1. The Argumentative Essay
Introducing the Counter Argument and Rebuttal

2. What is the purpose of an Argumentative Essay?
The purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince the reader to accept—or seriously consider--your opinion on a controversial issue
Has three major argumentative parts: Claim, Counter Claim, Rebuttal
Essay includes: Introduction, Body and Conclusion Paragraphs)

3. Consider your Audience
Whom are you trying to reach?
What do they already know about your topic?
What is your relationship with your audience and how does it impact your word choice and tone?

4. CLAIM Your opinion or position on an issue
Must be supported with evidence
(quotes, facts, data)
Evidence must be explained (DETAILS!)

5. COUNTER CLAIM Consider the opposite side Argues against your claim
Turn against your argument to challenge it and then turn back to reaffirm your position

6. Counter Claim Key phrases to use: One might object that...
It might seem that...
It's true that...
Admittedly...
Of course...

7. REBUTTAL Turn back to your original position
Responds to and refutes issues presented by the counterclaim.
**rebuttal - the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument
**refute - overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof

8. REBUTTAL
Key Phrases to use:
but
yet
however
nonetheless
still

9. EXAMPLE
CLAIM: “More Americans are choosing low-carb diets because the media promotes low-carb diets as the new way to a skinnier body.”
COUNTER CLAIM: “Some Americans don't watch television commercials because they own a DVR or Tivo, but most Americans are exposed to other forms of advertisement in magazines, newspapers, and highway billboards.”

10. Where to put it? (One Example)
Introduction
Claim 1
Claim 2
Counter Claim
Rebuttal
Conclusion
Each of these will be one paragraph!

11. Be Cautious!
It is true that counter arguments enrich argumentative writing; however, adding a weak counterargument or overdoing it cause worse results

12. Practice:
Provide a Claim and Counter Argument for the following topics:
1. Should public schools have uniforms?
2. Should high school athletes maintain 2.5 GPAs?