1. English B1A
Counterargument

2. Supporting your stance
To strengthen your argument, you must support it with reasons and evidence.
This, on its own, is not sufficient to be convincing.
You also need to respond to your counterarguments predictable questions and objections.

3. Intrinsic soundness
Readers may question your argument’s intrinsic soundness.
This includes
The clarity of your thesis statement
The relevance of your reasoning
The quality of your evidence

4. Extrinsic soundness
Readers may also question your argument’s extrinsic soundness
This includes
Consideration of alternative solutions
Different ways of framing the problem
Evidence you’ve overlooked
Other perspectives you’ve ignored

5. When to consider the counter
Assemble your argument first before attempting to work in your acknowledgement of and response to the counter argument.
Then, imagine colleagues questioning your argument.
It is helpful to imagine a hostile audience here—that is one that disagrees with you from the outset.

6. Question your problem
Why is this a problem at all? What are the costs and/or consequences?
Why have you defined the problem as you have?

7. Question your solution
What kind of solution do you propose? Is it practical? Does your audience need more background information in order to understand it?
Have you stated your claim too strongly? Are there exceptions or limitations?
Why is your solution better than others?

8. Question your support
Do you offer multiple different types of support (hard numbers, expert testimonies, etc.)?
Is your evidence accurate?
Is it precise?
Is it current?
Is it representative of the issue?
Is it authoritative?
Do you need more of it?

9. Deciding what to acknowledge
Avoid what the text calls the “Goldilocks” moment:
Acknowledge too many counterarguments and distract your reader from your stance; acknowledge too few and risk looking indifferent to or ignorant of other views.
Find the amount that is “just right”.

10. Questions to ask yourself
What are the plausible charges of weakness I can rebut?
What are other important lines of argument in the field?
What alternative conclusions to readers want to be true?
What alternative evidence do readers already know about?
What counterexamples will you need to explain away?

11. Acknowledging questions you can’t answer
If your argument has a flaw, you shouldn’t ignore the problem which would be dishonest.
If you try to hide the weakness, your readers will question your honesty or doubt your competence.
Instead, you can respond by saying
The rest of your argument makes up for the shortcoming.
The flaw is serious but more research will find an answer for it.
Your argument offers important insight into the question and offers suggestions toward a possible solution despite the flaw

12. Making concessions
The truth is almost never black and white. Readers know this and will respect your argument (and you as the author)more if you are able to acknowledge limits.
Concessions also show readers that their views are legitimate, which can help warm them up to accept your claim.

13. Activity
Think about your own thesis statement and line of reasoning. What counter arguments can you imagine? Which have you encountered in your research? Take a minute to jot them down.
Turn to a partner, share your list, and get additional ideas.
Now, turn to pg. 146 (section 10.5) of the Craft of Research and, using the frameworks provided, acknowledge at least 3 potential counterarguments to your claim.
Be prepared to turn this in when you are finished.