Productive Counterargument Essay

*can be any topic but has to be somewhat related to covid
Purpose
It’s common for people to disagree, isn’t it? In fact, rhetorical exchanges often arise out of dissent, and, at its best, rhetoric is an effort to reconcile differences for the common good. Yet the term “refutation” often carries with it a confrontational aura. And, in practice, refutations and counterarguments emerge, unfortunately, as efforts not only to win an argument but to vanquish or even humiliate an adversary.
In most cases of refutation, aggressive confrontation does little to move an opponent to adopt a new position. But in sophisticated refutations—the ones like the one we want you to produce—people who disagree listen and concede positions to each other and search for common ground. Rather than out-and-out victory, they seek understanding, new insights, and an outcome that is best for the community. Respectful refutation demonstrates a willingness to engage with others, creating a positive tone for disagreement that builds community instead of destroying it. By trying to make a meaningful connection with people who disagree, by discovering shared goals and assumptions, and by actively listening, rhetors can engage in civic deliberations that are mutually productive and creative.
In situations that stir the emotions of the rhetors, disagreement can become particularly bitter. As the pandemic progresses, our nation has suffered unusually violent divisions between groups and polite discourse has become the exception rather than the rule. This assignment may arouse emotions but your job is to stage a courteous and thoughtful debate about issues surrounding the pandemic, keeping in mind the challenges of emotion for both you and your audience.
The purpose of this assignment is to test your ability to disagree responsibly and agreeably. In addition, this assignment builds on everything you have learned so far.
Assignment
Find a specific argument with which you disagree; then refute that argument, perhaps countering with your own, stronger argument. The specific argument that you choose to refute might be a particular item that you encounter in a newspaper, magazine, online forum, or personal letter; or it might be an argument put together in several different communications by a group (i.e., it might be an aggregate position articulated by several individuals who share a certain point of view). Your refutation could take the form of a traditional essay, a response piece for a newspaper, a personal letter, an open letter—whatever. Consider who you want your audience to be (are you trying to change the mind of the person with whom you disagree or is there a larger audience at stake?), and consider what type of forum might work best for a productive disagreement.
Keep in mind as you brainstorm/draft some common elements of refutations:
Identify the specific claim(s) against which you will argue.
Responsibly summarize the position you intend to refute: be fair and generous and strive to summarize in a way that your opponent would accept.
Establish some common ground and find specific points of disagreement.
Explain your good reasons for disagreement, counter-argue, or do both. Note that you will probably be taking issue with someone else’s definition, or evaluation, or proposal—in which case you are in effect counter-defining, counter-evaluating, or counter-proposing.
Explore other ideas, arguments, and possibilities that your opponent might have overlooked or discounted.
Think about how you’ll persuade your audience to join you in adopting your point of view.

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