Identifying and Responding to Counterarguments

What is a counterargument?

A counterargument is any point of view that differs to some degree from the point of view you’ve presented to your reader.

Recall that a thesis statement is a topic + point of view; a counterargument, then shares the topic but presents a different point of view. This understanding of a counterargument provides more flexibility as to the ideas you can engage with.

Aren’t counterarguments counterintuitive?

If you’re trying to convince your reader to accept your point of view on a topic, why should you introduce them to and discuss a point of view that challenges your own? This is a valid question when a writer is encouraged to include a counterargument in their own writing. When done well, there are significant advantages to acknowledging and engaging with a point of view that challenges your own.

Chances are strong that your reader will likely have concerns about your point of view going into your paper. By identifying a counterargument, you better ensure your reader that you are aware of their concerns and plan to account for that in your own argument. This move builds trust with your reader, improving your ethos, and increasing the likelihood that your reader will be persuaded by your argument.

An unaddressed counterargument could pose a threat to the integrity of your argument, so including one gives you the space and opportunity to engage with it on your own terms. Your reader doesn’t have to guess (whether correctly or incorrectly) how a counterargument dialogues with the argument you want them to embrace. This allows you to create the connection you find the most beneficial to persuading the reader.

Components of a Counterargument

While including a counterargument in your own argument brings about notable benefits, it should be done in a civil, respectful manner. To better guarantee you engage with another’s idea in a meaningful way, include the following components:

Signal phrase: Begin with a brief transition sentence or clause introducing the counter argument.

Summary: Provide a brief objective and fair summary of the counterargument’s rationale. You should also reference at least one specific source or detail unique to the counterargument.

Engagement: Civilly, but critically, engage with the argument by identifying the counterargument’s shortcomings. Remember that your intent should be to demonstrate how the counterargument is unfounded, irrelevant, and/or out of date.

Rebuttal: Return to your original argument by emphasizing how it effectively responds to the counterargument and explaining how your argument accounts for the counterargument’s shortcomings.

Helpful Resources

Counterarguments from the University of Nevada, Reno

Counterarguments from Harvard College Writing Center

Writing a Counterargument Paragraph from the University of Arizona