To sharpen this edge, a writer must not leave a single objection unaddressed in his/her argumentative essay. Therefore, the writer must respond immediately to each objection with a rebuttal. The purpose of the rebuttal is two-fold: first, it totally annihilates or "knocks out" the essence of the objection and second, it reasserts the position of the writer.

To compose a successful rebuttal, you must first analyze the objection and isolate its core belief. This essential claim will be the target of your rebuttal. Then you must create a rebuttal that totally refutes and overturns the essence of the objection. As such, perhaps more than anywhere else in written argumentation, your rebuttal must be fully developed and carefully supported.

Mini-paper #3 will present rebuttals to the objections to your position on the topic you have selected as the subject for paper #4.

Step One: PRE-WRITING

A. Reread Mini-paper #2. Select the three most cogent objections from this paper and fully revise them according to the responses they received and any additional research you have done. If you did not present three objections, you will need to develop the extra ones now.
B. For each of these three objections, identify the kernel idea at its essence.
C. For each of these three objections, informally brainstorm a list of possible rebuttals.

Step Two (TO TURN IN):

In a formal, written paper of approximately two-and-a-half pages, organize your rebuttal mini-paper as follows:

A. BACKGROUND: Present the background on the topic as you have done in the first two mini-papers or as needs to be elaborated or revised. Be sure you have explained why this topic is important and/or controversial.
B. POSITION: State your position on the topic. Remember, DO NOT change your position from the stance you chose for the first two mini-papers.
C. Present each of the three fully supported objections one at a time that you have revised for Step One. Immediately after each single objection, present one or two fully substantiated rebuttals to the objection.

Mini-paper #2 will serve as an invaluable resource for writing your formal argumentative essay. It is ungraded; however, the three mini-papers combined account for 5% of the 25% weight of paper #4. I will comment on them to encourage you to develop your ideas as critically and fully as possible.

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