1. Addressing Your Opponents
Warm up: Read the sample essay on whether home-schooled children should be able to play on public school sports teams.
In your notebook, write the counterarguments addressed. Do you think McCann’s rebuttals are convincing? Why or why not?
Counterclaims
Background knowledge: What is a counterclaim?
What is a rebuttal?
Addressing Your Opponents

2. Stem Quiz 8!
Separate your desks and face front. Eyes on your own paper. No talking.

3. Counterclaim
Have students use own notebook paper. (Extra in black crate on filing cabinet).
Label – COUNTERCLAIM NOTES
Have them answer question #1.
Possible answers: The counterclaim is neutralized or defeated by the rebuttal. OR The rebuttal tells why or how the counterclaim is not an effective argument.
1. Focus on the definition of COUNTERCLAIM & REBUTTAL. Write an explanation that tells the relationship between these two terms. How do they work together?

4. As the cool kids say…
A counterclaim/Rebuttal combo is like a sick burn.
It’s NOT “You’re stupid.” “Well, your face is stupid.”
Counterclaim/Rebuttal is more intelligent (i.e. sicker). ;)
You are ‘burning’ the opponent before they even get a chance to speak. It’s a psychic burn.

5. Sample Counterclaim
Claim- Although they are traditionally seen as a distraction, students should be able to bring cell phones to school because digital literacy can be used for educational purposes.
COUNTERCLAIM Many teachers argue that students should not be able to bring cell phones to school because they could use them to communicate during a test. Although there are risks associated with allowing students to have cell phones in schools, with proper regulations like collecting them on test days the benefits outweigh the risks. According to the article, “Using Mobile Phones to Improve Educational Outcomes” by John-Harmen Valk, “Social interaction is central to effective learning, as indicated by theories of new learning, mobile phones should also impact educational outcomes by facilitating communication.”
Bonus: What should come next in this paragraph?
RED COUNTERCLAIM shows what the opposition may say about a CLAIM.
Show students that GREEN statement DISAGREES with the RED COUNTERCLAIM.
The BLUE-GREEN infor supports the GREEN argument against the counterclaim.

6. Counterclaim argument
Colin Kaepernick
Counterclaim argument
Possible rebuttal
Nothing is more American than using the rights
guaranteed by the US Constitution to create
positive change in our society. It has been done by
great Americans like Susan B. Anthony, who was
arrested in 1872 for voting. During her trial,
Anthony was not allowed to testify on her own
behalf because she was a woman and therefore
considered incompetent. She spoke out not only
for women’s right to vote, but for women to be
seen as people, not property, and to be given the
same rights as men. Though her actions were seen
as immoral for a woman in her day, she brought
about rights for women we would not otherwise
have. If we can shift the conversation away from
how Kaepernick is protesting to solving what he is
protesting, maybe there will no longer be a need
to protest.
Example: Some people say Kaepernick should not be allowed to take a knee during the National Anthem to protest police brutality against African Americans. They say his protest is unAmerican, and disrespectful.

7. Your turn! Create a counterclaim of your own using Tuesday’s homework!
Your rebuttal