Rebuttal notesRebuttal notes

Essential question:Essential question:

What is the What is the definition of a definition of a rebuttal rebuttal and how and how does it help my does it help my writing?writing?

Rebuttal notesRebuttal notes

Definition: A reply intended to show Definition: A reply intended to show fault in an opponent’s argument.fault in an opponent’s argument.

If nothing else, the writer must If nothing else, the writer must anticipate potential objections from anticipate potential objections from his/her readers and plan his/her his/her readers and plan his/her argument accordingly.argument accordingly.

Rebuttal notesRebuttal notes Think of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Think of Martin Luther King Jr.’s

Letter from Birmingham JailLetter from Birmingham Jail He was responding to a public He was responding to a public

statement made by 8 clergymen statement made by 8 clergymen to define “just” and “unjust.”to define “just” and “unjust.”

Since King knew the clergymen Since King knew the clergymen would not listen to him outright, would not listen to him outright, he wrote his arguments from the he wrote his arguments from the view of a man who desired only view of a man who desired only righteousness, and whose words righteousness, and whose words compelled the reader to share compelled the reader to share his religious sentiments.his religious sentiments.

Three things to be cautious Three things to be cautious of:of:

Avoid fallacies (especially name-calling!); stay Avoid fallacies (especially name-calling!); stay reasonable; don’t let the reader think you’re reasonable; don’t let the reader think you’re taking unfair and unreasonable advantage of taking unfair and unreasonable advantage of your opponent.your opponent.

Don’t just pick away at minor points and expect Don’t just pick away at minor points and expect that you have short-circuited your opponent’s that you have short-circuited your opponent’s argument; an argument fails when its argument; an argument fails when its main pointsmain points are defeated.are defeated.

Remember to refer explicitly to statements in Remember to refer explicitly to statements in the original argument that you are attacking (you the original argument that you are attacking (you can paraphrase them). Don’t just take it for can paraphrase them). Don’t just take it for granted that the reader has read the original granted that the reader has read the original argument.argument.