Modern Social Science Research

This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the rebuttal fallacies that often occur in college English debate competition, discuss the reasons behind these rebuttal fallacies, and put forward some suggestions. Based on T. Edward Dame’s theory of refutation fallacies, this paper classifies and analyzes the rebuttal fallacies in the speeches of 24 debaters in six debates in two competitions and the feedback of judges. According to the study, the frequency of denying the counter evidence is the highest. What’s more, the middle level debaters and the novice were more likely to make this fallacy. In BP debate, LO is the person who is most likely to make rebuttal fallacies, while the fallacies committed by Whip is the most fatal. Through a series of research and analysis, this study concludes that the main causes of rebuttal fallacy are the lack of clear logic and mechanism and the lack of cognition of roles and responsibilities. To improve this situation, this paper gives corresponding advice.

British Parliamentary Debate; Rebuttal Fallacy; Debate Learning; Reason Analysis