Using Concessions And Counterarguments On Your Paper
Presenting evidence with accompanying reasoning is one way to push an argument forward. However, making concessions and using counterarguments is equally effective, especially as a way to vary your appeals to the reader.
First, let’s define the two:
Concession refers to the act of conceding to opposing concerns. After all, the fact that a topic is debatable means that an equally valid case can be made to the view opposite your own. Acknowledging the validity of those ideas shows that you’ve considered multiple perspectives to come to your conclusion.
Counterargument comes hand in hand with conceding. You can’t, after all, simply give up a point and leave a gaping hole in your paper. If you want to make your own position stronger, you have to debunk the point you conceded to, using counterarguments that effectively “tear it apart.”
Effective Concessions and Counterarguments
There’s no clear-cut rule to making concessions and counterarguments. For the most part, you’ll have to treat them on a case to case basis. Here are some ideas about how to come up with ones that work:
- Keep it short, limiting it to a single paragraph in the paper. Otherwise, you risk using concessions and counterarguments as your primary method of proof.
- Consider the type of audience who will be reading your paper when choosing what issues to use. Pick ones they are likely to come up with on their own.
- While you’re conceding points, remain firm on your position.
- Be tactful and respectful throughout your counterarguments. Rude language will just alienate the reader.
- Use a grammar fixing software. It goes without saying, but it bears repeating – bad writing can destroy even the strongest arguments.