U7: Grammar and Mechanics, Counter Arguments

Overview of Unit 7

1A. Identify and describe components of the rhetorical situation: the exigence, audience, writer, purpose, context, and message.

2A. Write introductions and conclusions appropriate to the purpose and context of the rhetorical situation.

3C. Explain ways claims are qualified through modifiers, counter arguments, and alternative perspectives.

4C. Qualify a claim using modifiers, counter arguments, or alternative perspectives.

7B. Explain how writers create, combine, and place independent and dependent clauses to show relationships between and among ideas.

8B. Write sentences that clearly convey ideas and arguments.

7C. Explain how grammar and mechanics contribute to the clarity and effectiveness of an argument.

8C. Use established conventions of grammar and mechanics to communicate clearly and effectively.

Counterarguments

● Claims can also be justified through counterarguments. To make your argument more valid, you should recognize the other side of the argument.

● A counterargument, or counterclaim, is a point made against your claim.

● Counterarguments make your writing more well rounded and helps give the audience a better understanding.

● After asserting your counterclaim, make sure to explain why your argument is more valid.

● Counterarguments can make your essay more persuasive by demonstrating to the reader that you have considered all aspects of the argument.

Grammar

● Using proper grammar helps to make your writing/argument more clear. It makes it easier for the audience to understand your message.

● Here are a few reminders of basic grammar rules:

● Punctuation:

○ Commas: They are used as a brief pause between words/phrases. They can be used to connect clauses, between adjectives, after the first part of a sentence if it is a dependent clause, descriptions, after introductory words, after a name/nickname, etc.

○ Semicolons: They are also used to indicate a brief pause. It's used to shorten the length of the gap between sentences, and to introduce a sentence with words like however, therefore, otherwise, nevertheless, for example, etc.

○ Colon: Colons essentially represent the phrase “here’s what I mean”. They are used to introduce a series of things, separate independent clauses, and to introduce quotes

● Grammar rules

○ Subject verb agreement: If the verb is plural, the subject should be plural too.

○ Who vs Whom: Who can be used for he/she, while Whom is used for him/her.

○ Whoever vs whomever: Whoever is used for he/she while whomever is used for him/her.

○ Who, That, Which: Who refers to people (and sometimes that) and that/which refer to groups of items

○ Adjectives and Adverbs: Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. Adverbs describe verbs.

● Overall, proper grammar is essential for making your writing sound more coherent

Clauses

● A clause is “a grammatical unit that contains a subject and a verb” 

● An independent clause is a complete thought while a dependent clause is only a partial one that can not be its own sentence.

● Clauses can be used to link ideas, contrast them, provide reasoning, provide results, etc.

How to Identify Independent and Dependent Clauses