Essay 1 Lecture 4 — Counterargument (CA) and Rebuttal (R)
Supplement Lecture Text:
Begin CAs with key phrases like “Some _________ may argue…” The blank is where the opposition goes. For example, “Some skeptical professors may argue that the Common Reading Experience program is not beneficial. They may say…”
And always clarify you don’t mean “ALL” of the opposition. Only “SOME.”You don’t want to generalize the entire opposition because you may risk alienating your audience.
Begin Rs with key phrases like “However,” “But,” or “On the other hand.”
Rs can be in the same paragraph as the CA or a new paragraph all to itself. You have choices to make at the writer.
Want a challenge? How about starting your essay off with a counterargument and have each of your main points rebuttal the CA?
For more information on CAs and Rs, refer to pages 681-685 in The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
The CA is my favorite part of the essay. I think it helps target the opposing side. It helps them get into your argument too.
August 26th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
I do not know if you got my other comment so i did it again to be sure. I think that the CA is critical. It helps the reader to fully understand the entire point of veiw for the topic. It’s a great way to get everyone involved.
August 26th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
The CA is a critical way to fully explain the entire point of the arguement. It is a great way to get everyone invloved.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:29 am
Using CAs truly help a writer focus on the points they want to make in dispelling these arguments. I agree with Chelsea in the fact that it does imediately peak the readers attention because you are listing their opposing points of view first.