1. Counter-Argument Academic essay propose a thesis make a claim
then ARGUE
Counter-argument
Consider what might be said against your thesis
before it is said

2. Counter
Imagine that the reader doesn’t agree with you or doesn’t believe you
Same facts  different conclusion
e.g. the increase in cancer rates 
increase in smoking (your conclusion)
increase in # of chemical plants (their conclusion)
The reader may believe your ideas impractical or problematic.

3. Perhaps propose a question they might ask:
Signal the counter:
“It may be true that both cancer rates and smoking have risen; however, some people believe that the cause is environmental or related to businesses in the area not due to smoking.”
“One might object to…”
“Admittedly,…”
“Of course,…”
Perhaps propose a question they might ask:
“But how…?”
“But if that is true…?”
“But why…?”
Briefly but strongly examine possible problems with your thesis.

4. Refutation Come back to your argument.
Use a transition: “but, yet, however, nevertheless…”
Show why the counter is wrong – be thoughtful
Perhaps the counter is not really a problem or, at the very least, a minor problem
Acknowledge the valid point made in the counter – but suggest not likely to happen

5. Location
In the introductory paragraph – this works well with the Turnabout style of introduction
Rogerian model – after the introductory paragraph
Classical model – after the body (before the conclusion)
Within body paragraphs – integrated fully or at the end of body paragraphs

6. Educated people in developed countries are shockingly, Counter:
Thesis Statement:
Educated people in developed countries are shockingly,
dangerously, willfully ignorant.
Counter:
While it is true that a large number of smart people act badly on a daily basis, many people are afraid that any attempt to force them to change their behavior could lead to a dangerous “Big Brother” society. It can be argued that, in a free society, no one, especially the government, should tell free citizens if they cannot smoke, eat junk food, drive big cars, or have large families. Many people believe that they should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as their actions are not illegal or harmful to others. Even if the government is only going to educate people, the decisions about what behavior is socially acceptable will have to be made by someone. This is always problematic. Who would that someone be? Who would you trust to make these rules?

7. Refutation:
The suggestion that smoking causes no harm to other individuals ignores the extensive research on the very real dangers of second-hand smoking, and anyone who is living in a large city nowadays can attest to the eye-sting, throat-searing cost of the long lines of vehicles that daily clog the roadways. With the looming possibility of hospitals full of aging patients, no one should ignore the high cost to society of dealing with skyrocketing diabetes and heart disease rates. As social unrest, ripples through megacity after megacity and rivers and lakes are drawn down to their beds, the cost to the Earth of overpopulation cannot be ignored. Few people would be happy living in a dictatorship where every action is controlled by the government; however, the behaviors discussed in this essay are harmful to more than just the actor and modifying them would not cause undue hardship.

8. The End