A well-written argumentative essay requires the writer to objectively approach the topic assigned to them. This means that they must not only convince the reader of their stance on the topic, but also shed light on the opposing point of view. This opposing argument/point of view that challenges the thesis statement of an essay/paper being written is called a counter argument.
While it might seem counterproductive to address a contrasting stance in an essay/paper, including counter arguments works quite well to strengthen the writer’s position on the topic. It shows that they have engaged in critical thinking and assessed all points of view in relation to the topic and are then presenting their argument as the right one.
Considering the counter argument during the research process serves an additional function. If it successfully refutes all aspects of the thesis of an essay, the thesis might not be a strong enough point of discussion and should probably be replaced with a more valid argument.
There are two important steps involved in writing an effective counter argument:
A counter argument is convincing to the reader only when it is relevant and does, in fact, “counter” the thesis of the essay. And since writers may find it difficult to oppose their own claim, here are some questions, which when answered, can assist them in the process:
While the answers to these questions could lead to multiple counter arguments, the writer ought to present the one that is the most appropriate for their essay. They must respectfully present this opposing point of view while avoiding the use of biased language throughout.
And much like in the case of any other body paragraph , the counter argument, too, is introduced with a topic sentence beginning with a suitable transition word or phrase like “On the other hand,…”, “Of course, …”, and “Admittedly, …” among others. This leads into an objective discussion of the opposing point of view, with suitable evidence.
Once the counter argument is acknowledged, the writer’s focus must shift to refuting it. They must recognize the weaknesses in the counter argument to prove it wrong and further convey how and why their thesis is stronger. Here, too, writers would do well to use objective, fact-based language .
Based on the kind of counter argument presented, the response to it can vary as follows:
The writer must then unfailingly dispute the significance of the parts of the counter argument they agree with. This section of the rebuttal could begin with a sentence like “However, this information is irrelevant to…”, “That said, I still maintain that…”, or “Nevertheless, this does not mean that (the thesis) is untrue.”
No matter what the type of rebuttal though, the writer must always include suitable evidence to strengthen it.
The placement of the counter argument is largely dependent on what the writer’s main argument is and how it has been structured in the essay. Thus, they are the best judge of where in the essay their counter claim is most likely to be effective. It can be included:
Writers must avoid going out of their way to address every counter argument to their claim as doing so will defeat the purpose of providing one in the first place.
Below is a counter argument example for a paper arguing that traditional schools are better than homeschooling as a mode of education:
Some child development experts are of the opinion that homeschooling is highly beneficial for introverted, sensitive, or highly gifted children. They claim that since it allows parents/caretakers to customize the curriculum based on their child’s needs, homeschooling can maximize the child’s potential, allowing them to thrive better than they would in a rigidly-structured traditional school (Roland, 2015). However, these rigid structures are put in place to help every child become adaptable to situations that put them out of their comfort zones. Traditional schools help children brace themselves for adulthood by providing them with the opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. When in a classroom, children learn to communicate with their peers and teachers and to work in groups without constant intervention from their parents (Carter, 2019). Although homeschooling offers a great deal of flexibility to children, it doesn’t as easily provide them with the social skills they might need to deal with challenging situations as adults.
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