Refutation is an important skill for writers to possess, most especially those who wish to persuade an audience to a certain point of view. There are four keys to a good refutation argument. First the intended audience should be considered; what are their opinions, interests, and concerns surrounding them? how old are they and what is their level of intellectual activity? do they have expectations of you, as the author? Next, it is important to assume that the reader is both apprehensive or ignorant of the information that is delivered. As author lays the ground work he can give is a slant that will automatically draw the listeners in. These are all basics that are profitable for any writer to think about. So what makes a refutation different? In a refutation the author needs to clearly state his position as well as the points of the opponent. In so doing, the narrator needs to have a sense of respect and decorum, especially when presenting the stance of the adversary. When the contrasting viewpoint is brought up, it clarifies to the audience what is going to be discussed and disputed. Fourthly, the last make-or-break concern is the importance of keep the readers attention. The first couple sentences need to create a rapport, or the argument is basically done for; once it is lost, it is nearly impossible to gain is back favorably.
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Neat post, Caity! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCaity,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the explanation. Have you already written a refutation paper? If so, what argument were you presenting? What great recommendations for defending a position orally as well.
Hugs to you!