Capstone counter-argument + 5 more Tier-2 Set 18 words

Quick-share: in your capstone topic, what's the strongest opposing view? Name the steel-manned version, not the strawman.

• Affirm steel-manning over strawman
• Connect: today we draft counter-argument

Today: COUNTER-ARGUMENT in the capstone. You learned counter-argument in G6-fall (acknowledge + concede + pivot + refute). This term it returns at depth. The capstone counter-argument paragraph names the strongest opposing view (steel-manned, not strawman), concedes any legitimate point in the opposition, pivots, and refutes with evidence and reasoning. The mature counter-argument STRENGTHENS your essay because it shows you've considered the opposition seriously. A capstone without counter-argument feels naive. Today's mentor moves: Coates often opens with the steel-manned objection ('A common response is ___'); Stevenson uses concession ('There is truth in this — and yet ___'). Notice the move: full acknowledgment, partial concession, decisive pivot. Now 5 more Tier-2 Set 18 words. PATHOS (Gk. 'suffering, feeling' — emotional appeal — met in lesson 10). LOGOS (Gk. 'word, reason' — rational appeal — met in lesson 10). ANAPHORA (Gk. ana 'back' + phora 'carrying' — repetition at beginnings of clauses, like MLK 'I have a dream... I have a dream... I have a dream'). ANTITHESIS (Gk. anti 'against' + thesis 'placing' — contrast of ideas in parallel structure, like 'Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country'). PERORATION (Lat. perorare 'to argue fully' — the conclusion of a speech, often emotionally elevated). Anaphora and antithesis are classical rhetorical devices that the mature speaker deploys deliberately — both useful for the capstone speech.

• The concession strengthens the refutation. Without it, the argument feels brittle.

  model Acknowledge ('Critics... often argue'). Concede ('There is truth in this'). Pivot ('Yet'). Refute with evidence (CDC 2014; AAP 2014). The structure: full acknowledgment + partial concession + decisive pivot with research-driven refutation.

  prompt Sample counter-argument paragraph: 'Critics of later school start times often argue that adolescents simply need to go to bed earlier — that the solution lies with families, not policy. There is truth in this: home routines matter, and parents have a role to play. Yet the adolescent circadian-rhythm research is clear (CDC 2014; AAP 2014): teenage biology shifts sleep onset later, regardless of bedtime. Policy and biology, not parental effort, are the variables that align.' What moves?
• Anaphora is a rehearsal-able move. Use sparingly — overuse becomes parody. One anaphora per speech is plenty.

  model Three sentences beginning with 'We must act' — anaphora. Effect: cumulative emphasis; rhetorical weight; oral rhythm (perfect for capstone speech).

  prompt Sample anaphora: 'We must act. We must act now. We must act together.' What's the effect?

• Pair-share: name the steel-manned objection to your capstone thesis.
• Cold Call: define 'antithesis' with an example.

M-8-S-WR-13-A Chart

Anchor with 4-move structure (acknowledge / concede / pivot / refute) and Coates/Stevenson mentor passages with each move marked. Print-ready 11x17.

• Draft your counter-argument paragraph (acknowledge + concede + pivot + refute). 6-10 sentences. Use the structure deliberately.

  scaffold G6-fall counter-argument template (carryover); sample paragraph anchor
• Compose 1 sentence with anaphora OR antithesis for your capstone or capstone speech. Note rationale.

  scaffold Anaphora/antithesis examples card

M-8-S-VOC-13-B Chart

Anchor with 4 anaphora examples (MLK; Stevenson; Adichie; Lincoln) and 4 antithesis examples (Kennedy; Dickens; Stevenson; Douglass). Etymology notes. Print-ready 11x17.

• Submit your counter-argument paragraph.
• Submit your anaphora or antithesis sentence.

• Restate: counter-argument strengthens; anaphora and antithesis are rehearsable rhetorical moves
• Preview lesson 14: midpoint synthesis + writing conference 1

• Polish counter-argument paragraph. Continue capstone draft. Milestone: 5-paragraph draft by end of next week (lesson 14).