theyuniversity:

Well everyone, another year here at the Writing Center has ended, and we’re all extremely sad- especially those of us who are graduating.  You have all made this year so wonderful for all of us, and we hope to see you back next year! 

As a finals week treat, here’s some pictures from our end-of-year party so you can see what we really do when we’re not tutoring.

We pose with certificates! The seniors don’t look too sad to be graduating and leaving you guys, but they really are.  Two or three people are missing from this picture.

This is an accurate representation of the people who run this blog, as well as some of our other social media sites! Christine, Allison, Gabrielle, Evan, and Ned also enjoy posing with certificates in their spare time.

Some of our lovely and talented MA students!

Christine and Jen are elated to have some trademark Writing Center pencils of their very own- and with encouraging slogan flags to boot!

Julie and Lauren battle a particularly uncooperative piñata.

Evan, Ned, and Greg discuss tactical strategies for attacking the decorations.

One yardstick was harmed while destroying a piñata.

Barb and Carolyn, thanks for putting together this awesome party for us! We love you guys and are thankful for everything you put into making the Writing Center what it is!

theyuniversity:

Sitting in class one day, your professor hands out your next assignment.  Seven to eight pages, clearly-defined thesis, five or more sources- not too bad.  Reading further, you see the dreaded phrase.  “Make sure you address the counterargument.”  You’re floored. 

Address the what?

 Harvard University defines a counterargument as when, “you consider a possible argument against your thesis or some aspect of your reasoning.”   This rhetorical device is very important, in that it provides the reader with all sides of the issue and shows that you have thought through your argument.  

So, imagine you’re writing a paper about a rather recent topic relevant to all Delaware students: the new statue, “Wings of Thought.” 

IMAGE CREDIT: EVAN KRAPE/UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

Your argument might be something along the lines of, “The University of Delaware’s new statue is a positive change for the community because it is aesthetically pleasing, is an efficient way to honor the University’s legacy, and brings the art form of sculpture to Central Campus.”   So here, we have all good things about the artwork.

To form a counterargument, consider what those who disagree with you might say.  In the case of the statue, people might argue that, “The new statue is not a positive change for the University because it was not a good use of money, is a prime target for vandalism, and obstructs a heavily-traveled walkway.” 

As a writer, what you must do is examine these counterpoints and refute them using research.  Remember, the point of writing a research paper is to present an opinion or argument, and support it with research and evidence in order to convince your readers to agree with you. 

When researching your counterargument, treat it like your actual point so you’ll get a rounded picture of the various opposing ideas that you’re dealing with.  Additionally, make sure to remain objective!

-Gabrielle V.