Refuting and Rebuilding Arguments

So far, the discussions in this text have focused mainly on the process of constructing arguments. For ease of understanding, this text has spoken about making arguments to support or oppose a motion as if those arguments existed in their own space, without regard to any other debaters or any other issues. Of course, in an actual debate, arguments are made always with an eye toward how they interact with other arguments. Furthermore, anytime anyone makes an argument, they take the risk that another person will confront their argument. In a debate, that risk is almost a certainty. This chapter will focus on how one speaker refutes the arguments of another, then how, once refuted, another speaker revives and rebuilds those arguments.