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 · 5 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.

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.
Which part of the Toulmin model matches this description? A word or phrase that limits how strongly the claim is made. (backing / warrant / grounds / qualifier) → qualifierPrompt: Ask what job each part does: state, prove, connect, support the connection, limit, or admit exceptions.
Claim: "Cities should plant more trees." Counterclaim: "Trees are expensive to maintain." Which is the best rebuttal? (Trees are beautiful. / Maintenance is a long word. / Some trees are very old. / Studies show city trees save more in cooling and flood costs than they cost to look after.) → Studies show city trees save more in cooling and flood costs than they cost to look after.Prompt: A counterclaim states the opposing view; a rebuttal answers it.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 min

Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

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.
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.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

Claim: "Homework should be optional in secondary school." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? (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. / Some people think homework is good, and they are right. / Homework should be optional because I said so.) → 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.
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.

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

eurekami

Writing a concession and rebuttal

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Professional athletes should be role models." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → All athletes are bad role models.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
2
Question 2
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, so AI should be banned forever.
- B. AI is the future, so critics are wrong.
- C. 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.
- D. AI tools are computer programs.
3
Question 3
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Professional athletes should be role models." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → Athletes are famous.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
4
Question 4
Claim: "Professional athletes should be role models." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it?
- A. All athletes are bad role models.
- B. Granted, athletes did not ask to be role models; nevertheless, their huge influence on young fans brings a responsibility they cannot simply ignore.
- C. Athletes are famous.
- D. Granted, athletes did not ask to be role models, so they shouldn't be.
5
Question 5
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Homework should be optional in secondary school." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → Homework is boring and nobody likes it.
- 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. Homework is boring and nobody likes it.
- C. Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose.
- D. Some people think homework is good, and they are right.
7
Question 7
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
8
Question 8
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Professional athletes should be role models." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → Granted, athletes did not ask to be role models, so they shouldn't be.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: Writing a concession and rebuttal

1. B. no, it is not correct
2. C. 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.
3. B. no, it is not correct
4. B. Granted, athletes did not ask to be role models; nevertheless, their huge influence on young fans brings a responsibility they cannot simply ignore.
5. B. no, it is not correct
6. C. Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose.
7. A. yes, it is correct
8. B. no, it is not correct