English 102: Refutation Essay Guidelines
Objective: The refutation essay is designed for you to critically evaluate a
published position that represents the exact opposite of the position that you
would take on a controversial topic. You will read critically to recognize faulty
assumptions, fallacies, and general points of disagreement with another writer’s
asserted position. This is not a position paper, so do not digress into a tirade for
your position; if a point is not mentioned in the source you are responding to,
then you should not include it in this essay. The assignment requires strict
attention to the Rogerian form for argument using a conciliatory approach.
Step 1: Choose a controversial topic discussed in class or suggest one for the
instructor’s approval.
Step 2: Establish what your personal opinion on the topic really is and start to
list grounds that would support your argument.
 This step is essential for establishing your own views. Although this is not
a position paper defending your own view, recognizing what you value
and would use for support of your position with help you to identify any
arguments or evidence that do not fit your position.
 You cannot be “middle of the road” for this assignment. For the success of
the paper, you must adopt a strong inclination for one side over the
other.
Step 3: Locate an article that supports the exact opposite position to the one you
believe.
 For example, if you are in favor of mandatory drug testing in the work
place, then you would deliberately find an article that does not favor the
practice of drug testing in the work place.
Step 4: Identify any parts of the article that are agreeable to your point of view.
 This will be used near the beginning of your refutation essay.
Recognizing any of the author’s legitimate ideas provides ethos for your
essay.
Step 5: Identify parts of the article’s argument that are fallacious in logical
reasoning.
 Find the flaws and pinpoint use of fallacies or inaccurate analogies. Be
prepared to explain what is fallacious about each one, if any are used.
 It is possible that you will not find any fallacies; this is fine!
Step 6: Do some research.
 For each assumption or piece of evidence you are challenging, you need
to provide a current reference that refutes it. (Your opinion alone is not
enough!)

Remember that you must not lose track of the purpose of the assignment;
do not digress into a position paper. Only address points that your
original source included.
Step 7: Write an introduction.
 The introduction might be more than one paragraph.
 An effective introduction will get the reader’s attention on the issue,
provide background on the topic, assert the position of the article being
challenged in your refutation.
 This section should also give a concession—a section that acknowledges
what is “right” about the author’s claim in some way.
Step 8: Provide an informal reference for the source you are refuting.
 You need to give the author, title, date of publication, and the name of the
publication itself. This can be embedded within the introduction.
Step 9: Write a brief summary of the article’s main points.
Step 10: State your thesis statement.
 This should be one sentence that clearly asserts your point of
disagreement.
 Most likely, this will be placed at the end of your summary of the author’s
main points or after your concession of what the author “got right.”
Step 11: Handle the body paragraphs as a methodical attack of each point or
fallacy for which you are attempting to show fault or disagreement.
 This is the section where you will need documentation to add credibility—
“backing” to your opinion. If fallacies are identified, target these within
the context of the overall point of disagreement.
Step 12: Write a conclusion
 An effective conclusion should recapture the essence of your claim and
leave the reader with something to think about regarding the seriousness
of the topic.
Step 13: Check your own work for fallacies and assumptions that will not hold
up to critical scrutiny.
 This includes checking your own language for hostility or arrogance.
Make sure you are using a conciliatory approach to argument.
Step 14: Revise and proofread!
 Refer to the rubric.
 Avoid first person throughout yet maintain a consistent voice that
engages the reader.
Step 15: Works Cited page in MLA format
Sample format
Introduction
 Attention grabber
 Background on the issue
 Citation for the article and author
 Concession statement
 Thesis stating your claim
Body Paragraphs (Generate a paragraph for each new point of disagreement)
 Topic sentence that states the point of contention
 Supporting evidence with citation
 Interpretation of that evidence
 Another example or citation for support
 Interpretation of that piece of evidence
 Continue separate paragraphs for each point needing refutation
 Expose any fallacious reasoning used with an explanation of the flaw in the
author’s logic.
Conclusion
 Restate the claim you support
 Add an insightful analogy or suggestion that keeps the reader thinking
about the seriousness of your point of view.