typically starts with a few introductory sentences to capture the reader’s attention. Next comes the thesis and the claims (backed with plenty of research and evidence, of course).

By this point, your stance on the issue should be clear, so it’s usually safe to start including your counterclaims in the body of the essay.

As to where exactly you should include your counterclaims, two of the best options include the following:

In the paragraphs. If your paper has several claims you want to counter, then you may address each one in the paragraphs. This is often most effective right after supporting your claims with evidence and arguments.
Before the conclusion. This is often the preferred place for counterclaims, especially in shorter essays. It’s a good option because your reader should have a firm grasp of your position at this point, so the counterclaims shouldn’t really weaken your main arguments.

Remember that your counterclaim paragraph(s) should be separate from your introduction and conclusion. As long as it’s outside these areas, your counterclaim should be in a perfectly acceptable position in the paper.

3. Figure Out How Long Your Counterclaim Should Be

It isn’t time to start writing yet! Now that you’ve identified your counterclaim or counterclaims, you need to figure out how much space to devote to it in your essay.

You’ll want to cover the opposing side as concisely as possible, as you don’t want to give them more space than your claims. This is especially important if you have a specific word count; dragging out a counterclaim argument for too long may not leave enough room for you to argue your position properly.

In most cases, one short paragraph per counterclaim should do the trick. Just remember that you need to explain the opposing argument and why others feel this way.

4. Consider How to Present the Counterclaim Fairly

Before you officially start typing things out, one of the most important things to consider is how you will present your counterclaim fairly. You don’t want to present the opposing view with an obvious bias, as it may take away from the credibility of your paper.

And besides, you shouldn’t have to put the other viewpoint down to clarify your stance!

You should have already put lots of strong evidence and arguments in favor of your position throughout your paper, so trying to understand and present the opposing viewpoint fairly shouldn’t weaken your claims too much.

5. Write Your Counterclaim

You’re finally ready to write your counterclaim! The first thing you need to do is include an appropriate transition to help with the flow of your paper.

Some good transitions include:

Critics have argued that…
On the other side of the argument, people are concerned that…
The contrasting viewpoint indicates that…

Once you have chosen an appropriate transition and stated the opposing viewpoint, you can describe why people feel this way. And don’t forget your evidence! As with your claims, you need to show that you’ve done the research to support this position.

From here, you can write your rebuttal explaining any issues or weaknesses with the counterclaim. This is essential to solidifying your original position.

Some suggestions for a good rebuttal include:

Detailing the particular weaknesses with the counterclaim
Acknowledging that while these viewpoints have some merit, there is a solution that renders it baseless
Showing that the benefits of your claims outweigh the risks of the counterclaims
Pointing out that the benefits of the counterclaim are exceedingly rare

Tips on Writing a Great Counterclaim

Want to make a good counterclaim even better? Remember these tips when writing:

Objectivity is key. As passionately as you may feel about your position, do your best to remain objective when presenting a counterclaim. For example, avoid saying things like “critics mistakenly believe that…”
Don’t leave out information on purpose. If you find evidence for your counterclaim supported by research, don’t leave it out of your paper to avoid weakening your argument. Instead, explain why it is weaker than your claims.
Read through other essays. If you’re still unsure what a good counterclaim looks like, read professional-level papers to see how others have done it.
A second set of eyes is always helpful! If you can, get someone to read through your paper to make sure your counterclaim is clear, objective, and concise. You may also want their opinion on whether your rebuttal is effective enough to dispute the main points of your counterclaim.

The Bottom Line

Though it may seem daunting, writing an effective counterclaim doesn’t have to be difficult.

Just remember to do your research, avoid putting it in the introduction and conclusion, keep it to a paragraph, present it fairly, and transition into it appropriately.

And most of all, do your best to put any biases aside and remain objective.

By following these tips, writing counterclaims will become second nature to you in no time. Good luck with your next paper!

Reader Interactions

How Counterclaim Your Position in an Argumentative Essay

by Antony W

April 7, 2022

When it comes to an argumentative essay , you have to consider both sides of the argument.

Sure, the goal of the assignment is to take a side on an issue and give evidence to support your stand.

However, if you fail to focus on both sides of the argument, you’ll appear narrowly minded and your essay will be less effective.

So to write a good argumentative essay that can convince your audience or instructor to keep reading to learn more about the issue under investigation, you should include a counterclaim in the paper.

A counterclaim is one of the elements of an argument that shows you invested your time and effort to investigate the two sides of an issue before taking your own stand on the topic.

What is a Counterclaim in an Argumentative Essay?

A counterclaim is simply one or more arguments that oppose the thesis statement of your argument.

Before you arrive at a counterclaim, you need to make sure your thesis explains what you claim you want to prove and how you’d like to do it.

You don’t include a counterclaim in the thesis part. Rather, the thesis should explicitly explain that you’ve done your research and you're convinced that the viewpoint of the opposing side is either invalid or weak.

By including a counterclaim in your essay, you create for yourself an opportunity to give a solid response to a reader’s arguments even before they finish reading the paper.

You end up with an essay that’s not only interesting to read but also one that strengthen your position.

How to Deal With Counterclaims in Your Essay

Counterclaims can be quite challenging to write.

On the one hand, you have your position to defend and you have to do so using all the evidences that you can use.

On the other hand, you have the opposing view to consider and include in the essay.

The question is, how do you consider the counterclaims without weakening your position ?

You can do so in two ways.

The first option is to note and point out the obvious flaws in the opposing arguments. This will show that, while you recognize the opposing views, they have a weakness that your point of view is trying to address.

By identifying the obvious flaws in a counterclaim, you’ll strengthen your own point of view on the issue. The second option is where you agree with the counter argument, but you take this a step further by providing a new evidence that can either weaken or contradict the counterargument.

Again, this will go a long way to strengthen your position and convince your audience to agree with you even if the subject in question is sensitive or controversial.

The Common Types of Counter Arguments in Argumentative Essays

There are 5 types of counterclaims that you’ll encounter as you work on your argumentative essay.

It’s important to understand each before we look at how you can respond to the counter claims.

Your audience (your reader) may come up with an evidence that could potentially weaken your position. Find out what the evidence can be. Cite and examine the evidence and then conclude by responding to it.
You can have a situation where an audience draws a different conclusion from the examples you present. If so, you should find a unique conclusion and then respond to it accordingly.
Sometimes a reader is highly likely to question the claim of your argument . In such a situation, it’s best to identify those claims, explain, and then give a solid response.
You can have an instance where someone disagrees with your claim. If this is the case, you should explain their perspective in your argument and then give a reasonable response.
If a reader can give a different explanation for an issue, you should figure out what that explanation might be and then give a completely different explanation yourself.

With that out of the way, let us look at how you can respond to a counterclaim in a way that makes your essay stand a chance to win an argument.

How to Respond to Counterclaims

There are a few response strategies that you can use to respond to counterclaims, but you don’t have to use all of them in the same paper.

The most important thing to do is to choose a strategy that makes the most sense for a particular counterargument.

If you find yourself nodding in agreement with some of the arguments that your reader or audience present, present their points and then give a challenge to oppose their points.
There may be an instance where a counterclaim provides an evidence different from what you have in your own argument. In such a case, it would be best if you give the reader a reason not to accept the evidence that the counter argument presents.
Some arguers will come up with counterclaims that threaten to weaken your argument. In this case, you need to give a thorough explanation on the how or why the evidence they’ve presented doesn’t interfere with or invalidate your claim.

Hire Our Team to Write Your Argumentative Essay

While counterclaims are expected in an argument, responding to them can be quite challenging. So if you feel like the task is too overwhelming to handle even after reading this guide, feel free to get in touch with us and we’ll help you write a high quality argumentative essay fast.

Get in touch with your professional team of writers and get your argumentative essay completed on time

At Help for Assessment, our goal is to see you excel in your academics.

Part of contributing to that vision is by helping you write essays that grab attention, spike reading interest, and earn you the grades that you deserve.

About the author

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

How to Write an Effective Counterclaim in 5 Steps

So, you’re laboring over a killer argumentative essay — and you want to make absolutely sure that you have all your bases covered? Your essay absolutely needs at least one counterclaim with a rebuttal if you are determined to make it the best it can be.

Unless you are already an experiences essayist, however, it can prove tough to write a solid counterclaim. Watch and learn — with this guide, you’ll get ready to write a powerful counterclaim in no time!

Essay Counterclaim: The Basics

The “too long; didn’t read” version is as follows — a counterclaim is a rhetorical tool used in essay writing. You present a viewpoint for which you are not arguing in a counterclaim, and then proceed to refute it; explaining why people should disagree with the opposing argument and agree with you, instead.

As you’re writing your essay, you will inevitably make various claims. Claims can be defined as debatable statements — the views for which you are arguing in your essay. Your thesis statement will be the main, overarching, claim you make in your essay, and this can be followed by multiple further claims in favor of your argument.

Let’s see this in action:

Thesis: “Unleashed dogs are a serious public health concern in Masonville. Policy must be amended to make it mandatory for all dogs to be leashed, at all times, and fines must be imposed on those who fail to comply.”
Claim: “Unleashed dogs have decimated the local deer population.”
Claim: “5 children and an elderly person have sustained serious dog bites that required medical attention in the last three years.”
Claim: “Data from other jurisdictions shows that imposing penalties for unleashed dogs reduces incidents with dogs immensely.”

If your essay looks something like this, you’re building a compelling case. You have defined your viewpoint, offered arguments that lead to a conclusion, and you have also shared data that your proposed solution could work.

What’s missing?

To truly make a convincing argument, you have to show that you understand the subject matter you are tackling deeply — something that inevitably includes listening to the opposing side in the argument.

That is where your counterclaim comes in. A counterclaim can be defined as a claim that directly opposes yours.

If your reaction is “Wait, what!? I have to argue against myself?” right now, hold on. There are multiple strong reasons to include a counterclaim in your essay. Here’s a look:

By including a counterclaim, or indeed multiple, you show that you don’t have tunnel vision. You have also considered the other side.
Readers who support the other side of the argument will likely react with a “Yes, that’s right!”. This has the effect of making them feel heard, which in turn makes them more open to listening to you.
After all that, you can — finally — respectfully and artfully refute the counterclaim. You understand the opposing viewpoint and you have deeply considered its merits, but you disagree. Lay out why, and why those who previously agreed with the opposing argument might want to consider coming over to your side, instead.

Let’s see that in action again:

Many dog owners claim that leashing dogs robs them of the ability to run around and have fun — something they consider integral to their dogs’ health and wellbeing. While it is certainly true that dogs need exercise, long leashes allow for plenty of freedom of movement. Dog parks, where dogs could run free, are another possible solution in this case.

Claim vs Counterclaim: What Is the Difference?

The difference between a claim and a counterclaim can best be summed up by saying that a claim is used to argue the position you are defending in your essay, while a counterclaim takes the opposing viewpoint. A counterclaim is an argument against your argument, in other words.

That is not the only difference between the two. To make an effective claim, a writer simply has to:

Make the claim.
Provide evidence or logical arguments supporting the claim.
Where desired, follow this with rhetorical tools such as appeals to emotion or logic to further convince the audience.

A counterclaim requires more elements:

The counterclaim itself — which states an opposing argument.
Evidence that people in fact hold this view is very much welcomed; to make a good counterclaim, you cannot simply lay out positions that are almost never taken.
An explanation as to why people may hold this view.
Finally, a rebuttal, in which you explain why the counterclaim is weak, and your original position is correct.

How to Write an Effective Counterclaim: Step-by-Step

Writing an effective counterclaim — or even several, as you may be called to do in longer essays — can be challenging. That is particularly true if you fervently believe in the argument you are making, and have a hard time understanding how anyone could disagree with it.

However, it is important to remain as objective as possible as you craft a counterclaim for your essay. Here is a look at the process you may use to decide on a good counterclaim.

Deciding Where to Place Your Counterclaim

It is typically very effective to open your essay with a compelling hook, which may consist of a powerful anecdote, statistics, or a dramatic introduction to a pressing problem. You will then want to introduce your thesis statement, and begin making claims — which you back up with evidence and further arguments.

Your counterclaim, or counter claims, should be placed after this portion of your essay. In short essays, that means it will be somewhere near the end. However, you will want to summarize your main argument succinctly and write a memorable conclusion in the paragraphs that follow your counterclaim paragraph.

Deciding How Long Your Counterclaim Should Be

The length of a counterclaim, and indeed the number of counterclaims you decide to include, depends on the target length of your essay. You will typically require at least a short paragraph to be able to do your counterclaim justice, because you are not simply stating that some people disagree with your argument. You also want to explain why.

In some cases, you will be able to write a short rebuttal in the same paragraph. In others, you may choose to refute the counterclaim in the next paragraph.

Researching Opposing Viewpoints

To write an effective counterclaim, it is important to understand the arguments that may be used to oppose your claims. Don’t simply turn your claim or thesis statement on its head, but research why people disagree with the argument you are making, and on what basis. Where possible, try to find out how common the view you are portraying in your counterclaim is.

Presenting the Opposing Viewpoint Fairly

Once you immerse yourself in the types of arguments people who disagree with your thesis make, and truly understand where they are coming from, you are ready to craft a good counterclaim. Try this exercise first. Imagine what you would write if you sincerely held the opposing view, and then go ahead and do it.

Writing Your Counterclaim Paragraph

Before presenting the counterclaim, you will need to introduce the fact that you will be doing this by making a smooth transition in your writing. Good ways to start your counterclaim paragraph include:

“Critics have argued that…”
“Some people may conclude that”
“On the other side of the argument, people are concerned that…”
“The opposing viewpoint states that…”

Once you have stated the alternative view, go ahead and describe why that view is held. Present evidence.

You can now either start a new paragraph to write a rebuttal, or — if you can keep it short — do so in the same paragraph.

A rebuttal can include:

Reasons why the opposing view you presented in your counterclaim is weak or false.
An acknowledgment that the views presented in the counterclaim have merit, but there is a solution that would render the concerns the opposing side has baseless.
An explanation that the views presented in the counterclaim are exceedingly rare, or the benefits of your argument outweigh the risks the counterclaim sets forth.

Additional Tips on Writing a Counterclaim

If you have followed along so far, you are almost ready to make a very effective counterclaim, complete with a refutation. You may even have penned a draft. So far, so good, but you do have some additional things to watch out for as you write your counterclaim:

Be objective in the language you use. Do not state that you disagree with the counterclaim, or argue that some people “erroneously believe that…”, for example. Simply present the counterclaim as an alternative opinion.
Be fair. Do not caricature the viewpoint you are presenting in your counterclaim. Do not use condescending language. When you share the opposing argument, do so using words that those who hold that view may, in fact, use.
Don’t forget to include evidence. Your evidence can demonstrate that a significant percentage of people hold the view you address in your counterclaim, and it should also, where possible, back up the counterclaim. In the example we used earlier, regarding the benefits of allowing dogs to run around without being leashed, you could look for studies that show that dogs need a certain amount of physical exercise.
Be fair in your rebuttal, too. The extent to which you do this depends on your aim. If you are writing a high school or college essay, you may simply prefer to throw some hard-hitting verbal punches. If, on the other hand, you are sincerely hoping to convince people who currently hold the alternative opinion you just described that you are right, you will have to be more careful. Validate their underlying concerns or values, and explain why your argument works within that context.

Does every essay need a counterclaim?

No. There are many kinds of essays. An expository essay, for instance, simply explores a topic, and will not need a counterclaim. A narrative essay shares the writer’s personal experience, and will not require a counterclaim. Counterclaims have an important place in argumentative essays, which require the writer to demonstrate that they understand the topic thoroughly and have considered all sides.

How many counterclaims should I include?

If you make multiple claims, you may choose to write a counterclaim for each of them. Depending on the length of your essay, you may even decide to include multiple counterclaims for each claim.

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How to write counterclaim: essential guide.

October 20, 2021

Are you trying to address your opinion and convince someone of your point of view? A counterclaim is what you need! A claim is an idea or an opinion that someone stands by. A counterclaim, however, is an opposing point of view about the concept. A strategic argumentative essay defines what the other side may say and explains why their claim is wrong; this is a counterclaim.

A counterclaim is included in argumentative writing and thesis to convince the reader to accept your claim. It’s essential to craft a good counterclaim to convince and get the reader on your side. The blog will provide you with complete insight into everything you need to know about writing counterclaims.

What is a Counterclaim in Writing?

A counterclaim is the other side of the argument or your original claim. In your claim, you make clear what you plan to prove. The counterclaim paragraph shows the opponent’s side of viewpoint and defines it in a way that seems weak and invalid.

The main aim behind the counterclaim is to convince the reader of your point of view. Hence, it’s essential to write a strong counterclaim paragraph to answer all the potential arguments the reader might have. A counterclaim essay, if done well, shows that the writer has considered both sides of the picture, which strengthens its position. Argumentative writing, thesis, or any other assignments that may involve convincing the audience in favor of your point of view can Use counterclaims to persuade the audience of the writer’s opinion. Any form of writing that involves more than one point of you can use claims and counterclaims to simplify the situation.

An argumentative essay is written in the following steps: Claim Counterclaim/ Counterclaims Rebuttal

Learning how to draft counterclaims is essential for every student. Individuals may need to convince the audience of their point of view when they step into real life. If you find yourself in any form of debate, you will always have a claim to fight for. You will have to create counterclaims to tell the audience about all the aspects that you have considered and then let them know the best possible option through a rebuttal.

The concept of counterclaims is also helpful for Law and business students in attaining their degrees. For law students, many cases may require a lawyer to draft a substantial counterclaim and rebuttal for the opponent in the legal issues. Likewise, in the business field, the concept of counterclaim may help the business evaluate the effectiveness of each contract. Also, considering all the contradictory aspects of your claim in any form of writing creates a good impression. The writer appears to be thoughtful, and just by considering and mentioning all the arguments, there may be present against his claim.

Claims vs. Counterclaims

How to find counterclaim.

There are a few steps and options to consider when trying to find a counterclaim:

You need to identify the target audience that will be most affected by the claim.
After you have identified your target audience, you can do quick questioning from an individual representing each group against their problems with your claim.
Meanwhile, the writer should also form an idea of the possible alternative points of view the audience may have against the main claim.
An alternative to finding a counterclaim is to note down all the disadvantages or alternative explanations that your target audience may have. However, the first option is more effective as this may allow you to find the counterclaims that may not be in your mind.

Where Do You Put A Counterclaim in an Essay?

When writing counterclaims in an essay, it’s essential to introduce the reader to the claim or the original argument. The claim is your point of view and can be argued by the reader. There is usually one main claim for which the argumentative essay revolves around. The claim is generally introduced in the introductory paragraph of your article or thesis. Right after the claim comes your counterclaim, which are the possible concerns the audience might have against your claim.

How to Introduce A Counterclaim?

There are various options you can consider on how to start a counterclaim paragraph, for example:

“On the other hand, some people say….” “Certainly, some people say….” “Admittedly, some people might say….” “A common counterpoint is often….”

You can start the counterclaim by explaining what counter-arguments the claim has. A good counterclaim paragraph will strengthen your essay and your position in the eyes of the reader.

How to Write a Counterclaim?

When writing a counterclaim, you need to imagine a skeptical reader and then draft your counterclaim paragraph. In the counterclaim, cite all the critics or sources who may resist your claim. The main aim behind the counterclaim is to address all the possible concerns of the reader to refute them. You can manage them by using the following words:

“However, some socials would certainly believe….” “Here, many feminists would argue….” “The opposing view is that….”

Moreover, it’s also vital that you evaluate your claim for all the possible problems and disadvantages that the claim may have. After introducing the counterclaim, discuss why it is incorrect. Also, use this part of the essay to think of alternate solutions that the claim may have in the following words:

“Alternatively, the issue could be viewed….” “Others may conclude….” “Despite this information….”

Explain the counterclaim as clearly and briefly as you can. It’s also an excellent strategy to prove where possible to weaken the opponent’s point of view.

How to Write A Good Counterclaim?

There are few tips that you can keep in mind when drafting a counterclaim.

Never introduce your counterclaim in the introductory paragraph: It’s a rule you should abide by to create an effective essay. Stating a counterclaim in the introduction makes the essay look vague.
When you start your counterclaim do not state it as right or wrong: Talk about why a counterclaim is believed instead of considering it right or wrong. Write a counterclaim in a way that the reader automatically turns in your favor.
Always choose the best words for your counterclaim: You don’t want to sound rude to the reader so always choose the words wisely.
It’s also essential to be just and unbiased as you write a counterclaim: To strengthen your thesis or argument you should always sound unbiased towards your opinion. The reader should know that you talking on the basis of facts and you don’t just want to implement your point of view.
Always provide evidence that supports your counterclaim: Providing evidence where ever possible is another great way to write counterclaims. Providing evidence to support the counterclaim makes it easier to convince the reader of your claim.

What Is A Rebuttal?

Your response to the counterclaim is known as the rebuttal. In this section, you showcase the evidence that disagrees with the counterclaim. You present all your reasoning to shoot down the opponent’s disagreement and bring them to your side. The comebacks are always intense; likewise, a rebuttal paragraph should clearly explain why you support your claim. An excellent rebuttal might involve research to get the full knowledge of the facts. This will also allow you to resolve the argument in the best way.

How To Write Counterclaim And Rebuttal?

After the counterclaim argument, we come to the solution in the form of a rebuttal. In the counterclaim, the paragraph mentions the counterargument a reader might have for your claim. Then we move on to resolving the debate by writing a rebuttal. It’s crucial to sound polite as you start with your rebuttal. The tone of your essay can make a significant impact on the audience; therefore, make sure to respect the different options as you write a rebuttal. There are few examples of how you can begin your rebuttal:

“Although some people think..others understand….” “The Evidence, however, clearly supports the argument that….” “This may be an understandable concern, however….”

Moreover, provide a point-by-point reply to all the counterclaims you have outlined. Make sure not to miss out on any counterclaim otherwise, your essay will look incomplete and vague. Also, if you miss out on any counterclaim in your rebuttal, this may weaken your claim. Rebuttal marks the end of your argument, so it’s advised to finish it with friendly and positive sentences. The tone of the rebuttal will let the audience know that you have done your best to come up with the best solution to the counterclaim. Lastly, when your rebuttal is done and your argument is sorted, it’s time to review your work. Read your work from the perspective of the reviewer. Will they be satisfied by the explanations you have given? Is the text clear and easily comprehendible? If the answer to all these questions is yes, you can submit your paper or argument confidently.

Example Of Claim, Counterclaim, And Rebuttal

Claim: Cellphones should be banned from school as they distract students from learning Counterclaim: Others may say that students should carry cell phones for emergency purposes. Rebuttal: There are many other less disruptive ways parents can use to communicate with their kids.

Need Help Writing A Counterclaim?

Writing a counterclaim for your thesis can be tricky, and you may need help with your work. Our writing services offer assistance for writing counterclaims. They offer reliable and creative solutions for all your writing needs. Our writers make sure to do proper research for the content so that there is no room for error. Our researchers are well versed in the services they offer. The writing services can easily be accessed online and cater to all the assignments of college, university, and other classes. You can contact the writing services for a custom-based package if you hire them for a long-term basis. Even the professors can benefit from the writing services by getting their student’s work proofread.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 key tips for how to write an argumentative essay.

General Education

If there’s one writing skill you need to have in your toolkit for standardized tests, AP exams, and college-level writing, it’s the ability to make a persuasive argument. Effectively arguing for a position on a topic or issue isn’t just for the debate team— it’s for anyone who wants to ace the essay portion of an exam or make As in college courses.

To give you everything you need to know about how to write an argumentative essay , we’re going to answer the following questions for you:

What is an argumentative essay?
How should an argumentative essay be structured?
How do I write a strong argument?
What’s an example of a strong argumentative essay?
What are the top takeaways for writing argumentative papers?

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepped and ready to write a great argumentative essay yourself!

Now, let’s break this down.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a type of writing that presents the writer’s position or stance on a specific topic and uses evidence to support that position. The goal of an argumentative essay is to convince your reader that your position is logical, ethical, and, ultimately, right . In argumentative essays, writers accomplish this by writing:

A clear, persuasive thesis statement in the introduction paragraph
Body paragraphs that use evidence and explanations to support the thesis statement
A paragraph addressing opposing positions on the topic—when appropriate
A conclusion that gives the audience something meaningful to think about.

Introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion: these are the main sections of an argumentative essay. Those probably sound familiar. Where does arguing come into all of this, though? It’s not like you’re having a shouting match with your little brother across the dinner table. You’re just writing words down on a page!

...or are you? Even though writing papers can feel like a lonely process, one of the most important things you can do to be successful in argumentative writing is to think about your argument as participating in a larger conversation . For one thing, you’re going to be responding to the ideas of others as you write your argument. And when you’re done writing, someone—a teacher, a professor, or exam scorer—is going to be reading and evaluating your argument.

If you want to make a strong argument on any topic, you have to get informed about what’s already been said on that topic . That includes researching the different views and positions, figuring out what evidence has been produced, and learning the history of the topic. That means—you guessed it!—argumentative essays almost always require you to incorporate outside sources into your writing.

What Makes Argumentative Essays Unique?

Argumentative essays are different from other types of essays for one main reason: in an argumentative essay, you decide what the argument will be . Some types of essays, like summaries or syntheses, don’t want you to show your stance on the topic—they want you to remain unbiased and neutral.

In argumentative essays, you’re presenting your point of view as the writer and, sometimes, choosing the topic you’ll be arguing about. You just want to make sure that that point of view comes across as informed, well-reasoned, and persuasive.

Another thing about argumentative essays: they’re often longer than other types of essays. Why, you ask? Because it takes time to develop an effective argument. If your argument is going to be persuasive to readers, you have to address multiple points that support your argument, acknowledge counterpoints, and provide enough evidence and explanations to convince your reader that your points are valid.

Our 3 Best Tips for Picking a Great Argumentative Topic

The first step to writing an argumentative essay deciding what to write about! Choosing a topic for your argumentative essay might seem daunting, though. It can feel like you could make an argument about anything under the sun. For example, you could write an argumentative essay about how cats are way cooler than dogs, right?

It’s not quite that simple . Here are some strategies for choosing a topic that serves as a solid foundation for a strong argument.

Choose a Topic That Can Be Supported With Evidence

First, you want to make sure the topic you choose allows you to make a claim that can be supported by evidence that’s considered credible and appropriate for the subject matter ...and, unfortunately, your personal opinions or that Buzzfeed quiz you took last week don’t quite make the cut.

Some topics—like whether cats or dogs are cooler—can generate heated arguments, but at the end of the day, any argument you make on that topic is just going to be a matter of opinion. You have to pick a topic that allows you to take a position that can be supported by actual, researched evidence.

(Quick note: you could write an argumentative paper over the general idea that dogs are better than cats—or visa versa!—if you’re a) more specific and b) choose an idea that has some scientific research behind it. For example, a strong argumentative topic could be proving that dogs make better assistance animals than cats do.)

You also don’t want to make an argument about a topic that’s already a proven fact, like that drinking water is good for you. While some people might dislike the taste of water, there is an overwhelming body of evidence that proves—beyond the shadow of a doubt—that drinking water is a key part of good health.

To avoid choosing a topic that’s either unprovable or already proven, try brainstorming some issues that have recently been discussed in the news, that you’ve seen people debating on social media, or that affect your local community. If you explore those outlets for potential topics, you’ll likely stumble upon something that piques your audience’s interest as well.

Choose a Topic That You Find Interesting

Topics that have local, national, or global relevance often also resonate with us on a personal level. Consider choosing a topic that holds a connection between something you know or care about and something that is relevant to the rest of society. These don’t have to be super serious issues, but they should be topics that are timely and significant.

For example, if you are a huge football fan, a great argumentative topic for you might be arguing whether football leagues need to do more to prevent concussions . Is this as “important” an issue as climate change? No, but it’s still a timely topic that affects many people. And not only is this a great argumentative topic: you also get to write about one of your passions! Ultimately, if you’re working with a topic you enjoy, you’ll have more to say—and probably write a better essay .

Choose a Topic That Doesn’t Get You Too Heated

Another word of caution on choosing a topic for an argumentative paper: while it can be effective to choose a topic that matters to you personally, you also want to make sure you’re choosing a topic that you can keep your cool over. You’ve got to be able to stay unemotional, interpret the evidence persuasively, and, when appropriate, discuss opposing points of view without getting too salty.

In some situations, choosing a topic for your argumentative paper won’t be an issue at all: the test or exam will choose it for you . In that case, you’ve got to do the best you can with what you’re given.

In the next sections, we’re going to break down how to write any argumentative essay —regardless of whether you get to choose your own topic or have one assigned to you! Our expert tips and tricks will make sure that you’re knocking your paper out of the park.

The Thesis: The Argumentative Essay’s Backbone

You’ve chosen a topic or, more likely, read the exam question telling you to defend, challenge, or qualify a claim on an assigned topic. What do you do now?

You establish your position on the topic by writing a killer thesis statement ! The thesis statement, sometimes just called “the thesis,” is the backbone of your argument, the north star that keeps you oriented as you develop your main points, the—well, you get the idea.

In more concrete terms, a thesis statement conveys your point of view on your topic, usually in one sentence toward the end of your introduction paragraph . It’s very important that you state your point of view in your thesis statement in an argumentative way—in other words, it should state a point of view that is debatable.

And since your thesis statement is going to present your argument on the topic, it’s the thing that you’ll spend the rest of your argumentative paper defending. That’s where persuasion comes in. Your thesis statement tells your reader what your argument is, then the rest of your essay shows and explains why your argument is logical.

Why does an argumentative essay need a thesis, though? Well, the thesis statement—the sentence with your main claim—is actually the entire point of an argumentative essay. If you don’t clearly state an arguable claim at the beginning of your paper, then it’s not an argumentative essay. No thesis statement = no argumentative essay. Got it?

Other types of essays that you’re familiar with might simply use a thesis statement to forecast what the rest of the essay is going to discuss or to communicate what the topic is. That’s not the case here. If your thesis statement doesn’t make a claim or establish your position, you’ll need to go back to the drawing board.

Example Thesis Statements

Here are a couple of examples of thesis statements that aren’t argumentative and thesis statements that are argumentative

The sky is blue.

The thesis statement above conveys a fact, not a claim, so it’s not argumentative.

To keep the sky blue, governments must pass clean air legislation and regulate emissions.

The second example states a position on a topic. What’s the topic in that second sentence? The best way to keep the sky blue. And what position is being conveyed? That the best way to keep the sky blue is by passing clean air legislation and regulating emissions.

Some people would probably respond to that thesis statement with gusto: “No! Governments should not pass clean air legislation and regulate emissions! That infringes on my right to pollute the earth!” And there you have it: a thesis statement that presents a clear, debatable position on a topic.

Here’s one more set of thesis statement examples, just to throw in a little variety:

Spirituality and otherworldliness characterize A$AP Rocky’s portrayals of urban life and the American Dream in his rap songs and music videos.

The statement above is another example that isn’t argumentative, but you could write a really interesting analytical essay with that thesis statement. Long live A$AP! Now here’s another one that is argumentative:

To give students an understanding of the role of the American Dream in contemporary life, teachers should incorporate pop culture, like the music of A$AP Rocky, into their lessons and curriculum.

The argument in this one? Teachers should incorporate more relevant pop culture texts into their curriculum.

This thesis statement also gives a specific reason for making the argument above: To give students an understanding of the role of the American Dream in contemporary life. If you can let your reader know why you’re making your argument in your thesis statement, it will help them understand your argument better.

An actual image of you killing your argumentative essay prompts after reading this article!

Breaking Down the Sections of An Argumentative Essay

Now that you know how to pick a topic for an argumentative essay and how to make a strong claim on your topic in a thesis statement, you’re ready to think about writing the other sections of an argumentative essay. These are the parts that will flesh out your argument and support the claim you made in your thesis statement.

Like other types of essays, argumentative essays typically have three main sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Within those sections, there are some key elements that a reader—and especially an exam scorer or professor—is always going to expect you to include.

Let’s look at a quick outline of those three sections with their essential pieces here:

Introduction paragraph with a thesis statement (which we just talked about)
Support Point #1 with evidence
Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary (AKA, the fun part!)
Support Point #2 with evidence
Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary
Support Point #3 with evidence
New paragraph addressing opposing viewpoints (more on this later!)
Concluding paragraph

Now, there are some key concepts in those sections that you’ve got to understand if you’re going to master how to write an argumentative essay. To make the most of the body section, you have to know how to support your claim (your thesis statement), what evidence and explanations are and when you should use them, and how and when to address opposing viewpoints. To finish strong, you’ve got to have a strategy for writing a stellar conclusion.

This probably feels like a big deal! The body and conclusion make up most of the essay, right? Let’s get down to it, then.

How to Write a Strong Argument

Once you have your topic and thesis, you’re ready for the hard part: actually writing your argument. If you make strategic choices—like the ones we’re about to talk about—writing a strong argumentative essay won’t feel so difficult.

There are three main areas where you want to focus your energy as you develop a strategy for how to write an argumentative essay: supporting your claim—your thesis statement—in your essay, addressing other viewpoints on your topic, and writing a solid conclusion. If you put thought and effort into these three things, you’re much more likely to write an argumentative essay that’s engaging, persuasive, and memorable...aka A+ material.

Focus Area 1: Supporting Your Claim With Evidence and Explanations

So you’ve chosen your topic, decided what your position will be, and written a thesis statement. But like we see in comment threads across the Internet, if you make a claim and don’t back it up with evidence, what do people say? “Where’s your proof?” “Show me the facts!” “Do you have any evidence to support that claim?”

Of course you’ve done your research like we talked about. Supporting your claim in your thesis statement is where that research comes in handy.

You can’t just use your research to state the facts, though. Remember your reader? They’re going to expect you to do some of the dirty work of interpreting the evidence for them. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between evidence and explanations, and how and when to use both in your argumentative essay.

What Evidence Is and When You Should Use It

Evidence can be material from any authoritative and credible outside source that supports your position on your topic. In some cases, evidence can come in the form of photos, video footage, or audio recordings. In other cases, you might be pulling reasons, facts, or statistics from news media articles, public policy, or scholarly books or journals.

There are some clues you can look for that indicate whether or not a source is credible , such as whether:

The website where you found the source ends in .edu, .gov, or .org
The source was published by a university press
The source was published in a peer-reviewed journal
The authors did extensive research to support the claims they make in the source

This is just a short list of some of the clues that a source is likely a credible one, but just because a source was published by a prestigious press or the authors all have PhDs doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best piece of evidence for you to use to support your argument.

In addition to evaluating the source’s credibility, you’ve got to consider what types of evidence might come across as most persuasive in the context of the argument you’re making and who your readers are. In other words, stepping back and getting a bird’s eye view of the entire context of your argumentative paper is key to choosing evidence that will strengthen your argument.

On some exams, like the AP exams , you may be given pretty strict parameters for what evidence to use and how to use it. You might be given six short readings that all address the same topic, have 15 minutes to read them, then be required to pull material from a minimum of three of the short readings to support your claim in an argumentative essay.

When the sources are handed to you like that, be sure to take notes that will help you pick out evidence as you read. Highlight, underline, put checkmarks in the margins of your exam . . . do whatever you need to do to begin identifying the material that you find most helpful or relevant. Those highlights and check marks might just turn into your quotes, paraphrases, or summaries of evidence in your completed exam essay.

What Explanations Are and When You Should Use Them

Now you know that taking a strategic mindset toward evidence and explanations is critical to grasping how to write an argumentative essay. Unfortunately, evidence doesn’t speak for itself. While it may be obvious to you, the researcher and writer, how the pieces of evidence you’ve included are relevant to your audience, it might not be as obvious to your reader.

That’s where explanations—or analysis, or interpretations—come in. You never want to just stick some quotes from an article into your paragraph and call it a day. You do want to interpret the evidence you’ve included to show your reader how that evidence supports your claim.

Now, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be saying, “This piece of evidence supports my argument because...”. Instead, you want to comment on the evidence in a way that helps your reader see how it supports the position you stated in your thesis. We’ll talk more about how to do this when we show you an example of a strong body paragraph from an argumentative essay here in a bit.

Understanding how to incorporate evidence and explanations to your advantage is really important. Here’s why: when you’re writing an argumentative essay, particularly on standardized tests or the AP exam, the exam scorers can’t penalize you for the position you take. Instead, their evaluation is going to focus on the way you incorporated evidence and explained it in your essay.

Focus Area 2: How—and When—to Address Other Viewpoints

Why would we be making arguments at all if there weren’t multiple views out there on a given topic? As you do research and consider the background surrounding your topic, you’ll probably come across arguments that stand in direct opposition to your position.

Oftentimes, teachers will ask you to “address the opposition” in your argumentative essay. What does that mean, though, to “ address the opposition ?”

Opposing viewpoints function kind of like an elephant in the room. Your audience knows they’re there. In fact, your audience might even buy into an opposing viewpoint and be waiting for you to show them why your viewpoint is better. If you don’t, it means that you’ll have a hard time convincing your audience to buy your argument.

Addressing the opposition is a balancing act: you don’t want to undermine your own argument, but you don’t want to dismiss the validity of opposing viewpoints out-of-hand or ignore them altogether, which can also undermine your argument.

This isn’t the only acceptable approach, but it’s common practice to wait to address the opposition until close to the end of an argumentative essay. But why?

Well, waiting to present an opposing viewpoint until after you’ve thoroughly supported your own argument is strategic. You aren’t going to go into great detail discussing the opposing viewpoint: you’re going to explain what that viewpoint is fairly, but you’re also going to point out what’s wrong with it.

It can also be effective to read the opposition through the lens of your own argument and the evidence you’ve used to support it. If the evidence you’ve already included supports your argument, it probably doesn’t support the opposing viewpoint. Without being too obvious, it might be worth pointing this out when you address the opposition.

Focus Area #3: Writing the Conclusion

It’s common to conclude an argumentative essay by reiterating the thesis statement in some way, either by reminding the reader what the overarching argument was in the first place or by reviewing the main points and evidence that you covered.

You don’t just want to restate your thesis statement and review your main points and call it a day, though. So much has happened since you stated your thesis in the introduction! And why waste a whole paragraph—the very last thing your audience is going to read—on just repeating yourself?

Here’s an approach to the conclusion that can give your audience a fresh perspective on your argument: reinterpret your thesis statement for them in light of all the evidence and explanations you’ve provided. Think about how your readers might read your thesis statement in a new light now that they’ve heard your whole argument out.

That’s what you want to leave your audience with as you conclude your argumentative paper: a brief explanation of why all that arguing mattered in the first place. If you can give your audience something to continue pondering after they’ve read your argument, that’s even better.

One thing you want to avoid in your conclusion, though: presenting new supporting points or new evidence. That can just be confusing for your reader. Stick to telling your reader why the argument you’ve already made matters, and your argument will stick with your reader.

A Strong Argumentative Essay: Examples

For some aspiring argumentative essay writers, showing is better than telling. To show rather than tell you what makes a strong argumentative essay, we’ve provided three examples of possible body paragraphs for an argumentative essay below.

Think of these example paragraphs as taking on the form of the “Argumentative Point #1 → Evidence —> Explanation —> Repeat” process we talked through earlier. It’s always nice to be able to compare examples, so we’ve included three paragraphs from an argumentative paper ranging from poor (or needs a lot of improvement, if you’re feeling generous), to better, to best.

All of the example paragraphs are for an essay with this thesis statement:

Thesis Statement: In order to most effectively protect user data and combat the spread of disinformation, the U.S. government should implement more stringent regulations of Facebook and other social media outlets.

As you read the examples, think about what makes them different, and what makes the “best” paragraph more effective than the “better” and “poor” paragraphs. Here we go:

A Poor Argument

Example Body Paragraph: Data mining has affected a lot of people in recent years. Facebook has 2.23 billion users from around the world, and though it would take a huge amount of time and effort to make sure a company as big as Facebook was complying with privacy regulations in countries across the globe, adopting a common framework for privacy regulation in more countries would be the first step. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg himself supports adopting a global framework for privacy and data protection, which would protect more users than before.

What’s Wrong With This Example?

First, let’s look at the thesis statement. Ask yourself: does this make a claim that some people might agree with, but others might disagree with?

The answer is yes. Some people probably think that Facebook should be regulated, while others might believe that’s too much government intervention. Also, there are definitely good, reliable sources out there that will help this writer prove their argument. So this paper is off to a strong start!

Unfortunately, this writer doesn’t do a great job proving their thesis in their body paragraph. First, the topic sentence—aka the first sentence of the paragraph—doesn’t make a point that directly supports the position stated in the thesis. We’re trying to argue that government regulation will help protect user data and combat the spread of misinformation, remember? The topic sentence should make a point that gets right at that, instead of throwing out a random fact about data mining.

Second, because the topic sentence isn’t focused on making a clear point, the rest of the paragraph doesn’t have much relevant information, and it fails to provide credible evidence that supports the claim made in the thesis statement. For example, it would be a great idea to include exactly what Mark Zuckerberg said ! So while there’s definitely some relevant information in this paragraph, it needs to be presented with more evidence.

A Better Argument

This paragraph is a bit better than the first one, but it still needs some work. The topic sentence is a bit too long, and it doesn’t make a point that clearly supports the position laid out in the thesis statement. The reader already knows that mining user data is a big issue, so the topic sentence would be a great place to make a point about why more stringent government regulations would most effectively protect user data.

There’s also a problem with how the evidence is incorporated in this example. While there is some relevant, persuasive evidence included in this paragraph, there’s no explanation of why or how it is relevant . Remember, you can’t assume that your evidence speaks for itself: you have to interpret its relevance for your reader. That means including at least a sentence that tells your reader why the evidence you’ve chosen proves your argument.

A Best—But Not Perfect!—Argument

Example Body Paragraph: Though Facebook claims to be implementing company policies that will protect user data and stop the spread of misinformation , its attempts have been unsuccessful compared to those made by the federal government. When PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted a Federal Trade Commission-mandated assessment of Facebook’s partnerships with Microsoft and the makers of the Blackberry handset in 2013, the team found limited evidence that Facebook had monitored or even checked that its partners had complied with Facebook’s existing data use policies. In fact, Facebook’s own auditors confirmed the PricewaterhouseCoopers findings, despite the fact that Facebook claimed that the company was making greater attempts to safeguard users’ personal information. In contrast, bills written by Congress have been more successful in changing Facebook’s practices than Facebook’s own company policies have. According to The Washington Post, The Honest Ads Act of 2017 “created public demand for transparency and changed how social media companies disclose online political advertising.” These policy efforts, though thus far unsuccessful in passing legislation, have nevertheless pushed social media companies to change some of their practices by sparking public outrage and negative media attention.

Why This Example Is The Best

This paragraph isn’t perfect, but it is the most effective at doing some of the things that you want to do when you write an argumentative essay.

First, the topic sentences get to the point . . . and it’s a point that supports and explains the claim made in the thesis statement! It gives a clear reason why our claim in favor of more stringent government regulations is a good claim : because Facebook has failed to self-regulate its practices.

This paragraph also provides strong evidence and specific examples that support the point made in the topic sentence. The evidence presented shows specific instances in which Facebook has failed to self-regulate, and other examples where the federal government has successfully influenced regulation of Facebook’s practices for the better.

Perhaps most importantly, though, this writer explains why the evidence is important. The bold sentence in the example is where the writer links the evidence back to their opinion. In this case, they explain that the pressure from Federal Trade Commission and Congress—and the threat of regulation—have helped change Facebook for the better.

Why point out that this isn’t a perfect paragraph, though? Because you won’t be writing perfect paragraphs when you’re taking timed exams either. But get this: you don’t have to write perfect paragraphs to make a good score on AP exams or even on an essay you write for class. Like in this example paragraph, you just have to effectively develop your position by appropriately and convincingly relying on evidence from good sources.

Top 3 Takeaways For Writing Argumentative Essays

This is all great information, right? If (when) you have to write an argumentative essay, you’ll be ready. But when in doubt, remember these three things about how to write an argumentative essay, and you’ll emerge victorious:

Takeaway #1: Read Closely and Carefully

This tip applies to every aspect of writing an argumentative essay. From making sure you’re addressing your prompt, to really digging into your sources, to proofreading your final paper...you’ll need to actively and pay attention! This is especially true if you’re writing on the clock, like during an AP exam.

Takeaway #2: Make Your Argument the Focus of the Essay

Define your position clearly in your thesis statement and stick to that position! The thesis is the backbone of your paper, and every paragraph should help prove your thesis in one way or another. But sometimes you get to the end of your essay and realize that you’ve gotten off topic, or that your thesis doesn’t quite fit. Don’t worry—if that happens, you can always rewrite your thesis to fit your paper!

Takeaway #3: Use Sources to Develop Your Argument—and Explain Them

Nothing is as powerful as good, strong evidence. First, make sure you’re finding credible sources that support your argument. Then you can paraphrase, briefly summarize, or quote from your sources as you incorporate them into your paragraphs. But remember the most important part: you have to explain why you’ve chosen that evidence and why it proves your thesis.

What's Next?

Once you’re comfortable with how to write an argumentative essay, it’s time to learn some more advanced tips and tricks for putting together a killer argument.

Keep in mind that argumentative essays are just one type of essay you might encounter. That’s why we’ve put together more specific guides on how to tackle IB essays , SAT essays , and ACT essays .

But what about admissions essays? We’ve got you covered. Not only do we have comprehensive guides to the Coalition App and Common App essays, we also have tons of individual college application guides, too . You can search through all of our college-specific posts by clicking here.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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9.2: Introduction to Argumentative Essays

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What you’ll learn to do: evaluate argumentative essays and thesis statements

An academic argument asserts a claim and supports that claim with evidence.

The goal of an argument is to convince readers that the writer’s position is reasonable, valid, and worthy of consideration. Therefore, an argumentative thesis statement needs to be not only clear and focused, but also debatable, assertive, and reasoned. Additionally, an argumentative thesis must be able to be supported with evidence.

In this section, you’ll learn about argumentative essays and how they are shaped around strong, clear thesis statements.

Contributors and Attributions

Outcome: Argumentative Thesis Statements. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY: Attribution
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Where to Put the Essay Counterclaim

Where is the best place to put the essay counterclaim? The short and sweet answer? David Oldham, professor at Shoreline Community College, states, “The short answer is a counter-argument (counterclaim) can go anywhere except the conclusion. This is because there has to be a rebuttal paragraph after the counter-argument, so if the counter-argument is in the conclusion, something has been left out.”

The counterclaim is the opposing point of view to one’s thesis and is also known as the counterargument. The counterclaim is always accompanied by a refutation, sometimes referred to as a rebuttal. The Common Core State Standards include the counterclaim in Writing Standards 1.0 for grades 7-12. These Standards reference the organization of the counterclaim in terms of clear relationships and logical sequencing. See the boldface phrases in the following grades 7-12 Standards.

Common Core State Standards

Seventh Grade: Introduce claim(s), acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

Eighth Grade: Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

Ninth and Tenth Grade: Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

Eleventh and Twelfth Grade: Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

Placement Options

1. Writers can place a separate counterclaim paragraph with refutation as the last body paragraph prior to the conclusion paragraph.

Separate Paragraph Example #1

COUNTERCLAIM Opponents argue that after school sports can increase the likelihood of sports-related injuries. Specifically, health professionals suggest that life-threatening concussions occur at frightening rates for student athletes participating in such popular after school sports as football, soccer, basketball, and wrestling (Bancroft 22, 23). Even minor injuries sustained from participation in after school sports increase absent rates and the expense of creating injury reports for students (Sizemore 3). REFUTATION Although students do suffer both serious and minor injuries in after school sports, these injuries are quite rare. The organization, supervision, and safety measures of school-sponsored sports are superior to those of alternative fee-based community-sponsored recreational leagues or even privately sponsored sports organizations (Kinney 2). Additionally, without free after school sports programs, many students would still play sports without adult supervision and even more injuries would result.

2. Writers can place a separate counterclaim paragraph without refutation as the first body paragraph following the thesis statement to anticipate objections prior to providing evidence to prove the claim of the thesis statement.

Separate Paragraph Example #2

COUNTERCLAIM Those who favor eliminating after school sports argue that after school sports can increase the likelihood of sports-related injuries. Specifically, health professionals suggest that life-threatening concussions occur at frightening rates for student athletes participating in such popular after school sports as football, soccer, basketball, and wrestling (Bancroft 22, 23). Even minor injuries sustained from participation in after school sports increase absent rates and the expense of creating injury reports for students (Sizemore 3). Additionally, youth and adolescents are not developmentally ready to play contact sports. Key components of the brain and skeletal structure have not yet formed (Mays 14), and injuries can have lasting damage to young people.

3. Writers can embed a counterclaim and refutation within a body paragraph.

Embedded within Paragraph Example

After school sports provide safe and free programs for students who might otherwise not be able to participate in individual or team sports. The organization, supervision, and safety measures of school-sponsored sports are superior to those of alternative fee-based community-sponsored recreational leagues or even privately sponsored sports organizations (Kinney 2). Additionally, without free after school sports programs, many students would still play sports without adult supervision and even more injuries would result. COUNTERCLAIM However, some people would argue that after school sports can increase the likelihood of sports-related injuries and resulting absences with the added expenses of creating injury reports for students (Sizemore 3). REFUTATION Although students do suffer both serious and minor injuries in after school sports and there are resulting absences and injury reports, without school-sponsored sports the likelihood of more injuries from less supervised recreational leagues or privately sponsored leagues with fewer safety regulations would, no doubt, be much worse.

4. Writers can embed a counterclaim and refutation within a sentence or sentences found in a body paragraph.

Embedded within Sentences Example

After school sports provide safe and free programs for students who might otherwise not be able to participate in individual or team sports. COUNTERCLAIM Even so, some would question the safety of these programs, citing the numbers of life-threatening concussions from after school sports such as football, REFUTATION but these statistics are misleading. According to the highly respected Youth in Sports report, fewer serious injuries occur to students playing after school sports as compared to students not playing after school sports (Green 22).

5. Writers can embed a counterclaim within the introductory paragraph and use the thesis statement as refutation.

Introductory Paragraph Example

After school sports are extra-curricular activities included in most elementary, middle school, and high schools throughout the world. COUNTERCLAIM Some would argue that schools can no longer afford these programs and the expenses of lawsuits resulting from sports-related injuries. REFUTATION AS THESIS STATEMENT On the contrary, schools can and should invest in well-supervised after school sports to promote health and minimize sports-related injuries.

Each of these counterclaim placements has merit, depending upon the nature of the argumentative essay. Help students develop the writing flexibility and dexterity they need by applying each of these strategies in the draft and revision stages. As always, show models of counterclaims and refutations, teach a variety of types of evidence , and help students avoid the pitfalls of fallacious reasoning .

In addition to Where to Put the Essay Counterclaim, writing teachers may also be interested in these related articles: Counterclaim and Refutation Sentence Frames , What is the Essay Counterclaim? , and Why Use an Essay Counterclaim?

TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE

The author’s TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE includes the three printable and digital resources students need to master the CCSS W.1 argumentative and W.2 informational/explanatory essays. Each no-prep resource allows students to work at their own paces via mastery learning. How to Teach Essays includes 42 skill-based essay strategy worksheets (fillable PDFs and 62 Google slides), beginning with simple 3-word paragraphs and proceeding step-by-step to complex multi-paragraph essays. One skill builds upon another. The Essay Skills Worksheets include 97 worksheets (printables and 97 Google slides) to help teachers differentiate writing instruction with both remedial and advanced writing skills. The Eight Writing Process Essays (printables and 170 Google slides) each feature an on-demand diagnostic essay assessment, writing prompt with connected reading, brainstorming, graphic organizer, response, revision, and editing activities. Plus, each essay includes a detailed analytical (not holistic) rubric for assessment-based learning.

Grammar/Mechanics , Literacy Centers , Study Skills , Writing argument essay , argumentative essay , claims , common core writing standards , Counterarguments , Counterclaims , essay argument , essay strategies , Mark Pennington , Opposing Claims , rebut , Rebuttal , Refutation , refute , Teaching Essay Strategies , types of evidence

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IMAGES

How to Write a Counterclaim Paragraph Part 1
How to Write a Counterclaim Paragraph Part 1
How to organize it
Top Argumentative Essay Counterclaim Example Tips
Argumentative Essays: Counterclaim Paragraph Sentence 1 of 6
What Is a Claim in Writing? Examples of Argumentative Statements

VIDEO

Plagiarsim & Claim, Counterclaim, Rebuttal
Counterclaim Paragraph for Argumentative Essay
Instruction with Sample Argumentative Essay
Instruction of Counterclaim and Conclusion with Sample aesay
How To Write An Argument Essay: Evidence and Elaboration
How to Write a Perfect Argumentative essay? (3 Approaches + Outlines + Examples)

COMMENTS

Counterargument
Counterargument. When you write an academic essay, you make an argument: you propose a thesis and offer some reasoning, using evidence, that suggests why the thesis is true. When you counter-argue, you consider a possible argument against your thesis or some aspect of your reasoning. This is a good way to test your ideas when drafting, while ...
How to write a Counterclaim Paragraph, Sentence or Rebuttal
The difference between a claim and a counterclaim lies in their assertion. A claim is a statement that demonstrates the position of argument or the assertion of a fact or a truth. On the other hand, a counterclaim is an argument that negates a specific claim by rebutting it. While a claim asserts the writer's argument, a counterclaim rebuts.
Counterargument
When you make an argument in an academic essay, you are writing for an audience that may not agree with you. In fact, your argument is worth making in the first place because your thesis will not be obvious—or obviously correct—to everyone who considers the question you are asking or the topic you're addressing. Once you figure out what you want to argue—your essay's thesis—your ...
Parts of an Argumentative Essay
The 4 parts of an argumentative essay are the claim, counterclaim, reasoning, and evidence. The claim is the author's argument that they are attempting to prove in the essay. The counterclaim is ...
Organizing Your Argument
Three argumentative methods —the Toulmin Method, Classical Method, and Rogerian Method— give guidance for how to organize the points in an argument. Note that these are only three of the most popular models for organizing an argument. Alternatives exist. Be sure to consult your instructor and/or defer to your assignment's directions if ...
PDF Step-by-Step: Counterclaim and Rebuttal
Step 1: Write a counterclaim. Write a sentence that contradicts the claim. For example, if your thesis says, "Everyone should eat chocolate ice cream," then your counterclaim might be, "Some people are allergic to chocolate.". Step 2: Explain the counterclaim. The more "real" you make the opposing position, the more "right" you ...
A Guide to Rebuttals in Argumentative Essays
When writing an argumentative essay, there's always an opposing point of view. You can't present an argument without the possibility of someone disagreeing. ... To use rebuttals effectively, come up with a strong counterclaim and respectfully point out its weaknesses. Then present new ideas that fill those gaps and strengthen your point ...
How To Write A Counterclaim Like A Pro (Really)
Create a thesis statement in the last sentence. Write a counterclaim that rebuts the initial argument. Many students fail to appreciate the fact that there is a difference between a claim and a counterclaim. The claim demonstrates your position of argument or the assertion of a fact, whereas a counterclaim negates a specific claim by refuting it.
Writing a Counterargument Paragraph
When writing your counterargument paragraph, you should respond to that other position. In your paragraph: Identify the opposing argument. Respond to it by discussing the reasons the argument is incomplete, weak, unsound, or illogical. Provide examples or evidence to show why the opposing argument is unsound, or provide explanations of how the ...
How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.
How to Write a Counterclaim [Explained Simply!]
The key to excellent argumentative writing is to make your position convincing and clear while acknowledging - not to mention rebutting - the counterarguments. Fortunately, you can break down the process of crafting a great counterclaim into four simple steps: 1. Research, Research, Research. Of course, a thorough understanding of your ...
How Counterclaim Your Position in an Argumentative Essay
You can do so in two ways. The first option is to note and point out the obvious flaws in the opposing arguments. This will show that, while you recognize the opposing views, they have a weakness that your point of view is trying to address. By identifying the obvious flaws in a counterclaim, you'll strengthen your own point of view on the issue.
How to Write an Effective Counterclaim in 5 Steps
Good ways to start your counterclaim paragraph include: "Critics have argued that…". "Some people may conclude that". "On the other side of the argument, people are concerned that…". "The opposing viewpoint states that…". Once you have stated the alternative view, go ahead and describe why that view is held. Present evidence.
How To Write Counterclaim And Rebuttal Like A Pro
A counterclaim, however, is an opposing point of view about the concept. A strategic argumentative essay defines what the other side may say and explains why their claim is wrong; this is a counterclaim. A counterclaim is included in argumentative writing and thesis to convince the reader to accept your claim.
9.3: The Argumentative Essay
In an academic argument, you'll have a lot more constraints you have to consider, and you'll focus much more on logic and reasoning than emotions. Figure 1. When writing an argumentative essay, students must be able to separate emotion based arguments from logic based arguments in order to appeal to an academic audience.
Thesis Statements and Counter-Claims
Thesis Statements and Counter-Claims. A thesis statement is a claim that sets up your argument. Your thesis should situate your argument within a broader discussion, which will likely involve addressing possible objections, or counter-claims. Counter-claims will help you develop a well-rounded argument by showing you've considered many ...
Claim & Counterclaim in Argumentative Writing
Writers should state claims as fact and be as straightforward and concise as possible. In an essay or any other form of argumentative writing, the claim is usually found at the end of the first ...
How to Write an A+ Argumentative Essay
An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance. An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the ...
3 Key Tips for How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Focus Area #3: Writing the Conclusion. It's common to conclude an argumentative essay by reiterating the thesis statement in some way, either by reminding the reader what the overarching argument was in the first place or by reviewing the main points and evidence that you covered.
9.2: Introduction to Argumentative Essays
An academic argument asserts a claim and supports that claim with evidence. The goal of an argument is to convince readers that the writer's position is reasonable, valid, and worthy of consideration. Therefore, an argumentative thesis statement needs to be not only clear and focused, but also debatable, assertive, and reasoned.
Where to Put the Essay Counterclaim
The counterclaim is the opposing point of view to one's thesis and is also known as the counterargument. The counterclaim is always accompanied by a refutation, sometimes referred to as a rebuttal. The Common Core State Standards include the counterclaim in Writing Standards 1.0 for grades 7-12. These Standards reference the organization of ...