1. ACT Writing Counter Arguments

2. An argument is just a statement that someone believes is or should be true. An argument is just a statement that someone believes is or should be true. Kids should be in school Monday through Saturday!

3. A counterargument expresses the opposite point of view. Kids should not have to go to school on Saturdays.

4. Sarah’s ribbon is not a hat Does not cover her head Does not protect her head Not fitted to her head Does not cover her whole head Would not keep head dry Too flimsy Sarah’s ribbon is a hat Protects her headCovers her head Covers most of her head Can’t see her hair Could shield her eyes from sunlight Could protect from wind or dust I wish I had something more to back up my arguments.

5. Sarah’s ribbon is not a hat Does not cover her head Does not protect her head Not fitted to her head Does not cover her whole head Would not keep head dry Too flimsy Sarah’s ribbon is a hat Protects her headCovers her head Covers most of her head Can’t see her hair Could shield her eyes from sunlight Could protect from wind or dust I wish I had something more to back up my arguments.

6. Sarah’s ribbon is not a hat Does not cover her head Does not protect her head Not fitted to her head Does not cover her whole head Would not keep head dry Too flimsy Sarah’s ribbon is a hat Protects her headCovers her head Covers most of her head Can’t see her hair Could shield her eyes from sunlight Could protect from wind or dust Few hats really protect from rain anyway Yeah, but some hats only cover part of your head, like some fancy women’s hats. Not all hats cover a person’s whole head

7. Sarah’s ribbon is not a hat Does not cover her head Does not protect her head Not fitted to her head Does not cover her whole head Would not keep head dry Too flimsy Sarah’s ribbon is a hat Protects her headCovers her head Covers most of her head Can’t see her hair Could shield her eyes from sunlight Could protect from wind or dust Few hats really protect from rain anyway Not all hats cover a person’s whole head Some fancy hats are just for decoration Yeah, but some hats aren’t fitted because they’re just for decoration.

8. Sarah’s ribbon is not a hat Does not cover her head Does not protect her head Not fitted to her head Does not cover her whole head Would not keep head dry Too flimsy Sarah’s ribbon is a hat Protects her headCovers her head Covers most of her head Can’t see her hair Could shield her eyes from sunlight Could protect from wind or dust Few hats really protect from rain anyway Not all hats cover a person’s whole head Some fancy hats are just for decoration Yeah, but wind would just blow the ribbon aside. Wind would blow the ribbon aside

9. Sarah’s ribbon is not a hat Does not cover her head Does not protect her head Not fitted to her head Does not cover her whole head Would not keep head dry Too flimsy Sarah’s ribbon is a hat Protects her headCovers her head Covers most of her head Can’t see her hair Could shield her eyes from sunlight Could protect from wind or dust Few hats really protect from rain anyway Not all hats cover a person’s whole head Some fancy hats are just for decoration Yeah, but wind would just blow the ribbon aside. Wind would blow the ribbon aside

10. There are two ways to respond to counterarguments in your writing: Concession: admit that your opposition has a point, but your opinion is still the better one Barry Sanders is the best running back in NFL history. Some people claim that Emmit Smith is the better player because he has more yards and championships than Sanders does. However, Sanders is still the better running back because he played for the Detroit Lions. Therefore, he had a poor offensive line blocking for him and did not have the talented players around him that would make winning a championship possible. If Sanders would have had the same support that Smith did, he would have surpassed him in both yards and championships.

11. Refutation: show your audience how the opposing viewpoint is incorrect Considering the many challenges facing public schools, it’s understandable that many people would be eager to pursue new options. Supporters of school choice point out that under the current public school system, parents with economic means already exercise school choice by moving from areas with failing or dangerous schools to neighborhoods with better, safer schools. Their argument is that school choice would allow all parents the freedom, regardless of income level, to select the school that provides the best education, and thus all schools will improve or die out. However, what this argument fails to realize is that by allowing the best students who are most invested in their education leave their current schools, those schools will continue to decline for those students who remain in them. Thus, the “haves and have nots” polarity that currently exists will be strengthen, not eliminated, by private and charter schools.

12. Ways writers can begin by introducing counter arguments: But _______ is not completely inaccurate. It is often argued that... It is true that... Opposing views claim... Ways writers can begin concessions: Admittedly, Certainly, Of course, One cannot deny that... At the same time... Ways writers can begin refutations: Nevertheless, However, On the other hand, But...