Refutation To refute an article is to prove someone else’s argument is wrong. Here is what you need to do before the assignment assignment.
Go back to the First Learning Unit, Week One, and reread the Insider Article.
Choose a conspiracy theory that interests you, but that you disagree with.
Go to the internet and find find an article that promotes that theory.
Read your article carefully.
Make a list of reasons why you don’t disagree with it. Choose the one reason that you think is the most convincing and that you can write the most about.
Write a draft of the refutation paper. This should be the full paper–it will be peered reviewed next week.
Make an argument about why your audience should disagree with it. You should start with an introduction and thesis. Your thesis should establish and support one overall claim about what you think is wrong or troubling or missing from your target article.
For the rest of the paper, spend your time supporting your point. Refute the validity, ethical implications, and/or usefulness of the writer’s ideas; do not attack the writer emotionally.
There are two ways to refute an argument:
Present an counter argument. This will require some evidence, so you will need to cite another source.
Refute the argument through critical analysis–pointing out logical fallacies or emotional bias, for example
Write for an academic audience, with arguments that are formal, thoughtful, specific, and well-supported with evidence. Be sure to summarize the argument you plan to refute and provide quotes and paraphrases from the text throughout your paper to help you complete your refutation.
Use quotes and paraphrase from the article. Cite them in MLA style.
