Right now, some of you might be thinking, “Wait….What? You mean I have to include even more stuff in my paper?” Don’t freak out just yet.

So what is a rebuttal? In a nutshell, the rebuttal is just more of you arguing your point.

Think of it this way. If you’re one of those people who struggles to meet word count requirements, including the rebuttal not only strengthens your argument but also makes your paper longer!

Are you now thinking, “What is this? A legitimate way to add content, rather than useless fluff to my paper? Bring it on!”

I was hoping you’d say that. So let’s get to it.

Not only will I give you an in-depth answer to the question that brought you here—what is a rebuttal?— but I’ll also show you how to write an effective rebuttal for your argument essay.

What Is a Rebuttal? (And How Does It Fit In Your Overall Argument?)

Understanding the rebuttal starts with knowing how it fits into your overall argument. That means we need to look at not just what a rebuttal is, but also the argument and counterargument that must come before it.

The argument

The first component of an argument is, well, your argument. In order to have a solid argument, you need a strong, arguable topic that your audience can either agree or disagree with.

In need of a little more assistance in developing an argument? Check out these posts:

• How to Write a Winning Argument Essay
• The Argument Essay: Everything You Need to Know
• 10 Logical Fallacies That Will Kill Your Argument

The counterargument

The counterargument is basically the opposing view. Think of all those people who disagree with what you have to say: the counterargument is what they would say about your topic.

The counterargument is an important component. It strengthens your argument by illustrating not only that you have done your research but also that you’ve carefully considered the opposing view.

Need help unpacking all that? Read What Is A Counterargument in an Argumentative Essay.

The rebuttal

And finally, that moment you’ve been waiting for. What is a rebuttal? The rebuttal directly addresses the opposing view and states why your claims are valid. Essentially, in a rebuttal, you acknowledge the opposition but continue to argue why you’re still right.

Here’s a quick example of how you might use a rebuttal in your daily conversations:

Let’s say you and a friend are discussing the best local restaurants for a first date.

Your argument is that an Italian place across town is the best because its food is delicious, and the atmosphere is romantic.

Your friend expresses a counterargument by stating that the restaurant isn’t at all romantic. She says the restaurant is dark, that the atmosphere is dull, boring, and far too quiet, and that it’s a place only old people go.

You then offer a rebuttal by stating that a dark and quiet atmosphere doesn’t mean that it’s dull or boring or only for old people. A quiet, dimly lit dining area is the perfect romantic setting in which to get to know your date.

See how that works? You offer your argument. Your friend presents a counterargument. You present the rebuttal by acknowledging your friend’s point, but you still argue why you’re right.

Okay, now that you have the gist and could passably give an answer when someone asks, “What is a rebuttal?” let’s focus on how you can write an effective rebuttal in your argumentative essay.

2 Strategies to Use When Writing an Effective Rebuttal

Writing an effective rebuttal means more than saying, “I’m right, and you’re wrong.” Essentially, that is the gist of what you’re saying, but remember, you’re writing an academic essay.

That means you’ll use formal language and sentence structure, use a few of those 10-dollar words, and show that you know your stuff.

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Here are two strategies for tackling your rebuttal.

Rebuttal strategy #1: Point out the errors in the counterargument

By acknowledging the counterargument but then pointing out its errors or flaws, you’re further strengthening your own argument.

This strategy allows you to illustrate that you’ve examined the issues and understand why some people may have a different perspective. But by including a strong rebuttal, you can demonstrate that your arguments are credible and stronger than the opposition’s.

Take a look at this example about minimum wage. (I’ve written the rebuttal in red to help distinguish the rebuttal from the counterargument.)

Opponents of raising the state’s minimum wage argue that an increase in wages will result in employers either losing money or being forced to cut workers’ hours in order to save costs. In reality, however, raising the state’s minimum wage will mean that workers will have additional discretionary income and will spend more money at local businesses. With the increase in revenue, businesses will not need to cut employees’ hours and will actually make money rather than lose money.

In this example, the writer acknowledges the counterargument (employers may lose money or cut hours) but then points out why the argument is flawed (workers will have additional money, and businesses will actually see an increase in profits).

Again, this strengthens your argument by illustrating why your claim is stronger than the opposition’s.

Want to see what an argument, counterargument, and rebuttal look like in action? Read A Report on the Need for the Increase of Minimum Wage.

Rebuttal strategy #2: Agree with the counterargument but provide additional information to weaken it

In some instances, it’s necessary to partially agree with the opposing view. After all, there may be some validity to the counteragument.

In these instances, you will agree with the counterargument but then provide further information that strengthens your argument while weakening the opposition’s.

Take a look at this example about technology addiction. (Once again, I’ve written the rebuttal in red to help distinguish the rebuttal from the counterargument.)

Some parents argue that teens should not be allowed to use social media because they can easily become addicted; however, simply keeping teens away from social media is not the answer. Granted, there is always a risk of addiction when using technology, but with proper education, teens can be taught how to use social media (and other technology) responsibly.

In this example, the writer first acknowledges that allowing teens to use social media means that there’s a risk of addiction.

But then the writer strengthens the argument by including additional evidence to weaken the claim that keeping teens away from social media is the best way to avoid addiction.

The Importance of Transitions

So you’ve written the argument, counterargument, and rebuttal and think you’re ready to go, right? Hold up! Not so fast. You need to first make sure that you’ve used transitions to link everything together.

Transitions are like bridges. They connect one idea to the next. Without them, you just have a bunch of ideas floating around with nothing connecting them and nothing to help readers make sense of your arguments.

Thus, when writing both the counterargument and rebuttal, it’s important that you use transitions and other appropriate word choices to reflect a switch from the counterargument to your rebuttal.

Without these, readers can become confused and not know where the counterargument begins or ends, or where your rebuttal begins.

Take a look at the following example.

Argument: Wind farms benefit communities.

Ineffective counterargument and rebuttal:

Wind farms create too much noise pollution, but they are placed far enough away from homes and are actually quite quiet.

The first part of the sentence, which is supposed to be the counteragument in this example, isn’t effective because it simply appears to contradict the main argument (that wind farms benefit communities). There’s no indication that this is actually a counterargument.

The rebuttal is ineffective because it seems to contradict the counterargument. There’s no indication that the second part of the sentence is transitioning to the rebuttal.

In other words, this counterargument and rebuttal are a hot mess.

Effective counterargument and rebuttal:

Though opponents claim wind farms create too much noise pollution, their assumptions are inaccurate. Although wind turbines do emit some sounds, the sounds are minimal, and because the wind turbines are generally placed away from housing, residents rarely hear any noise generated by the turbines.

Notice the words in red in the example above. These transition words help readers identify both the counterargument and the transition to the rebuttal. Use of proper phrasing makes the argument much clearer and more effective.

Interested in seeing if you can spot transitions between arguments, counterarguments, and rebuttals? Take a look at a few example argumentative essays to see how other writers transition between sections.

Putting the Final Pieces Together

Now that you can confidently answer, “What is a rebuttal?” (and write an effective one), remember that the counterargument and rebuttal often appear at the end of your paper.

This, of course, means that if you’ve made it this far, one of the final steps is to write a killer conclusion. Don’t forget, though, that essay writing doesn’t end with the basic drafting of your essay.

Citation (MLA or APA) and proper essay format are important too, so make sure to carefully check these components before submitting a final copy.

If you want to be extra-sure that your arguments (and counterarguments and rebuttals) all flow seamlessly and make sense, let a Kibin editor help you put it all together.

Stuck on Your Argumentative Essay?

Check Out These Example Arguments

Yes! Show Me Examples.

Given that the two are at a counter arguing, does this mean it’s a counterargument?

Not exactly.

So what is a counterargument?

I’m sure you know that a counterargument isn’t defined as an argument you have at a lunch counter. I’m sure you also know that it has something to do with essay writing and should appear in your argument essay.

But if that’s where your understanding of counterarguments ends, this post can help clear up any confusion.

What Is a Counterargument?

In any type of argumentative essay, you’ll include a strong thesis statement to identify the focus of your essay. You’ll also include several main arguments to support your thesis.

A counterargument opposes your argument. It expresses the opposite view of your thesis.
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A counterargument opposes your argument. It expresses the opposite view of your thesis.

Consider this example:

It’s Friday night, and funds are limited. You decide to gather a few friends and watch a movie. You scroll through the on-demand selections and immediately hit play when you see La La Land. Your friends are skeptical and ask why you want to watch it again.

Even though you’ve seen it more times than you can count, you tell your friends that it’s worth watching again because it’s an awesome movie. Both Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are amazing, and you know every note to every song on the soundtrack.

The reasons you give your friends for wanting to watch the movie are your supporting arguments.

When your friends argue that some of the scenes are too campy and Ryan Gosling isn’t all that, they’re offering the opposing view.

These are the counterarguments.

When you write an argument essay, readers will either agree or disagree with your thesis. Think of the readers who disagree as those who would express a counterargument.

Why Should I Include a Counterargument?

Now that you can answer “what is a counterargument?” you might think that including a counterargument would weaken your argument because, after all, you’re giving the other side ammunition. You’re explaining reasons that someone shouldn’t agree with your thesis.

A counterargument, though, actually does just the opposite. It strengthens your argument because it shows that you have done your research, that you have thoughtfully examined both sides of the argument, and that you’re objectively presenting information.

A counterargument lets you acknowledge your readers’ objections even before they have a chance to finish reading your paper.

A counterargument acknowledges your readers’ objections before they finish reading your paper.
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Keep in mind that you’re not developing another detailed argument when you write a counterargument. Your goal is to simply write a concise summary of the opposing view to illustrate that you understand and are able to acknowledge another viewpoint.

(You’ll also explain why your argument is stronger than the counterargument. More about that later in this post.)

Can You Give Me An Example of a Counterargument?

Let’s look at the topic of helicopter parenting.

Argument:

Helicopter parents often treat their teens like young children. Parents make all decisions for their teens, and this ultimately leads to children becoming overly dependent on their parents.

Bad Counterargument:

Parents tell their kids what to do anyway, so they might as well make decisions for their teens.

Some counterarguments are better than others, and this counterargument isn’t at all effective. Just because parents make decisions for their children doesn’t mean that they should make all decisions for their teenage children. There is no argument here.

Good Counterargument:

Parents have already made plenty of mistakes, so they’re guiding their teens and protecting them from making the same mistakes. This helps, rather than hurts, teens.

Even if you don’t agree with the fact that helicopter parenting helps children, you can at least see why people might feel that parents who make more decisions for their teens are actually helping their teens avoid mistakes (and the negative consequences that come with them).

But wait… there’s more…

It’s not enough to simply present both sides of the argument. Remember, you’re writing an argument, so your goal is to convince your readers.

Simply stating the opposing view won’t convince your readers, so you’ll also need to refute the counterargument. Essentially, you’ll acknowledge the opposing view but provide additional evidence to state why your argument is stronger.

How Do I Include a Rebuttal of a Counterargument?

Often, counterarguments appear at the end of your paper (just before the conclusion). This allows you to present all of your arguments before addressing the opposing view.

Counterarguments don’t need to be at the end of your paper, though. You can also weave in counterarguments throughout your paper. But no matter where you insert them, you’ll need to refute the claims of the opposing view and offer your rebuttal.

For example, if your counterargument states that helicopter parents are helping their teens avoid mistakes, you might offer the following rebuttal:

Rebuttal:

Though some believe that parents who make most decisions for their teens shield teens from the consequences of their mistakes, this type of parental over-involvement actually stunts teens’ emotional growth, does not allow them to learn from their actions, and makes it more difficult to handle failure when they eventually do make a mistake.

Notice how the rebuttal restates and acknowledges the opposing viewpoint but then explains why the counterargument isn’t valid.

A note about wording…

It’s important to effectively introduce your counterargument and rebuttal.

If you don’t, readers may become confused because your paper will seem like you’re contradicting yourself by including two different arguments (one that supports your thesis and one that is against your thesis).

In other words, give your readers fair warning that you’re moving from your main argument to a counterargument and then to the rebuttal.

Read the example above again. Notice that it uses the phrase “Though some believe…” to transition from the argument to the counterargument.

Here’s another example of an introduction to a rebuttal:

Although the argument for paying athletes presents many good points, there are underlying issues that are not addressed by proponents of paying Alabama football players.

Notice how the writer of this example uses clear transitional words to signal to readers that he is switching from argument to counterargument and finally to rebuttal.

Want to see the complete argument and rebuttal in the context of an actual essay? Check out the example essay Should Football Players at the University of Alabama Be Paid to Play?

Need a few additional example words and phrases for your rebuttal? Try these phrases:

• While some [argue/state/believe]…
• Even though the opposition [asserts/claims]…
• This statement is only partially accurate because…
• Though these concerns may be valid, the argument [fails to acknowledge/does not take into account]…

Final Thoughts

Remember, building a strong argument takes many components. You need a solid focus and argument, strong evidence to support your assertions, and a counterargument and rebuttal to further demonstrate that you’ve done your research.

If you’re still not sure how to use counterarguments in your own writing, check out these example argument essays in our essay database to see how other writers have incorporated them.

Feeling a little uneasy about whether you’ve effectively addressed the counterargument in your paper? Let a Kibin editor help with revision.

Stuck on Your Argumentative Essay?

Check Out These Example Arguments

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