The Counterclaim

What is a Counterclaim?

Counterclaim should be a compound sentence Counterclaim , but/ yet Refutation. Ind. Clause, but/yet Ind. Clause.

Where does it go? Hamburger Style Set Them Up; Knock Them Down Writer takes a stand & presents facts Recognize the opposition Counter the opposition with more supporting facts Set Them Up; Knock Them Down Writer begins by developing the counterclaim Writer spends rest of paragraph refuting it We’ve talked about where a counterclaim might go in an essay. Now let’s talk about how to organize the counterclaim itself. Talk about Option A and Option B. If a student addresses multiple counterclaims in an essay, he or she doesn’t have to exclusively stick with one of these options. Students should vary the way they organize their counterclaims and rebuttals to add variety keep the attention of the reader. Gallagher, K. (2011). Write like this. Portland, Maine: Stenhouse Publishers. Print.

Student Example of Counterclaim: Hamburger Style Energy drinks contain some very harmful ingredients including: taurine, ginseng, sweeteners and guarana. Companies purposely add these other stimulants to further enhance the already extreme effects of caffeine, and they also make large liesabout what these added ingredients are capable of. For example, energy companies claim ginseng can “speed illness recovery; improves mental, physical, and sexual performance; controls blood glucose and lowers blood pressure,” but in actuality there is absolutely no scientific evidence that exists to support any of the claims listed above. My question to you is: Are there effects that you are hiding from your buyers? Emma Hitt in her article “Energy Drinks Pose Serious Health Risks for Young People” suggest that we need to research and run more trials on these supplemental additives, because “The fact that there is no known safe does of any of those additives, or of caffeine, poses a risk”. Opposition is in red.

Student Example of Counterclaim: Set Them Up; Knock Them Down Doubts are still being tossed around, proclaiming that China will only continue to pollute our air and water further and further into corruption, but China is making great strides to recognize and reduce the effects of their pollution. Fortunately, China has come to realize this fact and in BBC News, it says, “China is building a coal plant a week, but is dedicated to having the clean energy sector take off. That is amazingly visionary and inspirational,” (China Leads The World In Green Energy Investments).China plans to use only clean coal and in 2001, they have already launched the “Clean Coal” project that was apart of the 863 program. Also, China plans on using only efficient coal power plants. This has been a step up for China in helping our environment. Opposition is in red.

Counterclaims can literally be the opposite of your claim! Claim – People should not get essential vitamins and minerals needed through dietary supplements Counterclaim – with the popularity of fast and inexpensive processed food, many of us struggle to get all the nutrients we need out of our diets. Refutation – A healthy diet can be safely achieved through healthier eating, with less risks. All together Some people believe “with the popularity of fast and inexpensive processed food, many of us struggle to get all the nutrients we need out of our diets, but a healthy diet can be safely achieved through healthier eating, with less risks (The American Osteopathic Association Website).

Where should this go? Some people believe “with the popularity of fast and inexpensive processed food, many of us struggle to get all the nutrients we need out of our diets”, but a healthy diet can be safely achieved through healthier eating, with less risks (The American Osteopathic Association Website). Insert this into your outline – Hamburger or Knock Them Up, Set Them Down?