I am tutoring some students in the very basics of writing a 5-paragraph essay to present an argument, in preparation for more advanced academic writing. I am instructing them to include: (1) an introduction with thesis; (2) three body paragraphs, each with statements that supporting the thesis and evidence; and (3) a conclusion.

Sometimes, the students want to present counter-arguments to their thesis. For example, they organized the five paragraphs like this:

• ¶1 thesis: Dogs make great pets.
• ¶2 statement: Dogs can make people happy. Examples.
• ¶3 statement: Dogs can rescue people. Examples.
• ¶4 statement: However, dogs are not clean. Examples.
• ¶5 conclusion.

Is it okay to include an entire paragraph based around a counter-example like this. What would be the appropriate place for such a counter-example to appear?

I am tutoring some students in the very basics of writing a 5-paragraph essay to present an argument, in preparation for more advanced academic writing. I am instructing them to include:

1. An introduction with thesis
2. Three body paragraphs, each with statements that supporting the thesis and evidence
3. A conclusion

Sometimes, the students want to present counter-arguments to their thesis. For example, they organized the five paragraphs like this:

• ¶1 thesis: Dogs make great pets.
• ¶2 statement: Dogs can make people happy. Examples.
• ¶3 statement: Dogs can rescue people. Examples.
• ¶4 statement: However, dogs are not clean. Examples.
• ¶5 conclusion.

Is it okay to include an entire paragraph based around a counter-example like this. What would be the appropriate place for such a counter-example to appear?