Its quite possible, depending on your topic choice here, that you could use some of the same research in the Rebuttal Essay and the Argumentative/Research Essay.

Project description
Objective: Write a 2-3 page essay (750 words) rebutting someone elses argument from the New York Times forum Room for Debate. (You can rebut two authors if they are essentially saying the same thing.) If you are interested in choosing something from a different forum, you must get permission. The purpose of this assignment is to refine your argumentative skills and to develop your research skills for your final essay at the end of the semester (which will be the longest and require the most research). Its quite possible, depending on your topic choice here, that you could use some of the same research in the Rebuttal Essay and the Argumentative/Research Essay.

Note on length: I wont accept anything less than 2 full pages but you may go over that limit.

Suggestions: There is a wide range of topics availablepick one that genuinely interests you.

So what does it mean to rebut? The point of a Rebuttal Essay is to argue against another authors claims or ideas. You might be reading your local newspaper, and you see a letter from a concerned parent, which argues that the local school system is failing her kids and other children. But you say to yourself, This mother doesnt have her facts right! Moreover, you actually have evidence that the school is successful and that most students even like it. In a real world-scenario, you might write a letter rebutting this parent in the same newspaper. (I, in fact, did this shortly after I graduated college. One of my high school classmates blasted my high school for failing to prepare her for college, but I wrote a piece arguing that it had prepared me well.)

When you write a rebuttal, youll obviously rely on your opinions, ideas, experiences, etc. But to make a really strong case against someone elses argument, you need to establish a solid argumentative position. You can do this by adding research, showing your readers that you have information to back up your claims. Further, its critical that you show your reader that you understand clearly the position presented by the person whom you are debating.