Steelman and Rebut: Counterargument Coach

A counterargument you can knock over too easily fools no examiner. Give your thesis and this works in sequence: it presents the opposing case at its strongest, concedes anything with genuine merit, then rebuts it properly. You end with a counterargument section that makes your own position look considered rather than defensive.

My essay argues: {MAIN_THESIS}.

I need to include a counterargument section. Do the following in sequence:

Step 1. Steelman: Present the strongest possible version of the opposing position. Do not use a straw man. Use the language of a genuine critic.

Step 2. Concede selectively: Identify any aspect of the counterargument that has genuine merit and acknowledge it briefly.

Step 3. Rebut: Explain why, despite that merit, my thesis still holds. The rebuttal should directly address the steelmanned argument, not a weakened version of it.

Write this as a single flowing paragraph of 120 to 180 words suitable for insertion into an academic essay at {ACADEMIC_LEVEL} level.