Comparing Opposing Arguments

The centerpiece of the writing task asks you to read two passages that argue opposite sides of one issue and decide which is better supported. That is a specific, learnable skill: weighing two arguments fairly against each other. Practicing it now pays off both in reading questions and in your essay.

Comparing opposing arguments means reading two texts that take opposite positions on the same issue and judging which one makes the stronger case — based on the quality of its evidence and reasoning, not on which side you personally agree with.

Weighing Two Sides

Imagine two passages about whether a town should ban gas-powered leaf blowers. One argues yes, citing noise studies, health data on air quality, and quotes from doctors. The other argues no, offering a landscaper’s worry about costs and a claim that “most people don’t mind the noise.” To compare them, set their support side by side. The first uses specific evidence — studies and expert voices. The second leans on one person’s opinion and an unproven claim. Even if you happen to dislike leaf-blower bans, the first argument is better supported. That is the key move: you are not voting on the issue, you are judging the arguments. Which side backs its claims with relevant, sufficient, credible evidence, and which relies on bare assertion?

Judging Fairly

Stay neutral and use the tools you already have. Check each side’s evidence for relevance and quality, look for logical fallacies, and notice whether each writer answers the other’s counterclaims. Addressing a relevant opposing view can strengthen an argument. Ignoring a viewpoint is not by itself proof that the argument is weak; attacking a person instead of answering their reasoning is a different problem. It helps to jot a quick two-column tally in your head: side A’s strengths and weaknesses, side B’s strengths and weaknesses. The better-supported side is usually the one with more specific, trustworthy evidence and fewer gaps in reasoning. When you write your response, your job is to explain why one argument is better built — pointing to its evidence — rather than saying which opinion you share.

Watch: A Short Video Lesson

Jason Wicke gives a clear overview to go with this lesson:

A Routine for Comparing Arguments

1. Find each side’s main claim on the shared issue.
2. List the evidence each offers and check its quality.
3. Watch for fallacies and unanswered counterclaims.
4. Decide which side is better supported, setting your own opinion aside.

Practice

1. What does comparing opposing arguments ask you to judge?
2. Should you pick the side you personally agree with?
3. What makes one argument better supported?
4. Name one weakness to watch for in an argument.
5. How can a writer respond to a relevant opposing view?
6. In your essay, what should you explain?

Answers

1. Which argument makes the stronger, better-supported case.
2. No — judge the arguments, not your opinion.
3. More specific, relevant, credible evidence.
4. Logical fallacies or bare assertions.
5. State the counterclaim fairly and answer it with evidence and reasoning.
6. Why one argument is better built, pointing to its evidence.

Where This Fits in Your RLA Prep

This task draws on counterclaims and rebuttals and credibility and bias. See every topic on the Language Arts Prep Hub.

Recommended Prep Books

Keep building momentum with a full study guide and practice tests: