how to refute an argument in essays

Every argumentative essay must include a paragraph refuting the opposing viewpoint.  An arguable thesis has an anti-thesis, or opposite point of view.  An effective argument recognizes and addresses the opposition's viewpoints.  The writer who acknowledges, accommodates and refutes the opposition's concerns can win the audience's respect and sometimes their agreement. Generally, the refutation paragraph is placed immediately after the introductory paragraph.  The writer explains the opposing position before developing the paper's thesis.  In this position, the refutation acknowledges the opposing position but does not detract from the importance of the body paragraphs.   One, or a combination, of three basic strategies can be used.
If we want to live in a society animated by vibrant, civil conversations, it is not enough to teach students to have informed opinions. We must also teach them how to disagree with others. There is, however, a dearth of role models for civil disagreement. If we want young people to develop nonviolent conflict resolution skills, we must teach them more constructive ways to engage in disagreements. Learning to disagree involves more skills than the simple refutation of an opposing idea. Students must learn how to speak in a measured way, how to understand which ideas are likely to be trigger points for escalation and how to choose reasonable and effective language. Having a basic method for refutation is an important place to start. It can provide a framework and tools for the kinds of classroom debates and discussions that will prepare students for civil disagreement outside the classroom. Start by teaching students a basic four-step method of refutation, outlined here. The method has the advantage of giving students a structure on which to hang their ideas – a structure that encourages students to substantiate their arguments without personal attacks or slurs. Four-Step Refutation Step 1: Restate (“They say ”) Step 2: Refute (“But ”) Step 3: Support (“Because ”) Step 4: Conclude (“Therefore.”) Step 1: Restate. The first part of refutation is for a student to restate the argument being challenged. Students should concisely and fairly summarize the opposing argument; the cue “They say ” (or “Some say ” or “Mary said ”) is helpful. Discourage students from using the second person (“You say ) when restating arguments to avoid becoming too personal. Explain also that students do not need to restate in detail the argument they’d like to refute; a summary is fine. This has the added benefit of helping students practice summarization, a skill that is at the heart of.
By the end of this video, you will know the basics about writing a Refutation paragraph (also know as a concession paragraph).
Add to My Favorites in Sidebar Refutation Definition The literary term refutation denotes that part of an argument where a speaker or a writer encounters contradicting points of view. Alternatively, refutation can be described as the negation of an argument, opinion, testimony, doctrine, or theory, through contradicting evidence. It normally constitutes a part of an essay that disproves the opposing arguments. An important distinction to be appreciated is that of between refutation and counter-argument. In the case of counter-argument, the writer acknowledges that there is substance in the contradicting argument yet he provides evidence for his alleged stance. On the other had refutation goes a bit further by presenting evidence that in turn negates the opposing arguments. In the circumstances where the writer happens to agree with certain aspects of the opposing argument, he makes a concession. However, writers and speakers rarely employ concession as it can very easily undermine their own stance. Types of Refutation There are various ways through which the tool of refutation can be employed. The three most common modes used for the purpose of incorporating the device of refutation in an argument are refutation through evidence, refutation through logic, and refutation through exposing the discrepancies of opposing argument. Refutation through Evidence For an argument to be counted as one of the valid examples of refutation through evidence, it needs to be an argument backed up by some form of evidence. In the absence of clear bases or justifications it cannot be declared valid. Therefore, a writer can refute a contradicting argument if he can provide evidence that conclusively negates it or by presenting more recent or credible evidence. Refutation through Logic Refutation examples through logic are quite tricky to construct. It involves deconstructing the opposing.
Summary: This resource outlines the generally accepted structure for introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions in an academic argument paper. Keep in mind that this resource contains guidelines and not strict rules about organization. Your structure needs to be flexible enough to meet the requirements of your purpose and audience. Contributors:Allen BrizeeLast Edited: 2013-03-11 11:57:06 In order to present a fair and convincing message, you may need to anticipate, research, and outline some of the common positions (arguments) that dispute your thesis. If the situation (purpose) calls for you to do this, you will present and then refute these other positions in the rebuttal section of your essay. It is important to consider other positions because in most cases, your primary audience will be fence-sitters. Fence-sitters are people who have not decided which side of the argument to support. People who are on your side of the argument will not need a lot of information to align with your position. People who are completely against your argument—perhaps for ethical or religious reasons—will probably never align with your position no matter how much information you provide. Therefore, the audience you should consider most important are those people who haven't decided which side of the argument they will support—the fence-sitters. In many cases, these fence-sitters have not decided which side to align with because they see value in both positions. Therefore, to not consider opposing positions to your own in a fair manner may alienate fence-sitters when they see that you are not addressing their concerns or discussion opposing positions at all. Organizing your rebuttal section Following the TTEB method outlined in the Body Paragraph section, forecast all the information that will follow in the rebuttal section and then move point by point through the other positions.