Counterargument Lesson

Counterclaim & Rebuttal

By Anna Kilpatrick

Counterclaim

What someone on the other side of the original argument would say


example:
Should uniforms be mandatory?
original claim- School uniforms should not be mandatory.
counterclaim- School uniforms should be.

Rebuttal

Your response to why the counterargument is weak or incorrect.



remember- "(re)BUT(tal) here's why they are wrong"

Example: While it is reasonable to suggest school uniforms should be mandatory, it would actually repress the individuality of students.

Open Ended

Write a counterclaim for the following claim:

Cell phones should be allowed in class.

You can use this stem: Some people might say _________.

Open Ended

Write a rebuttal for the following claim:

Cell phones should be allowed in class.

Remember the counterclaim we just wrote!

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a counterargument to the claim, "School uniforms help students focus in class"?

• School uniforms create a sense of unity among students.

• Wearing uniforms reduces stress about what to wear each day.

• Some students argue that uniforms limit their ability to express themselves.

• School uniforms are often less expensive than regular clothes.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is the best rebuttal to this counterargument?

Counterargument: "Some students say that social media helps them stay connected with friends."

• Social media is fun and easy to use.

• However, studies show that too much time on social media can increase feelings of loneliness and anxiety.

• Some people say that social media can help students with schoolwork.

• Social media is popular among teenagers.

Multiple Choice

Identify the counterargument and rebuttal in the following statement:

"Some people argue that students should have less homework, but research shows that practicing skills at home helps students perform better on tests."

• Counterargument = "students should have less homework"; Rebuttal = "research shows that practicing skills at home helps students perform better on tests."

• Counterargument = "research shows that practicing skills at home helps students perform better on tests"; Rebuttal = "students should have less homework."

• Counterargument = "students perform better on tests"; Rebuttal = "students should have less homework."

• Counterargument = "practicing skills at home helps students perform better on tests"; Rebuttal = "students should have less homework."

Multiple Choice

Which sentence introduces a rebuttal?

• Some people argue that students shouldn’t have homework because it causes stress.

• Homework helps students retain what they learned in class.

• Students need time to relax after school.

• However, homework helps students practice and improve their skills.

Multiple Choice

Which is the best rebuttal to the counterargument, "Video games are bad for kids because they make them violent"?

• However, video games are very popular among teenagers.

• However, research shows that there is no clear link between video games and increased violence.

• However, video games help kids have fun.

• However, some video games are difficult to play.