Rhetorical terms · AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Rebuttal
Also called: Refutation
Rebuttal: A response that answers a counterargument by showing it is flawed, incomplete or outweighed.
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What it means
A rebuttal takes on an opposing argument directly. It may challenge the evidence, the reasoning or the conclusion, or argue that other considerations matter more. Refutation is sometimes used to mean a complete disproof, while rebuttal can mean any reasoned response.
The strongest rebuttals engage with the best version of the opposing view.
Example
'Opponents say rent control protects tenants. In the short run it can, but by discouraging new construction, it shrinks the supply of housing and leaves the next generation of tenants with fewer places to rent at all.'
On the exam
The AP Gov argument essay awards a point for responding to an alternative perspective through refutation, concession or rebuttal.