Refutative Design in Persuasive Speech: Case Study Analysis

This essay delves into the concept of refutative design in persuasive speech, defining it as a method where a speaker attempts to persuade an audience by directly opposing, dismissing, or casting doubt on existing beliefs or theories. The essay provides a relevant example, citing Joe Rogan's refutation of conspiracy theories surrounding Chester Bennington's death, illustrating how Rogan used facts to counter these claims and sway public opinion. This example effectively demonstrates how a speaker can challenge prevailing narratives and introduce doubt, thereby changing minds or at least prompting listeners to reconsider their perspectives. The analysis emphasizes the impact of such refutation in altering audience perceptions and highlights the speaker's role in shaping opinions through strategic argumentation.

REFUTATIVE DESIGN OF
PERSUASIVE SPEECH
CHAPTER 14

REFUTATIVE DESIGN OF
PERSUASIVE SPEECH
The refutative design of persuasive speech is a kind of speech
where the speaker persuades the audience into believing in his or
point of view, by strongly arguing against, dismissing, or raising
doubts about sayings or theories, in the minds of the listeners
(van Eemeren and Grootendorst 2015).

EXAMPLE
After the death of t Chetser Bennington, the frontman of popular
rock band “Linkin Park”, conspiracy theories began surfacing that
the singer had been murdered, and that the media was trying to
cover up something. Addressing this, Joe Rogan, a popular radio
jockey refuted these claims by stating facts and bringing up the
history of depression of the late singer. With the support of these
facts, Rogan strongly condemned and refuted the claims of such
conspiracy theorists (Joe Rogan and Eddie Bravo GO DEEP on 9-11,
And Chester Bennington Suicide Conspiracy!!, 2017).

EXPLANATION
THE EXAMPLE GIVEN IN RELATION TO THE CONTEXT, IS JUSTIFIED
BY THE WAY IN WHICH ONE STATEMENT OR THEORY WAS
STRONGLY OPPOSED AND DENIED BY A PARTY, AND RAISED
DOUBTS ABOUT IT IN THE MINDS OF THE LISTENERS. IN THE
EXAMPLE, ROGAN CHANGED THE MINDS OF NUMEROUS PEOPLE,
OR AT LEAST RAISED DOUBTS IN THEIR MINDS REGARDING THE
CONSPIRACY THEORY SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF CHESTER
BENNINGTON.

REFERENCES
Joe Rogan and Eddie Bravo GO DEEP on 9-11, And Chester Bennington
Suicide Conspiracy!!. (2017). [video] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ngBI8QqXSY [Accessed 15 Feb.
2019].
van Eemeren, F.H. and Grootendorst, R., 2015. The Speech Acts of Arguing
and Convincing in Externalized Discussions. In Reasonableness and
Effectiveness in Argumentative Discourse (pp. 297-318). Springer, Cham.