ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos


Science Videos 34 videos

Science 5: Advertising Techniques
129 Views

Hurry, click now on our fantastic video about advertising techniques, and we'll include free jokes. (While supplies last.)

Science 5: Drawing Conclusions
146 Views

Today we'll be drawing conclusions. And since this is a science video, you can probably conclude that we will not be drawing pictures. Yep, it's th...

Science 5: Osmosis
67 Views

We're raisin the water content of raisins today with osmosis. Spoiler alert: even through they may look like grapes again, they're still going to t...

See All

Science 5: Rebuttals 43 Views


Share It!


Description:

Rebuttals are the key to any great argument. We also really just like saying the word "rebuttal..." Rebuttal, rebuttal, rebuttal...

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

00:13

when you're engaged in an argument, you and your opponent have plenty of weapons at your disposal. [two people on stage debating]

00:17

And no, we're not talking about weapons like swords.

00:19

After all, it's not considered good form to chop your opponent's podium in half.

00:23

One of the top weapons is a rebuttal. [a man holding a sword and a woman holding a sign of 'rebuttal']

00:25

And even though it doesn't have any sharp edges, it can be super effective.

00:28

First though, let's figure out what a rebuttal actually is.

00:31

When we rebut, we argue against a previous argument. [a chicken pointing at a chalkboard]

00:34

A good rebuttal pokes holes in our opponent's argument.

00:37

And just like a boat full of holes is of no use on the sea, an argument full of holes [a sailing man on a boat with holes]

00:41

is of no use anywhere.

00:42

The only difference is when we're rebutting, we use facts and quotes to support our side…

00:46

…we can see how rebuttals work with a couple of examples

00:47

Lets say theres an argument your drill will rebut is: "Power tools are really quiet." [two people debating on pro-fracking and anti-fracking]

00:48

We can see how rebuttals work with a couple of examples.

00:50

Let's say there's an argument about fracking between two sides: one pro-fracking, one

00:53

anti-fracking.

00:54

The pro side argues that fracking saves money, because Americans no longer need to buy fossil

00:57

fuels from other countries.

00:58

If the anti side wanted to counter this argument with a rebuttal, they could look for facts [woman searching a macbook for facts]

01:03

that show that fracking doesn't actually save money.

01:06

Fracking is such an expensive process that the cost of oil per barrel is way higher in

01:09

the U.S. than in places that use more conventional forms of drilling… [two barrels of oil on a stage of a fracking debate]

01:12

…so the anti side could use this fact to rebut the pro's argument.

01:16

The pro side could also do some rebutting of their own.

01:18

Let's say the anti side starts talking about how fracking might pollute ground water.

01:22

This could be a great time for the pro side to rebut the argument with a quote from an

01:25

expert scientist…

01:26

…saying that though we think fracking might affect ground water, at this point we just [a white haired scientist stood on stage]

01:30

don't know for sure.

01:31

So as the argument goes on, both sides can hurl rebuttals back and forth to their hearts'

01:35

content.

01:36

As long as they stick to rebuttals [a man wielding a sword on the stage].

01:37

Seriously, leave the swords at home. Dangerous

Related Videos

ELA 5: How to Spot Bias
3247 Views

Check out the best bias video ever made, courtesy of the most awesome and amazing educational website in existence.

Social Studies 5: Impeachment
1011 Views

No, this isn't a terrible new mint-peach bubble gum flavor...though it does tend to leave a bad taste in people's mouths.

Social Studies 5: Jamestown
335 Views

Those settlers in Jamestown really should have settled down with all that land-stealing. Tobacco's bad for you anyway.

Social Studies 5: The Birth of Canada
199 Views

Being born out of multiple wars doesn't quite seem to fit the peaceful, polite Canadians we know and love today...oh wait, they were called The Bea...

Social Studies 5: How to Analyze a Political Cartoon
636 Views

Not every cartoon is meant to entertain small children while their mother gets some "Mommy time." There are also political cartoons, which are mean...