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Counterclaims and Writing Prompts

The document discusses the importance of counterclaims and how to formulate them when analyzing a text. It defines a counterclaim as a statement that disagrees with a stated claim. Critical thinking is needed to form meaningful counterclaims by considering sides of an issue excluded by the author. When formulating counterclaims, one should understand the main claim, examine supporting evidence, and think of opposing arguments supported by evidence from the text. The document provides guidelines for formulating counterclaims that disprove facts, weaken claims of value, and undermine claims of policy.

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Leah Loren Brazil
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1K views

Counterclaims and Writing Prompts

The document discusses the importance of counterclaims and how to formulate them when analyzing a text. It defines a counterclaim as a statement that disagrees with a stated claim. Critical thinking is needed to form meaningful counterclaims by considering sides of an issue excluded by the author. When formulating counterclaims, one should understand the main claim, examine supporting evidence, and think of opposing arguments supported by evidence from the text. The document provides guidelines for formulating counterclaims that disprove facts, weaken claims of value, and undermine claims of policy.

Uploaded by

Leah Loren Brazil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Nature and Importance

of Counterclaims
Life Performance Outcome
Resourceful EXPLORERS & PROBLEM SOLVERS

Essential Performance Elements


Seek out issues, possibilities, and sources of related information willingly to
further investigation and development

Most Essential Learning Competency


1. Explain critical reading as a form of reasoning
2. Formulate evaluative statements about a text read:
a. assertions about the content and properties of a text read; and
b. counterclaims in response to claims made in a text read
3. Determine textual evidence to validate assertions and counterclaims made
about a text read
What is counterclaim?
• a statement that goes
against or disagrees with a
stated claim

• Purpose: to show all the


sides of the issue at hand
IS CRITICAL THINKING NEEDED IN
FORMULATING COUNTERCLAIMS?
Formulating Meaningful Counterclaims
● Look at text with a critical eye.
● Consider sides of the issue that the author
excludes.
● Benefits:
○ helps one become better at argumentation
○ good for debates and persuasive/argumentative
essays
ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Why are counterclaims an important part of productive


discourse?

Why is determining a claim’s strengths and weaknesses


essential to creating a factual counterclaim?
Formulating
Counterclaims That
Disprove Claims of Fact
Things to Consider in Formulating Counterclaims

1. Understand the main claim of the author and examine


the supporting information.
2. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s
claim.
3. Think of opposing arguments that can disprove or
weaken the author’s main claim and cite some textual
evidence.
4. Formulate your counterclaims and provide the necessary
support.
Things to Do If Facts and Statistics Are Unavailable

1. Verify the cited source of the claim not only to see if it is


true but also to see its limitation.
2. Check other sources that support the claim. Some or a
few of the sources may contain inconsistencies that you
can use to disprove the claim.
Formulating
Counterclaims That
Weaken Claims of Value
Claim of Value

It is more subjective than any other type of claim because


it is largely influenced by a person’s own culture,
background, religion, and other personal factors.

However, a counterclaim attempts to weaken a claim.


Guidelines to Take Advantage of Subjectivity

1. Identify the limitations of the author’s point of view.


2. Find flaws in the author’s reasoning.
3. Examine the standards that the author uses as a basis
for his or her claim.
Formulating Counterclaims
That Undermine Claims of
Policy
Claims of Policy

It argues for or against a course of action.


Things to Consider in Formulating Counterclaims
That Undermine Claims of Policy

1. Assess the course of action proposed by the author in


terms of its feasibility and effectiveness.
2. Cite some critical studies related to the author’s
proposition.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING TASK 2
Counterclaim with Facts

1. Read about a Youth Commissioner’s proposal to have


separate classrooms for boys and girls to decrease teenage
pregnancies.
2. You may follow the links below for reports about it from
different credible online sources:
a. Philippine Youth Commissioner Believes Teen Pregnanc
ies Will Decrease If Girls and Boys Were in Separate Cla
ssroom
b. Official believes separating male and female students st
3. Write an argumentative essay that counters the claims
of the National Youth Commissioner.
4. Use facts to support your counterclaim.
Undermining Claims of Policy

1. Go over the Senate Bills and choose one bill that you
disagree with the most.
2. Write an argumentative essay about it and express
your counterclaim(s) for the bill’s proposed policy.
3. You will be graded based on the rubric on the next
slides.
Read the text below and answer the questions that follow. You will
be graded based on the rubrics provided.

Art Appreciation outside Museums

What is the counterclaim in the text?


Is the statement of the counterclaim clear? Why or why not?
Is the counterclaim well-supported and justified? Cite details from the
text to support your answer.
Do you agree or disagree with the counterclaim and its supporting
information? Why or why not?
If you agree with the counterclaim, what other information would you
add to it? If not, what is your counterclaim for the writer’s counterclaim?
Criteria Score

Content
(Each question is answered well. Textual evidence is given, and opinions are
clearly explained.) 10 pts.

Organization
(Logical progression of details/events; clear transitions between ideas) 10
pts.

Language
(Use of proper spelling, mechanics, grammar, and word choice) 5 pt.

Score: /25
Life Performance Outcome
Resourceful EXPLORERS & PROBLEM SOLVERS

Essential Performance Elements


Seek out issues, possibilities, and sources of related information
willingly to further investigation and development

Most Essential Learning Competency


1. Explain critical reading as a form of reasoning
2. Formulate evaluative statements about a text read:
a. assertions about the content and properties of a text read; and
b. counterclaims in response to claims made in a text read
3. Determine textual evidence to validate assertions and
counterclaims made about a text read
REFLECTION

1. What is the importance of fact-checking when


countering other people’s claims?

2. How can you maintain being objective even when


someone keeps reiterating his or her subjective ideas?

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