What Is a Rebuttal Statement?
During a debate, there are two opposing sides. When one speaker makes a statement the opposite side disagrees with, the opposing side will react to that statement with an answer of its own that either disproves or invalidates that statement.
Other People Are Reading
-
Definition
-
A rebuttal is an answer or response to an argument or the evidence that is supposed to support it. Rebuttals are used to refute, or disprove, different types of arguments. These are arguments based on logos or reason, arguments based on pathos or emotions, and arguments based on ethos, which attack the character of the speaker without dealing with her position's logic.
Court of Law
-
In court, the defendant and the plaintiff are expected to file information with the court about witnesses and evidence they are going to use. This way, both sides know what evidence is going to be used, and it gives the lawyers a chance to prepare arguments and rebuttals that invalidate the opposition's argument. During a rebuttal, both sides can respond to evidence, an argument or a claim, and try to invalidate information by using tactics such as questioning an authority's credentials.
-
In Debate
-
People use rebuttals in debates to challenge a statement or evidence that their opponents are using to support their sides of arguments. Rebuttals are also made during closing statements, in which the counterargument can at times sway the response of the debate toward the speaker's side.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit argumentation image by iMAGINE from Fotolia.com
