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Instructions for Rebuttal College Essay Examples

Title: Rebuttal Arguement

Total Pages: 3 Words: 1183 Bibliography: 3 Citation Style: APA Document Type: Essay

Essay Instructions: REBUTTAL ARGUMENT (900 - 1,000 words)
What is an argument? An argument is a set of statements that seek to convince an audience to accept a specific position (or take a specific action) in reference to a controversial subject. In this essay you will take on an opponent's argument , refute it, and counterargue with a position of your own. Note that your textbook discusses (chapter 12) two types of rebuttal: refutation and counterargument. For this class, your rebuttal argument will include both refutation and counterargument. The essay will be 900 - 1,000 words, typed, and doubled-spaced.
STEP ONE: Choose an argument to contest. Listen to a speech made by a professor, an author, or a politician on YouTube EDU. Read the editorial of the Maryland Independent or the Washington Post. Read a white page by an organization such as The Brookings Institution or the Heritage Foundation. Study an essay from a magazine such as The New Republic, The Nation, The Atlantic, or Wired. Find an axe to grind and go to it.
STEP TWO :
Examine the Facts on Which the Claim is Based
** Are the facts accurate ? ** Are the facts current? If the author quotes from sources, how reliable are those sources? ** Is there another body of facts that you can present as counterevidence? ** Are the facts legitimate but the conclusions drawn from them weak?
STEP THREE: Audience
** Think of your audience as those who are on the fence: they can be swayed either way. It will be your job to refute the claims of the opponent and get your audience to agree that those claims are lacking.

Other Side Taking into account an opposing viewpoint will strengthen your own. You will take the time to point out errors in the opposing position, but your tone will be reasonable. You should not claim the other side is "stupid" or "full of rabid rightwingers" or "unrealistic, bleeding-heart liberals." Your essay will show that you have seriously considered the opposing side's claims. Sometimes you may even concede what you can accept in opposing views, but often you will refute what you cannot accept. When you counterargue opposing views, it is important you represent those views accurately. Therefore, you must quote from the other side. Do not merely guess what those on the opposing side might say. Of course you must present reasons and support for your counterargument in order for your readers to take the counterargument seriously. The goal is to make your own argument more compelling by contrasting it with another argument. Of course you should not overuse "I " statements ("I think" "I believe" "I argue") so you can write such leaders as "X is wrong when he claims A because" or "The evidence shows that ....or "X 's assertion that...... does not fit the facts."

Introduction
For the introductory paragraph, you must refer to the argument you are refuting. Remember, you are disagreeing with a specific lecture, speech, or piece of writing. Name that work in your first two sentences. Then tell us why this is a worthy opponent AND why this piece demands our attention. This will be the part where you help establish the exigence of your essay. Be sure that you have a worthy opponent; in other words, be sure that your opponent has some credibility and that his argument is one that has exigence. If the opponent is just some random dude who put up a web site, forget it. Or, for example, if his argument is that we should conduct a full-scale military invasion of Mexico to solve the War on Drugs, this is not a worthwhile claim to rebut. This is not a realistic claim. Finally, in the first paragraph, offer your thesis: EXAMPLE: Macgruber's claim is flawed for these reasons: ............
BODY: Paragraph Two should start with an effective summary of your opponent's argument. Represent his position accurately.
BODY: Refutation: Next, refute two or three of his main points.
BODY: Counterargument: Offer your own argument as a better alternative. Remember, this is competitive.
CONCLUSION:
Your conclusion is not simply a summary of your main points. Instead, choose one of the following strategies:•m issue a warning of the future : what are the consequences if we accept the claims of your opponent? • reassure the reader about the safety of the future •a quote an authority who agrees with your points •m use a telling example to illustrate the implications of your argument
A FINAL WORD ABOUT SOURCES:
You must correctly cite from at least three sources. One source will of course be the main essay you are refuting. Using print sources will enhance your credibility. If you are interested in using a webpage, be sure to evaluate its credibility by seeing if it is allied with a university, a government agency, or a respected institution. Just because a webpage uses statistics does not make it a good choice for your research. Be sure that the research is somewhat current and that it avoids the logical fallacies.
Avoid using the Bible, or any other "spiritual book," as a source. Why? Your audience for this essay is an academic one. The academic community, whether you like it or not, does not generally view the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, etc. as a reliable source. The authority we use must convince a particular audience. Effective authority is authority that is acceptable to that particular audience. The Koran carries no authority to a Catholic, the Pope carries no authority to a Baptist, and the first chapter of Genesis carries no authority to a geologist. Perhaps you can use the moral claims of a holy book the in your own words to appeal to the audience. You can argue retribution as a moral principle without quoting from the Bible "an eye for an eye."
Points will be deducted for incorrect in-text citations. Use MLA format for the in-text citations and the Works Cited page.
Examples of in-text citations:
In "The IQ Cult," journalist Brent Staples states that IQ tests give scientists little insight into intelligence (293).
In her article "Losing Patience With Fox," Washington Post reporter Marcela Sanchez asserts that "International human rights groups are losing patience with Mexican President Vincente Fox" (C8).
At the Smith trial, for example, one group of reporters was covering the trial while another group was covering the other reporters (Thaler 44).

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Essay Instructions: I NEED ASSISTANCE ON WRITING A STRONG MILITARY REBUTTAL; THE FOLLOWING ARE JUST SENTENCES IF IT CAN BE EXPANDED AND WRITTEN WITH A STRONG JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PUNISHMENT NOT BEING A CAREER ENDER. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. I DO NOT NEED ANY CITATIONS

1. I take full responsibility for my poor judgement with BG Sing. Since 2003 I have always considered him as a friend, mentor and someone I look up for advice. I made choices to the best of my ability with him without wanting to lose him as a friend. I acknowledge responsibility for my error in judgement and realize that I had several better options available to me at that time that I failed to use. I have served under strong leaders and great mentorship and have let those who believe in me down. I have also disappointed my family and my friends. Due to my selfish acts I have hurt those who I truly love and hurt BG Sing?s family.. I am incredibly remorseful and I am ashamed of my acts and cant face the leaders who I have served under and have the utmost respect for and tell them of what I have done. My biggest punishment is to know that I have disappointed those who genuinely care for me as a Soldier.

2. I have let down a chain of command who doesn?t know me and I understand if they are not willing to give me a chance. I take full responsibility of my actions and will have to face the punishment. I would like for you sir, to consider giving me a second chance. I love the being in the Army. It has been my life for the past 16 years. I have served the Army honorably. I have a good record and this is the first disciplinary action I have ever received.

3. The United States has provided many great opportunities for my family and me. I have always had a strong sense of honor and patriotism. I am a strong leader and have always volunteered to assume leadership roles and welcomed the opportunity when leadership roles were thrust upon me. I have total devotion to duty. I have always given 200% of my commitment and hard work to meet my commander?s intent. I have never failed my command in the past. I have been loyal to them and though my current personal actions does not reflect this but I have been a true leader of Soldiers. I am mentally and physically fit and have lead them in peace and combat. I have always been respectful and a team player among my subordinates, peers, and superiors.

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Title: rebuttal on stem cell research and yaz

Total Pages: 2 Words: 739 References: 2 Citation Style: APA Document Type: Essay

Essay Instructions: hi
I need two rebuttals. First I need a one page long rebuttal on defending Yaz birth control. Here is the outline I want you to use:
People say “Yaz is dangereous”. Below are the arguments I want you to use. You can add some other arguments.
-You take a risk with every medication you take
-It’s up to the individual to see whether or not the medication works for you. If you feel it’s too dangerous, then stop taking it.
People say “it’s unethical to keep Yaz on the market.”
-If Yaz is what you want to take, you should have the right to take it. If not, you should have the right to not take it, which you do.
Second I need one page long rebuttal against Stem Cell Research. Below is the outline I want you to use:
“You can live long and have a better life.”
-You are killing an embryo so you can have a better life.
“You can research cures for diseases.”
-Research costs are very high as it is, adding the stem-cell research costs would be astronomical.
(add some other arguments)
For both rebuttals state what the opinion is and then state the arguments for each particular one to fight the opinion down. Please use 1 source for each rebuttal such as statistics etc.
thanks

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Title: freedom of speech

Total Pages: 3 Words: 1271 Works Cited: 0 Citation Style: MLA Document Type: Research Paper

Essay Instructions: I need an outline for a persuasive speech on freedom of speech, for my public speaking class. I want it to be for(not against) the first amendment, dealing with the media, radio, tv, exploitation of women, explicit lyrics in music, ect. it needs to have quotes and a work cited page in MLA style, with at least 3 sources. This paper can have jokes and just try to be clever and witty.Be creative.

This is the format I would like:

Proposition statement: what you plan to propose/how you want the audience to think/act/feel about this issue.

Title

I. INTRODUCTION

A. attention getter.
B. preview
1. State the problem
2. state the couse
3. preview/ impress us that the effects touch all of our lives (personal appeal)
4. preview opposing views/rebuttals
5. preview your solutions to the problem

II. DISCUSSION

A. problem
1. supporting details--remember full aural footnotes
2.supportion details--clearly explain what the issue is
3. supportion details--what is at risk

B. causes
1. who perpetuates this problem?
2. what businesses/organiszations/legislators cause the problem? block legislation?
3. Be specific--offer names/addresses/ phone#s

C effects
1. creat cognitive dissonance
2. tell us what is at stake? why is it important that we thin/act/feel like you?
3. use personal appeals

D. Opposing views/rebuttals(1:2 ratio--this is the crux of persuasive speaking--it is the most important part of the speach?
1. diplomatically discuss one opposing view--quote a credible source/leader/supporter of this belief
a.offer rebuttal#1
b. offer rebuttal#2
2. opposing view #2
a. offer rebuttal #1
b. offer rebuttal #2--save the best, most compelling research for this section

E. solutions ( if you were in charge, what , within reason, would you propose? Do you have a three-prong approach involving a petition, letter-wrting campaign, boycott, supporting a particular government official, etc.?)
1. offer solutions--provide phone numbers, addresses, websites, etc.
2. consider solutions that have been adopted elsewhere--what were the results? if successful, how can we bring about the same changes in out community?
3. provide a clear plan of action--offer appeals, what do we stand to lose if we don''t act on your solutions?

III. CONCLUSION

A. review: offer a full review statement full of appeals, compelling evidence to support your proposal. use definitive words-- do not use hedge words such as "hopefully"--STATE PURPOSE CLEARLY.
1. review problem
2. reinforce causes
3. reinforce personal effects
4. reiterate opponents'' views/reinforce proposal
5. remind audience of solution
B.FMS: Leave audience witha strong image, compelling message. Plan final moment carefully.


This is the persuasive speech format that the teacher gave to the class. This paper does not have to follow it exactly but I would like it to follow it closely as possible.

Rememeber, this assignment is just an outline. everything does not have to be written out in a complete sentence. Just pretend like you were giving a speech to the class and use this as an guide.
also I do not want this double spaced if you can.
thank you.

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