CONCESSIONS

Review

• Concession: Agreeing or acknowledging a point on the other side of an issue– Not a weakness!– You look unbiased– Credible

Where Does it Go?

Concession(s) located at beginning of a reason/paragraph, after topic sentence.

CONCESSION

REASON topic sentence

Reason (CDs + CMs)

TRANSITION into Concession

• You MUST use one of these word/phrases to introduce concession:– Admittedly, ______– It is true that ______– It is often argued that _______

– Ex: "It is often argued that school uniforms improve academic performance."

Opposing View: Mini-Argument

Sentence 1: Transition/topic sentence

Sentence 2: Concrete detail (supports opposing viewpoint)

Sentence 3: Commentary (explains opposing viewpoint evidence)

Example

Ex. School uniforms do not focus students and fail to improve their academic performance. It is often argued that school uniforms improve academic performance. According to a recent study published by CNN, students are less distracted by worrying about having the right clothes to fit in, which means they can concentrate more fully on academic subjects (Childs). Students often spend more time thinking about what they will wear, or what other students are wearing to the point that they don’t have enough brain power for their Algebra class.

I Like Big “Buts” & I Cannot Lie

• After your concession, you need a REBUTTAL– Rebuttal: Response to opposing viewpoint

• You MUST use one of these rebuttal phrases:– “Nevertheless,” – “However”– “What this opinion fails to take into account is

that…”

Help Ballew!

• Concession card: “Tanning beds can provide people

with much-needed Vitamin D during the winter months. Vitamin D is linked to healthy immune systems” (Carol).

Match It w/ the Right Argument:

ARG. 1: HEALTH PROBLEMS

Burning & Dry Skin

Premature Wrinkling

Lowers effectiveness of Immune System

ARG. 2: ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Addictive -> expensive

Health problems drive up health care costs

ARG. 3: CANCER

Ocular Cancer

Breast Cancer

Melanoma

Match It w/ the Right Argument:

ARG. 1: HEALTH PROBLEMS

Burning & Dry Skin

Premature Wrinkling

Lowers effectiveness of Immune System

ARG. 2: ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Addictive -> expensive

Health problems drive up health care costs

ARG. 3: CANCER

Ocular Cancer

Breast Cancer

Melanoma

Help Ballew!

• Concession card:

“Many tanning businesses advertise getting a base tan to prevent burned skin, and ultimately, to protect from skin cancer” (“Tanning Beds Under [...]”).

Match It w/ the Right Argument:

ARG. 1: HEALTH PROBLEMS

Burning & Dry Skin

Premature Wrinkling

Lowers effectiveness of Immune System

ARG. 2: ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Addictive -> expensive

Health problems drive up health care costs

ARG. 3: CANCER

Ocular Cancer

Breast Cancer

Melanoma

Match It w/ the Right Argument:

ARG. 1: HEALTH PROBLEMS

Burning & Dry Skin

Premature Wrinkling

Lowers effectiveness of Immune System

ARG. 2: ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Addictive -> expensive

Health problems drive up health care costs

ARG. 3: CANCER

Ocular Cancer

Breast Cancer

Melanoma (skin cancer)

Uniform Example• School uniforms do not focus students and fail to improve

their academic performance. It is often argued that school uniforms improve academic performance. According to a recent study published by CNN, students are less distracted by worrying about having the right clothes to fit in, which means they can concentrate more fully on academic subjects (Childs). Students often spend more time thinking about what they will wear, or what other students are wearing to the point that they don’t have enough brain power for their Algebra class. This argument does not take into account the fact that teenagers will worry about their looks no matter what they are wearing (“The Best Way […]”). They will try to modify and accessorize their school uniforms, as well as changing their hairstyles to fit in with their friends. School uniforms can not stop teenagers from worrying about their appearances." Red – Con transition word/phrase Blue –CDPurple – Rebuttal transition Green –CM

Below Standards Examples

“Marine pollution abuses and poisons animals and alters the food chain. It takes more energy to recycle plastics than it does to use all new materials, but in not doing so, animals live in the ocean are constantly being bombarded with garbage. “

Concession is there, but why below standard?

Below #2

“Treating animals badly would produce unreliable results. There are some researchers who treat animals just fine. A lab in the United Kingdom houses marmosets in cages nearly nine feet high and are designed specifically with the needs of the species in mind (Bethlo). Not all research facility cage their animals in cages nine feet high, though...”

Con & rebuttal present – what’s wrong or missing?

@ Standard

“It is apparent that child labor is helpful, not only to the bottom line of the manufacturing companies, but also to the workers and consumers by providing Admittedly, there are many who oppose not only the concept of children working, but also oppose the corporations that hire kids as their employees. These protestors enjoy spouting their views on Saving the children from exploitation in the form advertising campaigns and boycotts (Tean 23). They claim that many of these children….What these protestors fail to take into account is that the practice helps ensure a healthy lifestyle for the workers’ families. In fact, one of every three workers were able to save a family member’s life using this health coverage (Bruno)...

Review Quiz

• Your concession goes ______ the topic sentence of your argument

• Name 2 of the 3 suggested transition words/phrases

• T/F: The concession doesn’t need cited evidence

• What is a rebuttal?• Give one example of a rebuttal• T/F: The concession needs to be about the

same topic as the paragraph is precedes.

@ Standard

“A common misconception is that it is very unlikely for an innocent person to be convicted of a crime, when in fact, many cases prove that not only some convicted, but they are executed as well. DNA evidence has greatly reduced the likelihood of an innocent person being convicted and sentenced to death. In the united States, since 1973, 122 have been exonerated from death row due to proven innocence (Inevitability of Error).”

Practice

1. Identify one opposing viewpoint to your thesis

Use your graphic (re)organizer

2. Use con transitionAlthough, admittedly, etc.

3. Con CD (from your notes – please cite!)4. Con CM

Use golden ratio (1:2)

5. Rebuttal -> 2nd transition word/phraseHowever, nevertheless, but, etc.