Argument:"School uniforms should be mandatory because they create equality among students."
Which of the following is the best counter argument, featuring a concession followed by a rebuttal?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by restating the prompt to ensure clarity: the claim is that school uniforms should be mandatory because they create equality among students, and we’re asked for the best counter argument that features a concession followed by a rebuttal.
Option a) 'Granted, uniforms may create more equality; nonetheless, they should not be enforced, period.' This resembles a concession but lacks a substantive rebuttal after the concession. It merely asserts non-enforcement without addressing the core reasoning about equality and deeper inequalities, and it doesn’t explicitly acknowledge any potential benefits before countering them, which weakens the argumentative structure.
Option b) 'Although uniforms may reduce some visible differences, they can also suppress students' ability to express themselves and do little to address deeper inequalities related to income or social status.' Here, the speaker begins with a concession by acknowledging a potential benefit (reduction of visible differences) and then presents a rebuttal that highlights negative consequences (suppression of self-expression) and points out that the policy fails to tackle underlying inequities. This fits the request for a concession followed by a rebuttal and directly engages with the limitations of the uniform policy.
Option c) 'While uniforms make it harder to judge a student's social status, they are uncomfortable and will likely cause agitation.' This offers a concession about social status but its main thrust centers on discomfort and agitation. It doesn’t clearly provide a rebuttal to the stated claim about equality; it focuses more on personal discomfort than on the broader social-equity argument, making it a weaker counter.
Option d) 'Yes, school uniforms have some benefits, but schools should focus on academics, not clothing.' This is a general acknowledgment of benefits followed by a shift to a different priority, but it does not feature a clear concession paired with a targeted rebuttal about equality or deeper inequalities. It lacks the specific argumentative maneuver the prompt seeks (concession plus rebuttal about equality and social factors).
In summary, option b demonstrates the strongest structure for a concession followed by a rebuttal: it accepts a potential benefit (reduced visible differences) and then counters with important critiques (self-expression suppression and failure to address deeper income-related inequalities), which aligns with effective argumentative strategy.
The other options either fail to include a meaningful concession paired with a rebuttal, or they do not address the core issue of equality and broader social inequities in a way that constitutes a persuasive counterargument.

Argument:"School uniforms should be mandatory because they create equality among students." Which of the following is the best counter argument, featuring a concession followed by a rebuttal?

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