COUNTER ARGUMENT

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COUNTER ARGUMENT

• THE
• OPPOSITION!

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When you counter argue..

• You consider a possible argument AGAINST your
  thesis/opinion
• You first TURN AGAINST your own opinion
• You then RETURN to your own argument to defend it
• This all occurs within the same paragraph

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The TURN AGAINST

• Think of your target audience..who are you trying
  to convince of your position?
• Think of what your audience would say about YOUR
  positionremember they are speaking AGAINST what
  your opinion is!

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The Turn Against..Possible Phrases

• One might object here that.
• It is true that
• Admittedly
• One might feel differently about
• Many people may think.

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Counter Argument Example Bear Hunt

• Thesis The recent NJ bear hunt was an
  unnecessary measure to reduce the bear
  population. (My opinion)
• COUNTER ARGUMENT
• One might object here that the bear population
  has increased and bears have become a nuisance to
  populated, residential areas in NJ.

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THE TURN BACK

• Return to your own argument/opinion
• Within the same paragraph as the Turn Against
• Use careful reasoning
• Show why the opposition is mistaken
• Acknowledge that the opposing argument is valid,
  but suggest why its less important than your
  thesis/opinion

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The Turn BackPossible Transition Words/Phrases

• but
• While these might be valid points,
• However,
• Nevertheless,
• The fact still remains
• The facts state
• In response to these claims

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Example of Counter argument with Turn Against and
Turn Back

• Thesis The recent NJ bear hunt was an
  unnecessary measure to reduce the bear
  population.
• Counter argument with Turn Against and Turn Back
  
• It may be true that the bear population has
  increased and bears have become a nuisance to
  populated, residential areas in NJ. However,
  slaughtering hundreds of bears for sport is an
  act of animal cruelty. Other humane measures
  such as proper waste disposal would be more
  effective.

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Using this presentation (ipads), write your own
counter-argument.

• It will be the fourth paragraph in your essay.
  You may write it on another sheet of paper.