Now that you've built a strong foundation of credibility by presenting the likely objections and reasoned opposition to your argument (respectfully, of course!), you can show your readers the flaws in these counterarguments. Remember, skeptical readers need to be convinced that your position is more reasonable than their own, and so your refutation will need to be both accurate and thorough. In the process, you'll win support from both sides of the argument for your reasonable approach.

Where to Address Counterarguments

Depending on your writing style and material, your argument could follow various structural formats:

• Present your own argument first, and then present and counteract the opposing viewpoints.  

This structure has the advantage of putting your argument in people's minds first, so it can be useful when you are space-limited or your audience is time-limited.

• Present the opposition's views first, and then prove that your argument is more reasonable than the opposing views.

This strategy gets objections out in the open right away, which can be especially useful for radical or unexpected thesis statements. The approach here is, "I know what you're thinking, but hang in there, and you'll see where I'm coming from."

• Alternate back and forth between your argument and opposing points.

Here, you acknowledge each objection as it's likely to arise in the reader's mind. You are anticipating what each claim might bring up for the reader and handling it immediately, so he or she has no opportunity to get hung up on the objection.

Structuring Your Refutation

There are four basic parts to a refutation of an opposing argument: you introduce the counterargument, state your objection to it, offer evidence to support your view, and draw a clear conclusion by comparing the viewpoints head to head.

Introduction 

“The opposition says …”

Present the view accurately and fairly, and possibly concede that there is reason or merit to this perspective. For example: "Opponents of the Animal Welfare Act claimed that the use of animal subjects in drug testing was absolutely necessary to save human lives."

Objection

“However …”

Here, you state your objection to the view—the reason the reader should not accept the opposition's viewpoint. It may be in the form of a question or statement. For example: "Is it accurate, however, to say that intelligent people are not susceptible to brainwashing?" Notice the use of the word "accurate." While the counterargument might make some rational sense, have research and experience validated the assumption? You could phrase it as a statement, as opposed to a question. How are they different? Would the statement be more direct?

Support for Objection 

“Because …”

Support your objection with high-quality evidence, expert opinion, and solid reasoning: "The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that in 2005, punitive damages were awarded to only 5 percent of plaintiffs in civil trials." Here, the writer uses both a widely respected source and statistics that refute the counterclaim. Colorful language, appeals to emotion, and rhetorical devices hold little weight against a clearly fleshed-out position supported by appropriate examples and solid evidence offered by reputable sources.

Conclusion 

“Therefore …”

In this fourth step, the conflict must be resolved. You've introduced two valid viewpoints. Why is yours the stronger one? "While job creation programs may indeed increase the nation's short-term financial burden, the strategy of putting people back to work has consistently been proven to create a stronger economic and social fabric in the long run." Concluding statements are not simply restatements of the claim but actual comparisons of the two approaches with a conclusion as to why one argument is superior.

Revising Counterarguments and Refutations

In the revision stage, you'll want to look at the balance of the paper. Rather than addressing every possible objection to your thesis, you may decide at this point to eliminate the lesser objections, so as not to overload the paper with counterarguments.  

You'll also need to look for redundancy. Make sure your claims and your refutations are not repetitive. If you have a refutation that simply repeats one of your claims, see if you can find a different way to refute the opposing argument. Your reader will lose interest the minute you get repetitive.

Finally, ensure that if your introduction and conclusion include counterargument scenarios (images, quotes, stories), they're consistent with what you've found in the research. 

Objection!

To be an ace arguer, you'll need to clearly state your objections to your opponent's arguments and support your objections with evidence.