State counterclaim: “No matter how late school starts, teenagers will never get enough sleep!” Rebut counterclaim: Sound familiar? While many adults have this attitude, the truth isn’t that simple. In fact, evidence shows that later school start times do help teens get more rest, which leads to better outcomes for them overall. Thesis: To allow young adults to get the sleep they need, US high schools should push back arrival times until at least 9:00 a.m.
Argumentative Rubric: Counterclaims
Counterclaims are arguments that disagree with, or are different from, your position.
To address a counterclaim, follow these steps:
- State the counterclaim: Introduce and explain why someone might disagree with your position.
- Rebut the counterclaim: Defend your position against the counterclaim.
By examining a counterclaim and proving it wrong, you can strengthen your own position.
You can address counterclaims in your introduction and in your body paragraphs.
Introduction with Counterclaim
Body Paragraph with Counterclaim
Topic Sentence: Starting school later can improve students’ academic performance. Evidence: As one example, Wake County, North Carolina, discovered that after delaying teenagers’ school arrival times, test scores for these students improved (Figlio). State counterclaim: Now, some educators might look at that example and worry that it’s only one school district, so it doesn’t prove that later arrival times will work everywhere. Rebut counterclaim: However, According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, multiple nationwide studies have shown that delaying arrival times is connected with “increased engagement in classroom activities . . . and reduced first-hour tardiness and absences” (Watson et al.). Clearly, starting school later can have a positive impact on all students’ learning.
- Figlio, David. “Start high school later for better academic outcomes.” Brookings, 25 May 2017, brookings.edu/research/start-high-school-later-for-better-academic-outcomes.
- Watson, Nathaniel F., et al. “Delaying Middle School and High School Start Times Promotes Student Health and Performance: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, vol. 14, no. 4, 2017, jcsm.aasm.org/viewabstract.aspx?pid=30998.