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English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 30 minutes

Writing a concession and rebuttal

Writing & Editing

CCSS W.11-12.1.BCCSS W.11-12.1.CEngland: GCSE English Language Paper 2 Q5England: AP Language (argument essay)England: A-level Extended Project

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Writing a concession and rebuttal.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Counterclaims and rebuttals in arguments; The Toulmin model: claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, rebuttal

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Counterclaims and rebuttals in arguments; The Toulmin model: claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, rebuttal). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Libraries are still essential in the digital age." Counterclaim: "Everything is online now." Which is the best rebuttal? → Not everyone has reliable internet at home, and libraries provide free access to it. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: A counterclaim states the opposing view; a rebuttal answers it.
  2. Which part of the Toulmin model matches this description? The position the arguer wants the audience to accept. (warrant / qualifier / backing / claim) → claimPrompt: Ask what job each part does: state, prove, connect, support the connection, limit, or admit exceptions.
  3. Claim: "Students should learn to code at school." Which sentence is a COUNTERCLAIM? (However, problem-solving skills last even when tools change. / Coding teaches logical thinking. / Critics argue that coding tools change so fast that what students learn will soon be out of date. / Many jobs now require digital skills.) → Critics argue that coding tools change so fast that what students learn will soon be out of date.Prompt: A counterclaim states the opposing view; a rebuttal answers it.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
  • Share the objective: Writing a concession and rebuttal. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Claim: "Schools should teach financial literacy." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it?
  • Step 1: Concede (admittedly, although, granted, it is true that) and then rebut (however, yet, nevertheless) to show fairness and strengthen your case.
  • Step 2: It accepts the time problem but shows the benefit outweighs it.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: It is true that the timetable is crowded, yet a few lessons a year on budgeting could save students from costly mistakes for decades.
  • Answer: It is true that the timetable is crowded, yet a few lessons a year on budgeting could save students from costly mistakes for decades.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Claim: "Homework should be optional in secondary school." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? (Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose. / Homework should be optional because I said so. / Some people think homework is good, and they are right. / Homework is boring and nobody likes it.) → Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose.Prompt: A good concession admits something genuinely true about the other side.
  2. Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Students should be allowed to use AI tools for homework." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → Critics are right, so AI should be banned forever. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: A good concession admits something genuinely true about the other side.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Schools should teach financial literacy." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → Money is important. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: A good concession admits something genuinely true about the other side.
  2. Claim: "Museums should be free for everyone." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? (While free entry costs money to fund, it pays back by attracting visitors who spend in cafés, shops and the wider city. / Museums are full of old things. / While free entry costs money, money is not important at all. / Free entry is good because free things are good.) → While free entry costs money to fund, it pays back by attracting visitors who spend in cafés, shops and the wider city.Prompt: A good concession admits something genuinely true about the other side.

Watch out for

  • Writing everything at once without planning.
  • Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Counterclaims and rebuttals in arguments.
  • Use concrete materials: a model text.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Writing a concession and rebuttal

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Museums should be free for everyone." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → While free entry costs money to fund, it pays back by attracting visitors who spend in cafés, shops and the wider city.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  2. Question 2

    Claim: "Schools should teach financial literacy." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it?

    • A. Money is important.
    • B. It is true that the timetable is crowded, yet a few lessons a year on budgeting could save students from costly mistakes for decades.
    • C. The timetable is crowded, so we cannot teach anything new.
    • D. Everyone should be rich.

  3. Question 3

    Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Cities should ban cars from their historic centres." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → Although some shops fear losing customers, several cities found that footfall actually rose after their centres went car-free.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  4. Question 4

    Claim: "Students should be allowed to use AI tools for homework." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it?

    • A. Critics are right that AI can be used to avoid thinking; however, clear rules and assignments that ask students to explain their process can turn it into a tool for learning.
    • B. Critics are right, so AI should be banned forever.
    • C. AI tools are computer programs.
    • D. AI is the future, so critics are wrong.

  5. Question 5

    Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Museums should be free for everyone." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → While free entry costs money, money is not important at all.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  6. Question 6

    Claim: "Homework should be optional in secondary school." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it?

    • A. Homework should be optional because I said so.
    • B. Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose.
    • C. Some people think homework is good, and they are right.
    • D. Homework is boring and nobody likes it.

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Answer key: Writing a concession and rebuttal

  1. 1. A. yes, it is correct

  2. 2. B. It is true that the timetable is crowded, yet a few lessons a year on budgeting could save students from costly mistakes for decades.

  3. 3. A. yes, it is correct

  4. 4. A. Critics are right that AI can be used to avoid thinking; however, clear rules and assignments that ask students to explain their process can turn it into a tool for learning.

  5. 5. B. no, it is not correct

  6. 6. B. Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose.