Address issues on refutation

Objectives

Evaluating a debate (what are the criteria that have to be met, what is an average and under/over average speech; which aspect of the speech are points awarded to)

Task

In this class exercise, you will be given a statement and a refutation made in response to the statement. Your task is to evaluate the refutation and identify any issues or weaknesses in it. You will then need to provide a suitable response to address these issues.

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Statement - THW ban plastic bags in supermarkets

Refutation
Banning plastic bags in supermarkets will not solve the problem of plastic pollution. People will simply switch to using paper bags, which are just as harmful to the environment.

Evaluate


Response to address the issue

(See Answer 1)



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Statement - Social media influencers bring more harm than good

Refutation
Social media influencers are not all bad. Many of them use their platforms to raise awareness for important causes, such as mental health, environmental sustainability, and social justice issues. Additionally, they can provide valuable entertainment and inspiration to their followers

Evaluate


Response to address the issue

(See Answer 2)

Answer 1
  • Evaluate - The refutation uses a strawman argument by suggesting that the proposed ban is solely intended to solve the problem of plastic pollution. It fails to address the other reasons why a plastic bag ban could be beneficial, such as reducing resource consumption and encouraging the use of reusable bags. The refutation also makes the assumption that paper bags are just as harmful to the environment as plastic bags, without providing evidence to support this claim.
  • Response - While it is true that a plastic bag ban may not completely solve the problem of plastic pollution, it can still have several benefits. For example, it can reduce the amount of waste generated by supermarkets and encourage consumers to bring their reusable bags. Additionally, paper bags are often made from renewable resources and are biodegradable, making them a better alternative to plastic bags. However, it is important to note that paper bags are not a perfect solution either, as they still require resources to produce and transport. Therefore, a better approach would be to promote the use of reusable bags or other sustainable alternatives to single-use bags, rather than simply switching from plastic to paper.
Answer 2
  • Evaluate - The refutation suggests that all social media influencers are bad, while the statement only claims that they bring more harm than good. This refutation fails to address the negative impact that some influencers can have on their followers, such as promoting unhealthy body image or encouraging materialism. The refutation also makes the assumption that the positive aspects of social media influencers outweigh the negative ones, without providing evidence to support this claim
  • Response – While it is true that some social media influencers use their platforms for good, it cannot be denied that there are also many negative aspects associated with influencer culture. For example, many influencers promote unrealistic beauty standards, which can have a harmful impact on young people's self-esteem. Additionally, many influencers promote materialistic values, which can encourage overconsumption and contribute to environmental issues. While it is possible for influencers to raise awareness for important causes, it is important to recognize that the negative impact they can have on their followers outweighs the positive. Therefore, it is important to regulate influencer content and ensure that they are held accountable for the messages they promote.