Claim Counterclaim

The writer's position on an issue

• claim

• counterclaim

• rebuttel

• thesis

Statement that acknowledge or mention an opposing viewpoint or position.

• counterclaims

• rebuttels

• claims

• arguments

Parents should be fined when their
children bully because it will send a
message. Some say It is very difficult for
parents to manage their children
when they leave the house and go to
school. Despite this, thirteen million
kids are bullied each year and
something needs to be done. The fines
will encourage parents to focus on anti-bullying in the home.
Which sentence is the counterclaim?

• Despite this, thirteen million
  kids are bullied each year and
  something needs to be done.
• The fines
  will encourage parents to
  focus on anti-bullying in the home.
• Some say it is very difficult for
  parents to manage their children
  when they leave the house and go to
  school.
• Parents should be fined when their
  children bully because it will send a
  message.

A counterargument for the claim: Students Should Be Allowed to Chew Gum in School is ...

• Some teachers believe that chewing gum is a distraction.

• Chewing gum helps students concentrate.

• Although some teachers believe that chewing gum is a distraction, it actually helps some students concentrate and focus.

• Chewing gum is beneficial for everyone.

Which would be a STRONG rebuttal to the counterclaim: Some teachers may believe that chewing gum is a distraction for students.

In other words, which statement would help to prove it wrong.

• Chewing gum can lead to headaches.

• Chewing gum leads to a dirty campus.

• On the other hand, chewing gum is a distecation for students.

• Although some teachers believe that chewing gum is a distraction, reasearch shows that it actually helps some students concentrate and focus.

What is the counterclaim in the following paragraph?

Students should be encouraged to chew gum during tests because it could hep students focus and decrease stress. Opponents may say that allowing students to chew gum would create too much of a distraction if people chew loudly or blow bubbles. However, these distractions can be avoided and the benefits outweigh the possible risks.

• Some people may say that allowing students to chew gum would create too much of a distraction if people chew loudly or blow bubbles.

• However, these distractions can be avoided and the benefits outweigh the possible risks.

• Students should be encouraged to chew gum during tests because it could hep students focus and decrease stress.

• None of the above.

A student's essay makes this claim: To protect their citizens from offensive material, governments should be able to censor online content.

Which sentence acknowledges a counterclaim?

• Others may believe that offensive materials will always exist, so governments should not be expected to protect citizens from them

• Others may believe that giving the government the power to censor online information sets a dangerous precedent for infringement upon citizens' rights.

A student's essay makes this claim: People should not spend time on social networking sites because such activity can make them feel more isolated.

Which sentence acknowledges a more appropriate counterclaim?

• Some might respond that social networking sites provide the opportunity to stay in touch with friends and family who are not nearby
• Some might respond that millions of people use social networking sites, so the activity must not cause feelings of isolation