WHAT IS ANARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

and HOW IS IT WRITTEN?

Part 3 – REFUTING OPPOSING ARGUMENTS

Before you start writing an argumentative essay, I strongly suggest you to prepare an outline and first, write all your ideas down, including counter arguments, since every controversial issue has two sides.

I believe you already know how to write paragraphs to support your ideas (for one paragraph;1 supporting idea, 3Major-Minor), so I will focus on how to write an opposing paragraph. Because in my opinion, this part is crucial for affecting and convincing the reader.

Introduction

As you know, the purpose of this essay is to convince the reader that your thesis or simply your idea is correct / true / valid, etc. So, before concluding that the opponent(s) is wrong, we should write about their objections and refute them. This way, they will not be able to attack us and we will be ready before they do.

Oppose (v): to disagree with something or someone, often by speaking or fighting against them.

Refute (v): to say or prove that a person, statement, opinion, etc. İs wrong or false.

What does “oppose” and “refute” mean?

In your thesis statement you give two (sometimes three) main reasons for your opinion. These are your arguments.

Thinking that the opponent will attack you using this arguments, you should write 3 objections to your arguments and 3 refutations. Now you have two arguments and three counter-arguments.

OPPOSING PARAGRAPH

When pointing out opposing arguments and refuting them:

- Opponents of this idea claim that … - Those who disagree / are against these

ideas may say / assert that … - Some people may disagree with this idea.

- However, some people think the opposite. - But, according to some this is open to

question. - On the other hand, some people are

against this idea.

THE NECESSARY LANGUAGE FOR OPPOSING ARGUMENTS

1) Show the argument / opposite idea (opinion/stance) is IRRELEVANT,

2) Show the argument / opposite idea is INCORRECT,

3) Strategically admit the opponent’s point, or a part of their idea, and follow with a but and prove their argument is not convincing, powerful enough.

STRATEGIES THAT MIGHT BE FOLLOWED WHEN REFUTING THE IDEA:

- What they are saying is not relevant (or “is irrelevant”).

- This evidence is not enough.- The subject is totally different. /

…is not the argument here; the point is…- There is no way we can agree with what they

say. - After what they present, we can say that they

are completely wrong.- They have a point there / thinking like that.- To some extent what they think is true.- It may be true that…. But, …

EXAMPLE SENTENCES: