In this type of rebuttal, the key is to attack an assumption supporting the other argument. Create an online video course, reach students across the globe, and earn money. This is new evidence only and witnesses that contradict defense witness testimony. Our representatives in Washington present diverging points of view on bills up for debate. There have been no studies to indicate that video games cause violent behavior. In law, an attorney can present a rebuttal witness to show that a witness on the other side is in error. Effective counter arguments need to be logically consistent, focused, and delivered in a format that your audience can understand. A rebuttal is also called a counterargument. Enroll in our course, A Clear Logical Argument Guaranteed, to learn how to from logical, persuasive arguments. That is not to say that a rebuttal can't have an emotional element, as long as it works with evidence. Instead it goes directly into counterargument and rebuttal. If you don’t clearly mark your counter argument as being a rebuttal of your thesis, your audience may mistakenly believe it’s your own view. Mr. Kennedy: Well, I would say in the latter that the – and that’s what I found uh – somewhat unsatisfactory about the figures uh – Mr. Nixon, that you used in your previous speech, when you talked about the Truman Administration. Do you simply exclude the counter argument in order to strengthen your thesis, or refine your thesis to take the new evidence into account? All Rights Reserved, Strong Rebuttal Examples for Debate and Essays, A statement of your position and why it differs from the counterargument. Whether you’re practicing for a debate or writing an essay, having a strong rebuttal can mean the difference between losing an argument or successfully convincing people who may not agree with you. It allows you to answer common questions or rebuttals that your audience might have before they have a chance to raise them independently. Learn more about how to form persuasive, compelling arguments in our course, The Power of Persuasion. A successful refutation may disprove evidence with reasoning, but rebuttals must present evidence. A counter argument can be any argument in opposition to a thesis. The more points in the argument that you can dismantle, the more effective your rebuttal. This type of counter argument is built around the assumption that even if a certain fact is true, it has little relevance to the argument being debated. Whether you’re writing an essay or debating, one of these examples may help you plan your rebuttal. When writing your thesis or participating in a debate, it’s important to label your counter argument as something that other people believe, rather than something that forms the core of your own argument. It provides ; Rebuttal 1: The first rebuttal uses the essay writer’s own common sense. In his wonderful essay, How to Disagree, Paul Graham breaks debating down into a pyramid with seven different levels. When you rebut or refute an opposing position, use the following three-part organization: The opponent’s argument: Usually, you should not assume that your reader has read or remembered the argument you are refuting. He notes that "mocking, scoffing, hooting, or put-downs reflect poorly on your character and on your point of view. Identify any false assumptions your opponent is likely to use so that they are easy to spot during a debate. Keep track of them as they're presented in the argument, and go after as many of them as you can. Alcoholism manifests itself more like behavioral disorders, which are psychological. Whether in debate or in an academic thesis, a counter argument can be used to both weaken opposing viewpoints and strengthen your own. I would only suggest that while we do not take the credit for it – I would not presume to – that since that committee has been formed the price line has been held very well within the United States. Here is one to help inspire you, in which Kennedy disputes the evidence Nixon is using for his argument: Mr. Nixon: Within the Administration, as a chairman of the President’s Committee on Price Stability and Economic Growth, I have had the opportunity to make recommendations which have been adopted within the Administration and which I think have been reasonably effective. Because of this, forming a counter argument to common beliefs is a great way to learn about important issues. Make sure you introduce your counter argument using phrases like “It is argued that” or “It may seem as if”. They don’t appear to generalize from these settings, so there’s no reason to assume that seeing an animal in captivity means people always think of that species as a captive. Develop Your Critical Thinking Skills Easily, How to Become a Project Manager: A Step-by-Step Guide. By bringing up your opponent’s argument in advance and countering it within your own essay, you can make your own argument more persuasive. In this blog post, we’ll look at the best ways to prepare and write an argument that undermines either your own thesis or that of an opponent. In a debate, a rebuttal is the part where you explain what is flawed about the other side’s argument. It's both illustrative — a more personal way to talk about dry statistics — and an appeal to emotions. Some essays and persuasive speeches also have rebuttal sections, in which you anticipate and refute possible arguments against your thesis. Strictly speaking, the distinction between the two is that a rebuttal must provide evidence, whereas a refutation merely relies on a contrary opinion. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. For example, imagine you are debating or writing an essay on the topic of video games and violence. Developing a good counter argument is one of the most important skills anyone can possess. However, in persuasive speaking, a rebuttal is typically part of a discourse with colleagues and rarely a stand-alone speech. With evidence as the central focal point, a good rebuttal relies on several elements to win an argument, including a clear presentation of the counterclaim, recognizing the inherent barrier standing in the way of the listener accepting the statement as truth, and presenting evidence clearly and concisely while remaining courteous and highly rational. Counter arguments can be based upon a variety of different assumptions. Rebuttals that rely on facts are also more ethical than those that rely solely on emotion or diversion from the topic through personal attacks on the opponent. Our course, College Writing Essentials, will teach you how to write persuasive, logically consistent, and effective academic essays.