Snap Language

Argument 1

As people age, they should learn a new language to keep their minds active.

 As people age, they should learn a new language to keep their minds active. Learning a language involves cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. As you learn a language, your brain processes and analyzes new information, which helps to create new neural connections and strengthen existing ones. In turn, this process enhances cognitive function and slows down the natural decline in brain activity that comes with aging. As an added bonus, learning a new language exposes you to new cultures and ways of thinking, so your mind stays engaged. As your command of the new language improves, you experience a sense of satisfaction and your confidence and self-esteem increase, which result in improved mental health.

Possible Counterarguments

• Learning a language can be expensive and time-consuming, which makes it difficult for people with limited financial and personal resources.
• As people age, it tends to get more difficult to learn a language. Rather than boosting your confidence and self-esteem , you may actually experience frustration and a sense of failure, which could negatively affect your mental health and wellbeing.
• For older people already experiencing cognitive decline, learning a language could be too difficult.
• There are other, less expensive and time-consuming activities that keep your brain active such as doing puzzles, playing word games, doing puzzles, socializing, or engaging in physical exercise.

Argument 2

 Earning a college degree is one of the most valuable investments you can make in yourself. By going to college, you develop critical thinking and other skills that are critical to be successful in today's job market. College graduates are more likely to get higher-paying jobs than those without a degree. Moreover, a college education creates opportunities to engage with other students and with experienced professors; as a result, you expand your worldview and develop socialization skills useful in any career. Investing your own education also gives you a sense of personal fulfillment, which you will carry with you throughout your professional career.

Possible Counterarguments

• Many people end up with student loan debt, which may take years to pay off. This makes a college education a risky investment.
• If people are interested in careers that do not require a college degree, earning a college degree may delay starting their careers.
• Going to college does not provide on-the-job experience, which many employers require.

Disclaimer: The above paragraphs are used as examples only. Their inclusion on this page does not constitute an endorsement or approval of the ideas in the paragraphs or in the counterarguments.

Make sure you understand the writer’s main point and how the evidence the writer uses to support it. You cannot counterargue if you do not understand the information.

Evaluate the writer’s biases. If you detect biases, challenge them by finding counterarguments that another writer would make if the writer had no bias or an opposing bias.

Evaluate the source and the evidence presented. Is the evidence accurate, sufficient, and relevant?

• Is the evidence inaccurate? If so, you should consider rejecting the writer’s premises and conclusions.
• Is the evidence only partly accurate? Does it exclude important information? What would the argument be if it included more information?
• Similarly, what information do you suspect the writer may have excluded? Propose counterarguments that would include possible missing pieces of information.
• Is the evidence insufficient? If so, you should propose counterarguments that include the pieces of evidence the writer may have excluded from the argument.
• Is the evidence irrelevant? If so, you may consider rejecting the writer’s conclusions.
• Similarly, what relevant pieces of information do you suspect the writer may have excluded? Propose counterarguments that would include other pieces of relevant evidence.
• Are there other possible conclusions based on the same evidence? Think of other ways you could explain the information or other logical conclusions you can draw from what the writer presented.

Note. You may read a paragraph and come up with counterarguments. Be sure to read everything else as the writer may address your counterarguments somewhere else in the text.

Consider different perspectives or viewpoints. Propose arguments that people would make if they have a different perspective or viewpoint.

Based on what you already know about the topic, propose alternative ideas, solutions, conclusions, and so on.