Back to the full dot-point answer
SingaporeGeneral PaperQuick questions
The Argumentative Essay
Quick questions on Engaging counterarguments and rebuttal explained: H1 General Paper
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is balance becomes judgement?Show answer
Balance is not splitting the difference. It is weighing the considerations and stating which prevails and why. The conclusion of a strong GP essay is not "there are arguments on both sides" but "having weighed both, this consideration is decisive, so my qualified stand holds". The judgement emerges from the weighing; it is not bolted on at the end.
What is the straw man?Show answer
Distorting the opposing view to defeat it easily signals you could not face the real one. State it at its strongest.
What is a rebuttal that misses the point?Show answer
Answering a different objection than the one raised leaves the real counterargument standing. Address it directly.
What is q1?Show answer
Explain the difference between a straw man and a steel man. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
For the thesis "the arts deserve public funding", state the strongest counterargument. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why an essay that ignores opposing views is capped in the middle bands. [3 marks]
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.