Objective
In this lesson, you will learn the following:
- definitions of the terms antithetical reasoning, counterarguments, and opposing
arguments;
- how to incorporate opposing arguments into your persuasive essay;
- how to brainstorm about to determine the positions that are in opposition
to your thesis; and
- how to gracefully include and rebut those arguments in your essay.
What Are Counterarguments?
Your teacher may explain or introduce the topic of counterarguments with many
different terms. These terms include antithetical reasoning, counterarguments,
and opposing arguments. Antithetical reasoning means thinking with contraries.
It is a philosophical technique that allows the reader to see opposites.
Counterarguments simply mean those arguments that counter or go against. Every
thesis has multiple counterarguments. If you are arguing that marijuana should
be legalized, opponents to your thesis might argue that marijuana is a gateway
drug leading to more dangerous narcotics (possible counterargument) or that
legalizing marijuana will only create a larger population of people addicted
to the drug (possible counterargument). "Opposing arguments" is simply
another term for counterarguments; those people who hold views that are in opposition
to yours might posit "opposing arguments" in a debate with you.
What is Antithetical Reasoning?
Many academic essays are thesis driven. This means that the essay revolves
around a central claim. The antithesis is-- put simply-- the opposite of the
thesis. In order to reach "counterarguments" you have to use antithetical
reasoning; in other words, you need to think about what is in opposition to
your stated thesis. One way of doing this is writing out your thesis. Then,
make a list of all the possible opposing claims. It's likely that your thesis
won't have just one "opposite," so, work to generate all opposing
views.
Why Are Counterarguments Important?
Why, if you are trying to take a stand on an issue, would you want to bring
up the other side? Like a lawyer defending his client's innocence, in your essay
you will line up points of evidence and steadily argue your case. As any skillful
lawyer can attest, before you can create a solid essay that addresses counterarguments,
you must learn to anticipate what the "prosecution" is going to argue
and then determine how to "knock down" or disprove their claims. Likewise
in your paper, once you have built a firm case, then you can mention what other
people who disagree with you might argue and then rebut those arguments. When
you gracefully mention the other side and then proceed to discredit that point
of view, you give increased credibility to your thesis and to your overall argument.
You show the reader that you acknowledge other points of view and thus the reader
perceives you as fair. Also, you show that you have really thought about the
topic at hand and that you have chosen the most reasonable position.
What Types of Writing Need to Include Counterarguments?
Typically, you will include counterarguments in persuasive or logical argument
essays where you need to take a stand on an issue. By nature, persuasive essays
are argumentative. You try to convince your readers of a certain point of view.
For example, you might argue that school children should wear uniforms to school.
For every point of view, however, there are opposing arguments. Thus in the
case of school uniforms, others might argue that school uniforms are an infringement
on students' right to express themselves. Therefore, only essays that present
an argument can include counterarguments.
Even if you are not trying to persuade your audience but simply trying to create
a logical argument, it's still a good idea to address counterarguments in your
essay. Doing so shows you're reader that your argument is soundly constructed
and addresses all angles of an issue.
How Do You Brainstorm for Counterarguments?
The basic premise in any persuasive essay is that you are taking a stand on
an issue and then proving your point throughout your essay. So, before you can
think about counterarguments, you have to find a specific thesis for your paper.
(For more information about formulating a thesis, please see Chapter
Three, Lesson Six: Thesis Development.)
After you have decided what position you want to argue, then you need to think
about what the opposing arguments might be. Often, it is useful to brainstorm
with other people, so that you can see other points of view. If you rely on
yourself, your own bias might interfere with your ability to see the other side.
You can use any number of brainstorming techniques to generate ideas about the
other side. You can also do research in order to gather additional information
about opposing viewpoints. (See Lesson 3: Invention Methods
for more information about brainstorming; for information about conducting library
research, see Chapter Three, Lesson 11: Using the Library Wisely.)
Where and How Do I Incorporate Counterarguments?
In general, it is easiest to present your case first, and then to devote a section
of your paper to deal with counterarguments. You may find it easiest to write
a single paragraph rebutting the counterarguments or you may have to devote
several paragraphs to doing so. Be careful that your reader understands that
you have switched gears. In other words, you don't want your reader to suddenly
believe you are supporting the other side. So, having a really good topic sentence
can help the reader know what your plan is. Let's return to our capital punishment
topic. Let's pretend you are writing an essay whose thesis states that capital
punishment is an acceptable form of punishment. The following are some examples
of good topic sentences you might use for counterargument paragraphs:
- Opponents of the death penalty might argue that capital punishment violates
the eighth amendment.
- Some critics of the death penalty claim that although capital punishment
is not immoral, the cost to the taxpayer is too great.
- For each one of these paragraphs, you would proceed to discredit the opponent's
opinion. So, in the first example, you would explain how capital punishment
does not violate the eighth amendment. You could, for example, explain that
methods of execution today are indeed humane and cause no pain for the victim.
You could also point to Supreme Court cases where the court determined that
the death penalty was not cruel and unusual. You might even incorporate a
partial quote of an opinion written by one of the justices. The important
point to remember is that you want to thoroughly refute the counterargument.
Exercise
Let's look at an example of how to generate opposing arguments. Let's say you've
been asked to write a paper either in favor of or in opposition to the mandatory
community service hours for college students.
In order to use antithetical reasoning, you'll first need to come up with a
clear, arguable thesis. The thesis needs to be more than a statement of opinion.
For example, you couldn't simply write: People who do community service in college
are better people. Instead, you'd want to write something like: people who are
involved in community service projects in college tend to be more involved in
community assistance and social service projects after college; they help to
maintain the fabric of a community throughout their lives.. You could use data
to support this, and it is an arguable assertion.
Once you have you thesis, spend five to 10 minutes making a list of possible
counterarguments. What might people on "the other side" of this issue
say in response to your claim?
You can use this simply listing technique any time you write an argument or
persuasive essay.
Summary
You've learned that including counterarguments can help to strengthen your thesis
and overall argument in an essay. Incorporating counterarguments shows that
the writer is fair and has taken the most reasonable stand on the issue.
  
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