Understanding Refutation in Writing: Learning an Important Piece of the Skeletal Template

What is Refutation?

You have learned about the Skeletal Template we use to write our prompt responses in WRIT 1034.  You have applied the template in your revision of Prompt 1.  Now it is time to learn another piece of the template called REFUTATION.

Refutation means answering an objection or challenge someone else makes to our argument about something.  

For instance, if I say red is the best color to use for an emergency warning sign, someone might say it isn’t because it causes fear and could distract someone in an emergency situation.  So, we have two statements:

(1)Red is a good color to use for an emergency sign.
(2)Red is a bad color to use for an emergency sign because it causes fear and could be a distraction.

Statement (1) above is the argument or claim, and statement (2) is the objection.  Now the person who made the argument (1) has to answer the person who made the objection (2).

(1)Red is a good color to use for an emergency sign.
(2)Red is a bad color to use for an emergency sign because it causes fear and could be a distraction.
(3)Red is still a good color because although it may cause fear it also attracts attention, and the fear will not be so great as to distract from the emergency situation.

Statement (3) above is the refutation.  It’s the response to the objection (2) and upholds the argument (1).  That is the pattern of refutation.

What you have to do in refutation is imagine what someone might say against you when you make an argument.  You have to introduce a possible objection to your own argument, and then you respond to (or refute) that objection.  So, you have to do the work of two people: you have to make an argument, and you have to object to the argument you make as if you were someone else who disagrees.  You have to use your imagination to play two roles.

Now let’s look at the template on the next page.Here’s the formula A + C (agree with author) or B + C (disagree with author).  Let’s look at an example.  Let’s say we have a prompt entitled “Red is Best for Warnings” by Tom Toodle, and his main point is that we should use red in warning signs.  Let’s say that you agree.  Here’s how refutation looks in this student example.  

    First, red is the best color to get attention in an emergency because it is bright and dramatic and easily visible.  Some people might say that red is bad because it can cause fear and distraction in emergency situations. This may appear reasonable; however, the fear will not be too great to prevent attention to an emergency, which is what warnings are for.


    First, red is a bad color for warning signs because red causes fear and distraction, which you should avoid in emergencies.   Toodle might say red is good for attracting attention, which is essential in emergencies. This may appear reasonable; however, attention mixed with fear is dangerous, and maybe another bright color like green would work as well.
 

Let’s analyze this on the next page.











    First, [this student chose to do refutation in paragraph ‘First’ – it could have been in ‘Second’ or ‘Finally’] , red is the best color to get attention in an emergency because it is bright and dramatic and easily visible [this is the argument the student makes showing agreement with Toodle].  Some people might say [this is the refutation sentence the student uses because he agrees with the author, sentence A in the template] that red is bad because it can cause fear and distraction in emergency situations [this is the objection that the student imagines someone would make against his argument]. This may appear reasonable; however, [this is sentence C, which is always used to close a refutation] the fear will not be too great to prevent attention to an emergency, which is what warnings are for [this is the student’s response to (or refutation of) the objection].  

What if the student disagreed with the author?  Let’s see how that would work.

    First, [again, this student chose to do refutation in paragraph ‘First’ – it could have been in ‘Second’ or ‘Finally’]. red is a bad color for warning signs because red causes fear and distraction, which you should avoid in emergencies [this is the argument the student makes showing disagreement with Toodle].  Toodle might say [this is the refutation sentence the student uses because he disagrees with the author, sentence B in the template] red is good for attracting attention, which is essential in emergencies [this is the objection that the student imagines someone would make against his argument]. This may appear reasonable; however, [this is sentence C, which is always used to close a refutation] attention mixed with fear is dangerous, and maybe another bright color like green would work as well [this is the student’s response to (or refutation of) the objection].

On the next page, let’s take a look at the model essay I provided you.