Claims and Counterclaims

 What is an argument in writing?  

• A personal opinion without evidence

• A disagreement between two people

• A reason or set of reasons given to persuade others

• A random collection of facts

Which of the following is NOT one of the major purposes of an argument?  

• To change a reader’s or listener’s point of view

• To ask the reader or listener to take action

• To force someone to agree with your opinion

• To gain acceptance for an idea about a problem or issue

  What is a claim?  

• A fact that everyone agrees on

• The writer’s position on an issue

• A personal opinion with no evidence

• A statement with no purpose

Which feature does NOT describe a strong claim?  

• Clear and specific

• Debatable

• Based on personal feelings only

• Supported with evidence

  What is a counterclaim?  

• An additional argument to support the claim

• The opposing viewpoint to a claim

• A list of facts proving the claim

• A summary of the main argument

Which phrase often introduces a counterclaim?  

• "However, some argue that..."

• "This proves that..."

• "For example, research shows..."

• "This is why it is true..."

Which of the following is a counterclaim to “Plastic bags should be banned to reduce pollution”?  

• "Plastic bags are harmful to marine life."

• "Banning plastic bags is inconvenient for businesses."

• "Plastic waste takes hundreds of years to decompose."

• "Many cities have already banned plastic bags."

What makes a claim stronger?  

• Using personal opinions instead of facts

• Avoiding counterclaims

• Making the claim very broad

• Supporting it with reliable evidence

Which of the following best supports the claim: “Homework is beneficial for students”?  

• "Some students enjoy doing homework."

• "Studies show that students who do homework perform better on tests."

• "Homework takes time away from family activities."

• "Teachers assign too much homework."

Which of the following statements is a CLAIM?  

• "Some argue that video games improve problem-solving skills."

• "Video games help students develop problem-solving skills."

• "Many students enjoy playing video games."

• "Video games were invented decades ago."