{"id":601,"date":"2017-10-09T20:10:28","date_gmt":"2017-10-09T20:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-jeffersoncc-englishcomp2kscopexmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=601"},"modified":"2017-11-20T15:18:36","modified_gmt":"2017-11-20T15:18:36","slug":"601","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-jeffersoncc-englishcomp2kscopexmaster\/chapter\/601\/","title":{"raw":"Synthesizing and Supporting Refutals","rendered":"Synthesizing and Supporting Refutals"},"content":{"raw":"

Definition<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nRefutals, or counterarguments, break down the other side\u2019s claims and reasons.\u00a0 Refutals are typically placed at the ends of the other side\u2019s paragraphs.\u00a0 Because it takes time to disprove\u2014partially or total\u2014another side\u2019s views, refutals must be well developed.\u00a0 A few generalizations that turn away the other side\u2019s readers will not do!\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n

Why Refutals Matter<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIt is not enough for writers to show that they disagree.\u00a0 In academic writing and especially in the research project, nobody gives much credit for the existence of another\u2019s point of view.\u00a0 You must do more than show that<\/em> they are misguided; the refutals are an area where you can strike back at the underdone or overdone claims of your opposition.\r\n\r\nRefuting well shows the audience that you know more than just your side.\u00a0 A well-researched point of view will have taken into account several sides.\u00a0 (There are more than two sides to your topic, correct?)\u00a0 Skilled writers think strategically about how they will respond to the other side.\u00a0 Because each side has stronger and weaker points, you must show fairness in giving ground to those opposition points which carry weight; conversely, you can be more aggressive in undercutting their points if they lack value.\u00a0 Such variety shows readers that you know which of their points are valid.\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n

Just Doing What A Virus Does. . .<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nViruses interrupt cell activity, hijacking the cell and making copies of themselves.\u00a0 The virus metaphor in writing goes like this: Source support is needed, but it\u2019s an interruption of your voice, your ideas.\u00a0 We work at integrating and subordinating the support so that it remains in a backing role.\u00a0 However, when writing refutals we try to be like viruses.\u00a0 We take over \u201ctheir\u201d paragraph and interrupt its flow.\u00a0 We bring in reasons why what they say is wrong, to some greater or lesser extent.\u00a0 We end with our ideas, not theirs.\u00a0 (In a weird way, some of our bad high-school habits of interrupting and switching focus, undercutting progress, can help us as we deal with the other side!\u00a0 Be specific and professional as you do this, though.\u00a0 Your refutal section fails if it sounds like a newspaper editorial (all generalized talk and no support).\u00a0 Save some of your best cited material for this job of blunting the other side\u2019s progress.\u00a0 The key reminder is that you have to show their ideas fairly.\u00a0 You cannot distort their ideas in this strange process.\u00a0 <\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n

\u201cDon\u2019t You Take that Tone with Me, Missy\/Mister!\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTone is the author\u2019s attitude toward the material.\u00a0 It can be given away in diction, detail level, or even the amount of attention taken with a given idea.\u00a0 Work on wording your refutals so that you are not utterly demolishing the other side\u2019s views.\u00a0 Keep the conversation going.\u00a0 Refutals move from their ideas to yours to where you want the audience to be; this is a tough series of moves to make!<\/strong>Read your work aloud to gauge its tone and the effects it creates.\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n

Cited Support<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nAt the high-school level, writers often get away with uninterpreted citations.\u00a0 Cited, supported, well-integrated refutals are expected.\u00a0 If you are telling someone that they are wrong, do them the courtesy of backing it up.\u00a0 Because people often wait till last to do refutals, they often turn into the worst-written parts of papers.\u00a0 Refutals are the true test of the health of your argument; any lack of research will show through plainly.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSignal Phrases<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u201cSo Smith said ____________.\u00a0 Who cares?\u201d\u00a0 Signal phrases hand off the material from you to the source.\u00a0 Citations end the source use.\u00a0 Signal phrases also build source credibility.\u00a0 Tell us why so-and-so matters.\u00a0 Give use the context for their summary\/paraphrase\/quote.\u00a0 Hopefully, you can see why signal phrases are that much more important in the delicate refutal sections.\u00a0 Work through source bias and credibility in the ways you deal with the setup of support.<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n

Transitions<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u201cWhich side is she on?\u201d\u00a0 This is an ominous question that can appear if writers do not use transitions well enough.\u00a0 Use lists of transitions (found easily enough, you researchers) to make it clear when you are moving from arguing the opposition to arguing against the opposition.\u00a0 If a paragraph or two contains the con reason and the refutals, be sure we know where you switch from con to refutal.\u00a0 Similarly, signal when you are moving from one idea to the next.\r\nRefutals often point toward areas of common ground or compromise.\u00a0 Think about how your refutals might alter\/qualify\/limit your thesis claim.\u00a0 The thesis should be available for revision throughout the writing process.\r\n\r\n \r\n

What To Do Now<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n