by Jeanette Mason

While constructive arguments establish the foundation for debate, the heart and soul of a debate lies in the rebuttal. While technically refutation and rebuttal are two different processes, in practice they are interchangeable. Refutation is the process of finding flaws in the opponent’s arguments, reasoning and evidence. Rebuttal refers to the process of re-establishing your own arguments or case, responding to the opponents’ arguments, or extending an argument already in play. Reasoning is the process by which we make logical connections between ideas and evidence. Skilled debaters learn to understand how these three processes interplay during a debate.

Tips to ensure victory!

Signpost Your Arguments:

Instruct the judge as to where you are on the flow.
Indicate specific arguments, including new ones.
Follow the first affirmative case structure; whether you are affirmative or negative, use consistent numbers and references throughout the entire debate.

Use Professional Transitions:

For example: affirmative argues X but the negative shows you specific examples of Y.
In my third argument...
For support I turn to....
In response to my opponent’s argument...
To explain further....
So you can see.....
Cara asserted....
John would have you believe.....
The negative claims....
The affirmative suggests.....

Talk To The Judge:

be spontaneous,
be genuine,
be persuasive.

compare arguments,
compare evidence,
compare reasoning.

from a different source.

all of your original arguments and extend arguments.

help the judge determine why one argument or piece of reasoning is more valid than another.

insures organization,
helps with spotting flawed evidence,
assists in locating inconsistencies and fallacies in reasoning,
is useful in establishing cross examination questions

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