Counterarguments

        A counterargument is an argument that is opposed to any part of an author’s thesis or personal argument. Counterarguments typically cause problems in two ways with writers.  The most common mistake is a lack of any counterarguments.  This may happen because people do not want to take the time to carefully think about their paper and develop it, as well as they do not take the time to look into what others think about their ideas.  If one thinks about what they have written, they can begin to see what issues might arise from the opposition.

However, just because a counterargument is included, does not mean that it is used correctly.  Many people include a counterargument but do not treat it appropriately.  They may introduce what someone else thinks and then ignore it without any reasons to show why it is wrong.  They may also reveal a counterargument and dismiss it without a good enough reason as to why it is wrong.  If one does not address a counterargument well enough, they are hurting themselves more than they are helping, even though they are including the counterargument.  This is why it is very important to be able to identify and refute anything that may arise in opposition to the author’s paper.

 To ensure that you have your bases covered when writing a paper, you need to deal with counterarguments.  There are several steps that you can follow to ensure that you have a solid argument.

First, you need to think of any ways that arguments may arise in opposition to yours.  If you aren’t very good at this, have a friend or a teacher read your paper and tell you what arguments they see that would be detrimental to your work.  After you do this a few times, you will get better at seeing arguments from different sides and finding the counterarguments.  However, make sure that they are relevant to your paper and not too broad.  There is no point in including counterarguments that do not have very much to do with your argument.

 After you identify the counterarguments, you need to either prove them wrong or show that their reasoning is not as strong as yours.  The best thing to do is to expose the weaknesses in the opposing argument as opposed to discrediting the author.  There may be an appropriate time to attack the author but a direct revelation of why their argument is weak is much more effective.  Sometimes, it may be necessary to admit that a counterargument is good, but then take the time to restate your thesis in a more exact way.  Also, the addition of a new section in your paper that considers your topic in light of the counterargument may help, but only if it concerns a part of your argument and not the whole thing, otherwise you may need a new thesis.

Finally, use counterarguments to develop your points or ideas.  If you include several counterarguments, as long as they are important, it helps to develop a strong paper.  Just make sure to include them in a logical order.  Also, a good defense may sometimes be a good offense.  Anticipate weaknesses in your argument that others will try to expose, and defend them right from the start.  In addition, if you have a claim that has a very strong counterargument, do not be afraid to remove it from your paper.  If you recognize your own weaknesses right away, it gives you time to make your arguments stronger before you have to consider including a counterargument.

 A quality essay clearly presents the authors standpoint.  However, regardless of the quality of their argument, there are typically counterarguments.  That is why it is necessary for the author to be able to identify and utilize them.  Counterarguments can help in several ways, by showing the author that they need to further develop their argument, or by giving them the opportunity to show why that counterargument is weak in comparison to their essay.

 

·         Example:

Let’s say that you, a first year student living in the dorms or apartments – have a car at home and would like to bring it to school with you. You suspect, however, that your parents will oppose your doing so. You decide to write them a letter proposing this plan – in your most persuasive way. You consider first all the reasons that you have for wanting your car at school: the time you will save shopping for necessities, the ease with which you will explore the area, the fun you will have getting behind the wheel, the money you will save on transportation to and from school at vacation times, and so on.

However, you can easily imagine what your parents are going to worry about. What do you think some of these worries would be?

1.      How much will it cost (in extra gas and possibly extra insurance) to have the car at school?

2.      How likely is it that your car might be stolen – or that it might be broken into and your radio stolen?

3.      What if you start spending too much time off campus and neglect your studies?

4.      What if you have an accident?

Once you consider what their counterarguments will, you can develop your letter so that you have a better chance at persuading them to allow you to bring your car to college.  If you take the time to think about the opposing arguments, you can have a much more persuasive and much stronger essay.

 

·         Handout

 

Sources

 Reading the World: Ideas That Matter.  Ed. Michael Austin.  New York: Norton, 2006. 697-698 

“Writing.” Language and Learning Online. 21 Feb. 2007. Monash University. 3 Mar.2008 http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/law/legal-process/2.3.3.xml

     Toth, Dr. Barbara, and Amanda McGuire. “Counterarguments.” Bowlig Green State
University. 3 Mar. 2008 http://www.bgsu.edu/downloads/provost/file29009.pdf

 Harvey, Gordon. “Counter-Argument.” 1999. Writing Center, Harvard U. 3 Mar. 2008
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Counterarg.html

 “Basics of Counterargument.” UCSD. 3 Mar. 2008 http://marshall.ucsd.edu/current/doc/handouts/doc2/documents/W06BasicsCounterargument.pdf