Rebuttal

=The Rebuttal Speech=

**Goal**: to persuade the judge that your opponent’s position (Affirmative or Negative) in the debate is incorrect, untrue, and invalid. **Preparation**:
 * Identify all possible valid arguments of your opposition. Write each on an Argument card.
 * Collect evidence in the form of exact quotations (primary and secondary sources--no encyclopedias, textbooks, internet, except for primary documents) which could be used to weaken or negate each of the opponent’s potential arguments. Each quote should be written on a separate Evidence card, along with the full MLA citation and page number. (The full source has to be given during the debate.)
 * For each of your opponent’s potential arguments, write a counterargument in your own words on a Counterargument card. Group your cards together with Argument card, Counterargument card, and evidence cards in that order.
 * As you research, you may find new arguments, counterarguments, and evidence to go with them. Add them to your collection.
 * Be very familiar with your arguments and counterarguments before your debate.
 * Speaking Tips: **
 * Your speech is partially prepared during the actual debate. Prior to the debate, organize your little packets of cards (argument-counterargument-evidence) on your desk.
 * During the debate, listen carefully to the opposing team’s constructive speech. Your job is to mount an attack on the arguments presented in this speech. Jot some notes on this speech, especially on the arguments. Your partner should do the same in order to help you.
 * During the speech and in the break prior to your speech, choose stacks of arguments-counterarguments-evidence which most closely correspond to the arguments put forth in the opponent’s constructive. These cards, which can be read just like in a constructive speech, will form the body of your speech.
 * Write or ad lib an intro and conclusion, which essentially do the same thing as in the constructive speech.
 * Speak in an assertive to aggressive manner, fairly rapidly, loud enough to be heard anywhere in the room. The rebuttal speech can be even more antagonistic in tone than the constructive--you are on the attack.
 * Refer to each argument by number.
 * Indicate that you are reading evidence by doing two things:
 * Saying “quote” and “unquote” at the beginning and end of each quotation.
 * Saying the source of the quote and page number. If you use the same source more than once, you may abbreviate the citation to author and page number after reading the entire citation the first time.