Question

Which reason would most effectively refute the counterclaim?

Counterclaim: In addition to writing acclaimed lyrics, Bob Dylan has written both prose and poetry.

I have read Dylan’s book of poetry, Tarantula, and his memoir, Chronicles: Volume One, and think that both books are worthy of the Nobel Prize in Literature. I just don’t think that Dylan’s song lyrics should be awarded in the same category as his books.
It is true that Bob Dylan has published traditional poetry and prose. However, neither of the books was very good, and neither won prestigious awards. If the Nobel Prize in Literature considered all writers of at least two mediocre books, the award would mean nothing.
It is true that Bob Dylan has published traditional poetry and prose. However, one book of poetry and one memoir would not qualify him for the prize. The prize was awarded based on his songwriting, which does not qualify as literature.

Answer 1

The first reason — that neither book was very good and neither won prestigious awards — is the more effective refutation.

Why: it directly undermines the counterclaim’s implication that Dylan’s prose/poetry independently justify a Nobel by attacking their quality and recognized literary standing. The second reason relies on the contentious claim that songwriting “does not qualify as literature,” which is harder to defend (and contradicted by the Nobel citation itself), so it’s a weaker rebuttal.