A counterargument is simply a perspective that refutes your main argument for those of you unfamiliar with the term. In other words, if you’re arguing that technology does more good than damage, the counterargument is the fact that technology does more harm than good.
Like to point out: first, I cannot stress how important transitions are in writing effective counterarguments before we look at an example, there are a couple of things i’d. It very difficult – if not impossible – to distinguish between which ideas you agree with and which ideas you disagree with without them, your reader will have no way of following your train of thought and will find.
Another key factor of great counterarguments could be the concession – this is certainly, the acknowledgement that some areas of the argument that is opposing legitimate. Here is the many unknown facet of counterarguments for all students – is not your whole point of the counterargument to “disprove” the opposing argument?
Fundamentally, yes, the target is to show why your argument wins down. Having said that, the idea of the concession is always to illustrate that you’ve seriously considered a problem very carefully, in a nuanced means rather compared to simple black/white, good/bad terms. When presented demonstrably, this kind of consideration actually strengthens your argument.
You should use this basic template to produce a counterargument:
According to Perspective x, _______________________. using one hand,
-it holds true that _______________________.
-this claim has some merit because _______________________.
-the declare that _______________________ has some credibility.
Regarding the other hand,
-this viewpoint doesn’t give consideration to that _______________________.
-this claim overlooks the truth that _______________________.
Let’s observe how this will play call at a sample paragraph that works on the individual instance (yes, those will always be fine). It does not make use of the template exactly, however it’s pretty close.
Once again, we’re planning to utilize the sample prompt released because of the ACT. For the true purpose of this workout, we’re just likely to consider among the perspectives; wanting to make use of significantly more than that might be too confusing. In reality, you really need to generally avoid integrating a lot more than one outside perspective per paragraph, unless you’re a stellar author that is already more comfortable with this particular back-and-forth.
(Abridged) prompt: Automation is generally speaking viewed as an indication of progress, but exactly what is lost whenever we exchange humans with machines? Because of the variety that is accelerating existence of intelligent machines, it’s well well worth examining the implications and definitions of the existence within our life.
Perspective 1: everything we lose because of the replacement of individuals with devices is some section of our mankind. Also our mundane encounters no longer require from us respect, courtesy, and threshold for others.
Thesis: Technology should really be regarded as a force once and for all given that it produces brand brand new opportunities for folks in addition to a more successful culture.
1) Topic sentence: introduce your argument (1 phrase)
Within the last decades that are few brand new types of technology have actually developed methods for individuals talk to one another more easily and quickly than in the past.
2) Elaborate on your own argument, and offer a certain instance (2-3 sentences)
From Skype to iphones apps to Twitter, technology erases boundaries, permitting us to communicate with individuals halfway across the world as though they certainly were when you look at the next room. We have really benefitted extremely from all of these technologies: my children immigrated into the united states of america from Asia once I ended up being 6 years old, and within the last ten years, collecting round the computer to chat with my grand-parents and my aunt in Beijing is actually a regular ritual. Although my apologies that people not live across the street for them, even as we did whenever I had been little, i will be nonetheless grateful to help you to see their faces and have them updated from the information on my everyday life – something which could be impossible without “smart” machines.
3) Introduce outside perspective: 1-2 sentences
Not every person is really so excited about the results of brand new technologies, nonetheless. Attitude 1 delivers a normal issue, particularly that the replacement of men and women with devices “causes us to reduce some section of our mankind.”
4) Acknowledge that the viewpoint is not totally incorrect, and explain why (2-3 sentences)
This complaint does have some merit on one hand. Walking across the street or sitting in the subway, i will be usually struck because of the number that is sheer of staring glassy-eyed within their phones. They generally are so busy texting which they almost bump into other people, showing an obvious insufficient courtesy and threshold (notice exactly how this declaration weaves the standpoint obviously to the writer’s argument) .
5) change returning to your argument and reaffirm it sentences that are(3-4
Having said that, however, the many benefits of technology far outweigh a periodic unpleasant sidewalk encounter – at minimum from my perspeective. As opposed to separate me personally through the globe (notice just just how this declaration indirectly refutes the counterargument) , “smart” technology has offered mainly to facilitate my relationships with other people, not to ever change them.
Just how to compose the ACT that is new essay pt. 2: launching and discussing supporting viewpoints
After supplying a summary regarding the brand essay helper brand new ACT essay plus some feasible methods to it in my own past post , I want to now talk about one specific – and extremely important – skill involved with composing it: integrating other views into the very very very own argument for help.
You probably have some experience integrating the ideas of people you agree with into your writing if you’ve ever written a research paper. (and when you have actuallyn’t, you’ll get an introduction to doing this in this article.) Having said that, we discover that most high schools do maybe not clearly show pupils to weave supporting quotations, ideas, etc. fluidly within their writing. The quotes are there any, but they’re often integrated awkwardly in to the larger argument.
Frequently, pupils assume which they usually do not need to spend some time presenting or explaining their quotes since they appear so self-explanatory. They’re here to guide the argument, and in the event that argument is obvious, then your point regarding the quote is obvious…right? Well, not at all times.
The problem is the fact that analytical writing requires way more explanation than may appear necessary. In most cases, individuals come up with subjects with that they are familiar. Because they understand lots of about their subjects, they are generally unacquainted with the gaps various other people’s understanding. Being result, it just will not happen to them exactly exactly how explicit they must be, and so they wind up accidentally making away information that is required to understanding their way of thinking.
Whenever you explain a thought – any concept – on paper, you have to simply take your audience by the hand, as we say, and lead them through each step of the process of the thinking process so they aren’t getting lost. Launching other people’s terms or tips in a way that produces clear the partnership in the middle of your argument and theirs is just a key section of that procedure. Otherwise, it is just like you’ve missed ahead a couple of actions, making your reader to end and attempt come up with the pieces. If there’s one thing you don’t might like to do to your audience, it make your ideas’s difficult to follow. That applies to college, the ACT, and any other writing you might do for the following sixty or seventy years.
Once more, we’re planning to utilize the sample prompt released by the ACT.
(Abridged) prompt: Automation is generally speaking considered to be a indication of progress, exactly what is lost as soon as we exchange people with devices? Offered the accelerating variety and existence of intelligent machines, it really is well well worth examining the implications and definitions of these existence within our life.
Attitude 1: everything we lose aided by the replacement of men and women with devices is some element of our mankind. Also our encounters that are mundane longer require from us respect, courtesy, and threshold for any other individuals.
Perspective 2: devices are good at low ability, repetitive, jobs, and also at high rate, incredibly exact jobs. Both in situations, they have been much better than humans. This effectiveness results in an even more successful and world that is progressive every person.
Perspective 3: smart devices challenge our longstanding concept of just what people are and that can be. This will be good since it pushes people and devices toward new possibilities.