concession meaning in argumentative essay

Definition of Concession

Concession examples, example #1:.

“Dad, I know taking a trip to another country with my friends may be expensive and unsafe, but I have studied so hard the past year and I think I deserve a vacation. You already know how responsible I have been all my life; I don’t think there will be any problem.”

The above statement is an example of concession writing. It demonstrates the negative aspects of traveling as a young group of boys, but argues against this with the fact that this particular boy has always been a responsible person and is not likely to get into trouble.

Example #2:

“I agree that many students act and lie about being sick, so that they can avoid school for whatever reason. However, most students who do not come to school are actually sick. Being sick, they should be focusing on getting better, not worrying about school and grades just because some students take advantage of the absentee policy.”

Example #3:

“An individual does have his own right to freedom, but medical evidence proves that second-hand smoke is harmful. Nobody has the right to harm the health of another, and smoking does just that.”

Using concession, the writer has noted that everybody has freedom rights, but argues about the fact that nobody has the right to harm another person’s health, no matter what the case is.

Example #4:

“It is true that issues may sometimes become polarized and debated heatedly. Certainly, there is a need for matters of public concern to be discussed rationally. But that does not mean that such concerns should not be expressed and investigated. After all, improper interference with academic freedom was found to have taken place. And the allegations raised by doctors are ones which deserve further inquiry.”

Example #5: Politics and the English Language (By George Orwell)

“I said earlier that the decadence of our language is probably curable. Those who deny this would argue, if they produced an argument at all, that language merely reflects existing social conditions, and that we cannot influence its development by any direct tinkering with words or constructions. So far as the general tone or spirit of language goes, this may be true, but it is not true in detail.”

This is another example of concession writing showing that the writer is a fair person who has thought about the issue before giving his opinion. The writer agrees with the fact that we cannot do anything to develop the language. However it is not true if we go into details, Orwell says, because writers influence it too.

Function of Concession

Concession writing acknowledges that there are many different views to a story . This type of writing allows for different opinions that can or could be made toward an issue. It also shows that all points, positive as well as negative, have been considered before an argument is put forward. Presenting the other side and then arguing against it with valid points can make it a very strong piece of writing. Acknowledging the other side demonstrates respect for the other opinion. The concession writing technique is also known used as a method of persuasion and reasoning.

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4.5 Identifying Concessions and Counter Arguments

Learning objectives.

Identify the parts of a reasonable concession
Evaluate paragraphs for concessions
Apply concession format to a series of sentences

Let’s take some time to learn how to concede logical points and then counter them appropriately. These skills are INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. Oftentimes, only the strongest and most confident writers can write in a concession style. Your use of concession-style thesis statements and concessions throughout a response signals to your readers that you are a confident and capable writer and critical thinker. Concessions are invaluable to DISCOURSE and DIALOGUE, the two most important parts of responsible argumentation.

The purpose of this chapter and its activities is to teach you how to concede strong points and, more importantly, how to counter them effectively. Students new to writing arguments often think that including concessions will weaken their argument or that a reader will be more likely to agree with them if they pretend that no weaknesses exist in the argument. This assumption is untrue. In fact, your willingness to admit where the prompt writer’s argument has value and either present an extension of that argument or move it in a different direction is really impressive.

What is more, you will be learning to grow comfortable in conceding that your own argument might have limitations. All arguments have limitations, whether they belong to a prompt writer or to you. Remember the final instruction given to you before all prompt responses (Goal #3)?

Your Task: compose a critical response essay—including, ideally, an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and a conclusion—to the text below

Goals: your essay should include the following:

A brief summary of the author’s argument
mostly agree with the author and provide your own persuasive assertions that extend support for the author’s position
mostly disagree with the author and provide your own persuasive assertions that defend your counter-position
Your refutation of at least one objection a reader might have to your argument (or any point therein)

At a very basic level, the purpose behind learning counter-arguments is because the prompt instructions on each prompt ask you to do so. The goal of that instruction is to teach you how to strengthen your argument. Acknowledging weaker points (or strong points from your opposition) makes your writing more compelling because it demonstrates to your reader that 1) you have actually considered the topic without making snap judgments, and 2) you are not hiding the weaknesses of your argument from your reader, hoping that they will miss them.

More importantly, it creates an honest relationship between you and your reader, which is essential because some audiences will know something about the topic of your argument already, and they could have oppositions to offer. Ultimately, you need to learn how to concede and counter in writing because you cannot respond to a reader’s objections verbally, as you might in a conversation. The greater challenge is to anticipate the objections and respond to them before they come up. This strategy is akin to an artist writing a diss track in which they not only identify faults in their rival but also in themselves. What ammunition is left for their rival in response? When you “anticipate and defend,” there is little left for the opposition. It is a proven strategy.

To begin the process, we need to understand how to make reasonable concessions first. It’s likely that you may have already learned how to make one of these two types of concessions early in your WRIT course, but let’s look over them again.

First, read the following prompt below. You can also Download a PDF version (68.7 KB) if you prefer.

Drink Your Way to Success by Randolph Hennepin

The following editorial appeared in the May/June 2024 issue of Today’s Student

Success in just about any profession often depends on a person’s ability to network, and to develop contacts. A prime way to network is over drinks. In fact, a person who does not drink is less likely to be successful than one who does . Students who spend time drinking rather than studying are ensuring their eventual success.

Facts are facts. A recent study “found drinkers earn between 10 and 14 percent more than non-drinkers.” Further, according to the same study, men who go to a bar at least once a month earn an additional 7 percent. The reason for the success of drinkers, according to the author of the study, is that “Social drinking builds social capital. Social drinkers are networking, building relationships and adding contacts to their [phones] that result in bigger paycheques.”

Perhaps this study is not good news for people who do not drink. Perhaps these people feel that there are other ways to develop contacts, such as getting involved in charitable organizations or meeting colleagues for breakfast instead of in a bar after work. While these strategies do have merit, neither is as effective as the social networking that occurs while drinking.

In fact, a reasonable conclusion from this study would be to encourage students to learn how to drink. Knowing how to drink without embarrassing oneself is a key skill in business, as the above study proves. Therefore, students should not feel guilty about spending evenings drinking instead of working or studying, since drinking will lead to their eventual success. Students should not focus on school other than to do well enough to pass; otherwise, they are doomed to earn less than their peers who put their study time to good use by hitting the bottle.

Now, look at these straightforward responses to the prompt and determine which one uses a general concession and which one uses a specific concession .

Introduction: Version 1

In “Drink Your Way to Success,” Randolph Hennepin argues that students need to focus more on drinking than studying in order to be successful in their future professions and careers. Hennepin justifies this position by suggesting that social drinkers tend to be better at social networking and, because of this, tend to build better social capital with others in their professions, as well as earn more money over their careers. Although Hennepin makes some good points, his argument is flawed. If students focus more on drinking than studying, as Hennepin suggests, they will likely never do well enough in their courses to get into their profession in the first place. Focusing on drinking rather than studying will lead to students who are less likely to graduate and less likely to achieve success in the workplace.

Introduction: Version 2

In “Drink Your Way to Success,” Randolph Hennepin argues that students need to focus more on drinking than studying in order to be successful in their future professions and careers. Hennepin justifies this position by suggesting that social drinkers tend to be better at social networking and, because of this, tend to build better social capital with others in their professions, as well as earn more money over their careers. While it may be true that building up social capital is important for some professions, stating that students should focus on drinking instead of studying will not necessarily lead to eventual success . If students focus more on drinking than studying, as Hennepin suggests, they will likely never do well enough in their courses to get into their profession in the first place. Focusing on drinking rather than studying will lead to students who are less likely to graduate and less likely to achieve success in the workplace.

Activity 1: Identifying Concessions

Which introduction in the above example uses a more specific concession? Vote on your choice below and then view the results. Click the accordion below to learn more.

The purpose behind the concession is two-fold:

It provides your reader with a clear indication that you are shifting from your summary of the author’s position to your argument or response to the position.
It is the first indication of a possible concession and counter-argument that you might make in your body paragraphs.

Now, while the first paragraph offers a modicum of concession (“the author makes some good points”), it doesn’t acknowledge what good points the author might have made, which makes it a weaker concession. Remember that the point here is to acknowledge that, even though you might not agree with the author, you clearly understand the reasonable elements of the argument. The second option offers a much clearer concession.

The next section includes practice activities for concessions and counterarguments.

Putting the Pieces Together Copyright © 2020 by Andrew M. Stracuzzi and André Cormier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, concession definition, common examples of concession.

Our unemployment is half of what it was. Our fracking industry, energy industry may have contributed 20,000 , but if Mr. Trump understood that the real jobs come in the downstream, not in the upstream, but in the downstream. And that’s where we’re going to get our jobs.

Significance of Concession in Literature

Concession examples are somewhat more difficult to find in literature than in other forms of writing, such as academic writing or journalism. This is because authors of literary works don’t usually make arguments that are as explicit as in these other forms of writing. However, some authors will create characters who make concessions to each other in conversation or arguments. Authors also may choose to write concessions to the audience as if guessing what the audience is thinking about a certain situation and writing in response to those assumptions. These are often the more interesting concession examples, as they set up a perceived dialogue between author and reader that, although it is actually one-way, seems to include and challenge the reader.

Examples of Concession in Literature

PORTIA: The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice.

In this famous courtroom scene from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice , the character of Portia has dressed up as a lawyer and gives a well-known speech about mercy. As part of this monologue, Portia makes the concession that a monarch’s sceptre “shows the force of temporal power,” and that is leads to “dread and fear of kings.” She clearly understands where a king’s power comes from. Yet she believes—and argues—that mercy is an even more impressive thing for a leader to wield. This is because leaders don’t necessarily need to show mercy, and in so doing they show the power of their character. Portia strengthens her argument for mercy by acknowledging that which is usually attributed as the mightiest aspect of a ruler.

She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her: she is white.

TOM: Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.

Tennessee Williams’s play The Glass Menagerie contains an interesting example of concession right in the very opening lines. The main character and narrator of the play, Tom, addresses the audience directly in his first few lines. He acknowledges that the guise of a play might make everything seem more fictional, and makes the concession that he has “tricks in [his] pocket” and “things up [his] sleeve.” Yet he avers that behind all the tricks, there is much truth in this play. This is an example of a concession directed at the assumptions of the audience that Tom and Tennessee Williams are working against.

Test Your Knowledge of Concession

1. Which of the following statements is the best concession definition? A. A rebuttal against something the author disagrees with. B. An allowance of a common point with an opponent. C. A demonstration of the fallacy in an opponent’s argument. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #1″] Answer: B is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

OBAMA: And to the [your credit, Romney], you supported us going into Libya and the coalition that we organized. But when it came time to making sure that Gadhafi did not stay in power, that he was captured, Governor, your suggestion was that this was mission creep, that this was mission muddle.

ROMNEY: I congratulate [Obama] on — on taking out Osama bin Laden and going after the leadership in al-Qaeda. But we can’t kill our way out of this mess.

ROMNEY: With the Arab Spring, came a great deal of hope that there would be a change towards more moderation, and opportunity for greater participation on the part of women in public life, and in economic life in the Middle East. But instead, we’ve seen in nation after nation, a number of disturbing events.

[spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: C is the correct answer. Though Romney uses “but,” which could often signal that someone has just made a concession, he is pointing out the failures of policy rather than agreeing with anything that was done.[/spoiler]

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Concessions
Counterarguments
ESL Writing

The Argumentative Essay: The Language of Concession and Counterargument

Explanations and exercises about the use of counterarguments and concessions in argumentative essays.

The Argumentative Essay: The Language of Concession and Counterargument

We have already analyzed the structure of an argumentative essays (also known as a persuasive essay), and have read samples of this kind of essay. In this session we will review the purpose and structure of an argumentative essay, and will focus on practicing the grammar of sentences that present our argument while acknowledging that there is an opposing view point. In other words, we will focus on the grammar of concession and counterargument.

Purpose and structure of an argumentative essay

Take a few minutes to refresh your knowledge about the purpose and structure of argumentative / persuasive essays.

The Purpose of Persuasive Writing

The purpose of persuasion in writing is to convince, motivate, or move readers toward a certain point of view, or opinion. The act of trying to persuade automatically implies more than one opinion on the subject can be argued.

The idea of an argument often conjures up images of two people yelling and screaming in anger. In writing, however, an argument is very different. An argument is a reasoned opinion supported and explained by evidence. To argue in writing is to advance knowledge and ideas in a positive way. Written arguments often fail when they employ ranting rather than reasoning.

Most of us feel inclined to try to win the arguments we engage in. On some level, we all want to be right, and we want others to see the error of their ways. More times than not, however, arguments in which both sides try to win end up producing losers all around. The more productive approach is to persuade your audience to consider your opinion as a valid one, not simply the right one.

The Structure of a Persuasive Essay

The following five features make up the structure of a persuasive essay:

Introduction and thesis
Opposing and qualifying ideas
Strong evidence in support of claim
Style and tone of language
A compelling conclusion

Creating an Introduction and a thesis

The persuasive essay begins with an engaging introduction that presents the general topic. The thesis typically appears somewhere in the introduction and states the writer’s point of view.

Avoid forming a thesis based on a negative claim. For example, “The hourly minimum wage is not high enough for the average worker to live on.” This is probably a true statement, but persuasive arguments should make a positive case. That is, the thesis statement should focus on how the hourly minimum wage is low or insufficient.

Acknowledging Opposing Ideas and Limits to Your Argument

Because an argument implies differing points of view on the subject, you must be sure to acknowledge those opposing ideas. Avoiding ideas that conflict with your own gives the reader the impression that you may be uncertain, fearful, or unaware of opposing ideas. Thus it is essential that you not only address counterarguments but also do so respectfully.

Try to address opposing arguments earlier rather than later in your essay. Rhetorically speaking, ordering your positive arguments last allows you to better address ideas that conflict with your own, so you can spend the rest of the essay countering those arguments. This way, you leave your reader thinking about your argument rather than someone else’s. You have the last word.

Acknowledging points of view different from your own also has the effect of fostering more credibility between you and the audience. They know from the outset that you are aware of opposing ideas and that you are not afraid to give them space.

It is also helpful to establish the limits of your argument and what you are trying to accomplish. In effect, you are conceding early on that your argument is not the ultimate authority on a given topic. Such humility can go a long way toward earning credibility and trust with an audience. Audience members will know from the beginning that you are a reasonable writer, and audience members will trust your argument as a result. For example, in the following concessionary statement, the writer advocates for stricter gun control laws, but she admits it will not solve all of our problems with crime:

Although tougher gun control laws are a powerful first step in decreasing violence in our streets, such legislation alone cannot end these problems since guns are not the only problem we face.

Such a concession will be welcome by those who might disagree with this writer’s argument in the first place. To effectively persuade their readers, writers need to be modest in their goals and humble in their approach to get readers to listen to the ideas.

Text above adapted from: Writing for Success – Open Textbook (umn.edu) Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Argument, Concession/Acknowledgment and Refutation

We have already seen that as a writer of an argumentative essay, you do not just want to present your arguments for or against a certain issue. You need to convince or persuade your readers that your opinion is the valid one. You convince readers by presenting your points of view, by presenting points of view that oppose yours, and by showing why the points of view different from yours are not as valid as yours. These three elements of an argumentative essay are known as argument (your point of view), concession/acknowledgement/counterargument (admission that there is an opposing point of view to yours) and refutation (showing why the counterargument is not valid). Acknowledging points of view different from yours and refuting them makes your own argument stronger. It shows that you have thought about all the sides of the issue instead of thinking only about your own views.

Identifying argument, counterargument, concession and refutation

We will now look at sentences from paragraphs which are part of an argumentative essay and identify these parts. Read the four sentences in each group and decide if each sentence is the argument, the counterargument, the acknowledgement / concession or the refutation. Circle your choice.

Schools need to replace paper books with e-books.

argument counterargument acknowledgement refutation

Others believe students will get bad eyesight if they read computer screens instead of paper books.

There is some truth to this statement.

However, e-books are much cheaper than paper books.

The best way to learn a foreign language is to visit a foreign country.

Some think watching movies in the foreign language is the best way to learn a language.

Even though people will learn some of the foreign language this way,

it cannot be better than actually living in the country and speaking with the people every day.

Exercise above adapted from: More Practice Recognizing Counterarguments, Acknowledgements, and Refutations. Clyde Hindman. Canvas Commons. Public domain.

More Practice Recognizing Counterarguments, Acknowledgements, and Refutations | Canvas Commons (instructure.com)

Sentence structure: Argument and Concession

Read the following sentences about the issue of cell phone use in college classrooms. Notice the connectors used between the independent and the dependent clauses.

Although cell phones are convenient, they isolate people.

dependent clause independent clause

Cell phones isolate people, even though they are convenient.

independent clause dependent clause

In the sentences above, the argument is “cell phones isolate people”. The counterargument is “cell phones are convenient” and the acknowledgment/concession is expressed by the use of although / even though to make the concession of the opposing argument.

In addition, and most importantly, notice the following:

Which clause contains the writer’s argument? Which clause contains the concession?

The writer’s position is contained in the independent clause and the concession is contained in the dependent clause. This helps the writer to highlight their argument by putting it in the clause that stands on its own and leaving the dependent clause for the concession.

Notice that it doesn’t matter if the independent clause is at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. In both cases, the argument is “cell phones isolate people.”

Notice the difference between these two sentences:

Cell phones are convenient, even though they isolate people.

independent clause dependent clause

Cell phones isolate people, even though they are convenient.

independent clause dependent clause

This pair of sentences shows how the structure of the sentence reflects the point of view of the writer. The argument in the first sentence is that cell phones are convenient. The writer feels this is the important aspect, and thus places it in the independent clause. In the dependent clause, the writer concedes that cell phones isolate people. In contrast, in the second sentence the argument is that cell phones isolate people. The writer feels this is the important aspect and therefore puts this idea in the independent clause. The writer of this sentence concedes that cell phones are convenient, and this concession appears in the dependent clause.

Read the following pairs of sentences and say which sentence in the pair has a positive attitude towards technology in our lives.

Although technology has brought unexpected problems to society, it has become an instrument of progress.
Technology has brought unexpected problems to society, even though it has become an instrument of progress.

Technology is an instrument of social change, even though there are affordability issues.
There are affordability issues with technology, even though it is it is an instrument of social change.

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Maria Antonini de Pino – Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, California, USA

LIST OF SOURCES (in order of appearance)

Text adapted from: Writing for Success – Open Textbook (umn.edu)

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Exercise adapted from: More Practice Recognizing Counterarguments, Acknowledgements, and Refutations. Clyde Hindman. Canvas Commons. Public domain.

What Is a Concession in a Thesis Statement?

Elissa hansen.

In academic essays, the thesis statement is the heart of your argument: It tells readers exactly what your paper will discuss and what position you’ll take on the topic. Some thesis statements include concessions, which are statements that acknowledge a different, valid perspective on the topic or that admit that your argument doesn’t address certain concerns related to the topic.

Explore this article

Crafting Concessions
Concession Placement
Addressing Competing Voices
Limiting Your Scope

1 Crafting Concessions

Concessions, also called “concessive clauses,” usually begin with a concession word or phrase such as “although,” “even though,” “regardless of,” “while” or “despite,” according to Edward C. Martin, law professor at Samford University. For example, a thesis statement that follows a concession might read, “Although coal mining creates thousands of jobs in the United States, the environmental costs of coal mining outweigh its economic benefits.” Another way to present a concession is to state the concession as a fact, then to use a contrasting conjunction when you state your own thesis: “Coal mining does create thousands of jobs in the United States; yet, the environmental costs of coal mining outweigh its economic benefits.”

2 Concession Placement

As these examples suggest, the concession usually precedes the thesis statement itself. This order is mainly to ensure that readers remember your idea most vividly; in general, people most clearly retain the last idea that they read in a series of ideas. This order also prepares the reader to launch into your first paragraph, which will likely begin with a topic sentence that supports your thesis. Note that the concession can be a separate sentence from the thesis statement. If you’re writing a concession to go with your thesis statement, experiment with different word arrangements to see which one sounds most persuasive.

3 Addressing Competing Voices

The most common use of concessions is to acknowledge that other perspectives exist on your topic. By demonstrating that you’ve understood an alternative or competing argument, a concession can bolster your argument’s authority. This kind of thesis statement can show that you’re not a binary thinker: “Although the North and the South both worried that former slaves would compete with white workers for jobs, the North dealt with former slaves far differently during the Civil War than the South did.” The concession adds complexity to a discussion of differences by acknowledging that similarities also exist.

4 Limiting Your Scope

Concessions can also clarify that you’ve considered other aspects of your topic but decided not to discuss them in this paper. This kind of concession is crucial if you’re dealing with a broad topic, since you’ll have to limit your thesis. Such a concession and thesis statement might read, “Abortion rights remain hotly contested at both the federal and state levels for complex social, economic, legal and religious reasons. However, by focusing specifically on religious organizations’ arguments against abortion in Wisconsin, I show that ….” When using this kind of concession, make sure to clarify why the narrower perspective you’ve chosen is important for readers to consider.

About the Author

Elissa Hansen has more than nine years of editorial experience, and she specializes in academic editing across disciplines. She teaches university English and professional writing courses, holding a Bachelor of Arts in English and a certificate in technical communication from Cal Poly, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Wyoming, and a doctorate in English from the University of Minnesota.

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kuhn-seh-shun

A concession is a literary device that occurs in argumentative writing in which one acknowledges another’s point.

E.g. In the midst of the heated debate, the politician made a concession , acknowledging the valid points raised by the opposition and demonstrating a willingness to find common ground for the greater good.

Related terms: Antithesis , logos , pathos , rebuttal

Concessions allow for different points of view and various approaches to an issue. They often lead to a more nuanced discussion of an idea or problem. When one is willing to make a concession to their opponent or the person on the other side of the argument, they are generally better off for it. It shows an ability to think about issues on a higher, more complex level. Plus, it means that one has truly considered all sides of an argument and should then be able to argue their own perspective more effectively.

Explore Concession

1 Definition of Concession
2 Examples of Concessions
3 Examples of Concessions in Literature
4 Why Do Writers Use Concessions?
5 Concession or Rebuttal
6 Related Literary Terms
7 Other Resources

Definition of Concession

The word “concession” comes from the Latin word “concessionem,” meaning “allowing” or “conceding.” A concession occurs in written or verbal arguments when one person agrees with what another is saying or when they allow the other to share their ideas freely.

When someone uses concessions in their writing, the end result is far more nuanced and interesting than if they’d stuck to one side of the argument. Concessions also occur in formal arguments and debates when one person agrees with the aspects of the other’s point of view . It does not mean that one person loses the argument or that the other has been swayed. Making a concession can, in some circumstances, show that some parts of another argument have merit and therefore, reinforce one’s own point of view.

Examples of Concessions

You’re right, I did go to the store today, but I didn’t spend your money.
I still don’t think it’s going to rain today, but the clouds are certainly dark.
I understand how you feel, but that doesn’t excuse your actions.
You might be right about the price, but I still don’t think you should buy it.
I hear what you’re saying but are you always going to feel like that?

Examples of Concessions in Literature

To kill a mockingbird by harper lee .

In one of the courtroom scenes in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the following lines are spoken by Atticus Finch:

She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her: she is white.

He’s arguing for Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. He tries to turn the accusation back around on Mayella. She’s not committed a crime, he concedes and is a victim. But, he says, not a victim of the crime she’s accusing. She’s a victim of “cruel poverty and ignorance.” This concession isn’t enough to excuse what she’s done, though. She’s white, and that gives her undeniable privilege in the world. She should know the power her words have to ruin Tom Robinson’s life, but she ignored that fact.

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

In Shakespeare’s well-loved play, The Merchant of Venice, there is a famous monologue that contains a concession. In the courtroom scene, with Portia dressed up as a lawyer, she speaks about mercy. Here are a few lines:

The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

She makes a concession in the last lines of this excerpt, saying that a king’s power “shows the force of temporal power.” Portia understands how kings yield their power, and that dread and fear are often a part of it. But, she goes on to say:

But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice.

Mercy is an even more impressive force to wield. It shows that a king has the ability to think about complex topics and come to a peaceful resolution . It shows the power of one’s character and one’s fairness when faced with a difficult situation.

Explore William Shakespeare’s poems .

Why Do Writers Use Concessions?

Writers use concessions in order to show the common ground between two opposing sides or ideas. That common ground might be used to unite the two sides or to prove that both sides have valid points. In a debate over an important or contentious topic, making a concession allows readers (or characters, depending on the context ) to see that the writer has considered all sides of the argument. This makes the overall content far more complex and encourages healthy arguments and debates.

Concession or Rebuttal

Concessions are often related to another literary term, rebuttal. At the same time, they are both concerned with arguments. They aren’t the same thing. A rebuttal is made to directly challenge another’s argument or beliefs. It can be far more divisive than a concession is meant to be. For example, two people might be arguing about the health risks involved with smoking, and the anti-smoking side could come back with a rebuttal that includes research studies on the subject and personal testimony.

Related Literary Terms

Ad Hominem : uses irrelevant information in an attempt to discredit someone’s opinion or argument.
Bandwagon : a persuasive style of writing that is used to convince readers of an argument or make them understand a certain perspective.
Bias : undue favor or support to a particular person, group, race, or one argument over another.
Literary Argument : a piece of literature is a statement towards the beginning of a work that declares what it’s going to be about.
Logos : use of logic to create a persuasive argument in writing.

Other Resources

Read: Different Types of Arguments
Watch: Understanding Arguments

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Definition of Concession

Concession is a literary device used in argumentative writing, where one acknowledges a point made by one’s opponent. It allows for different opinions and approaches toward an issue, indicating an understanding of what causes the actual debate or controversy. It demonstrates that the writer is a mature thinker, and has considered the issue from all angles.

Concession writing style also shows that the writer is a logical and fair-minded person, able to realize that every argument has several sides to consider before it is presented. This type of writing can be considered strong as it finds common ground between the writer and his opponent.

Concession Examples

Example #1:.

“Dad, I know taking a trip to another country with my friends may be expensive and unsafe, but I have studied so hard the past year and I think I deserve a vacation. You already know how responsible I have been all my life; I don’t think there will be any problem.”

Example #2:

“I agree that many students act and lie about being sick, so that they can avoid school for whatever reason. However, most students who do not come to school are actually sick. Being sick, they should be focusing on getting better, not worrying about school and grades just because some students take advantage of the absentee policy.”

This statement also shows the concession form of writing where the writer agrees that some students do lie about being sick, and that the writer is able to understand this issue. At the same time, the writer argues as to why students who are actually sick suffer because of those irresponsible students.

Example #3:

“An individual does have his own right to freedom, but medical evidence proves that second-hand smoke is harmful. Nobody has the right to harm the health of another, and smoking does just that.”

Using concession, the writer has noted that everybody has freedom rights, but argues about the fact that nobody has the right to harm another person’s health, no matter what the case is.

Example #4:

“It is true that issues may sometimes become polarized and debated heatedly. Certainly, there is a need for matters of public concern to be discussed rationally. But that does not mean that such concerns should not be expressed and investigated. After all, improper interference with academic freedom was found to have taken place. And the allegations raised by doctors are ones which deserve further inquiry.”

The above statement demonstrates the concession writing technique, where the writer agrees that debating on issues can turn into a heated argument , but that does not mean the issues should stop being discussed and investigated. Using concession, the writer has considered the different viewpoints of the issue, and then stated his argument .

Example #5: Politics and the English Language (By George Orwell)

“I said earlier that the decadence of our language is probably curable. Those who deny this would argue, if they produced an argument at all, that language merely reflects existing social conditions, and that we cannot influence its development by any direct tinkering with words or constructions. So far as the general tone or spirit of language goes, this may be true, but it is not true in detail.”

Function of Concession

Concession writing acknowledges that there are many different views to a story. This type of writing allows for different opinions that can or could be made toward an issue. It also shows that all points, positive as well as negative, have been considered before an argument is put forward. Presenting the other side and then arguing against it with valid points can make it a very strong piece of writing. Acknowledging the other side demonstrates respect for the other opinion. The concession writing technique is also known used as a method of persuasion and reasoning.

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Concession Examples

In argumentative speech and writing, the speaker or writer makes an argument supported by claims , or evidence. Sometimes, the writer or speaker also includes a concession , which is when the opposing viewpoint is acknowledged. By making a concession to the opponent, the speaker or writer lets readers know that he or she has considered the other side of the argument and understands it. This makes the overall argument stronger.

A teenager arguing to her parents that she needs a cell phone makes the following concession :

I know that you think I will just use the phone to text during class and call friends instead of doing homework. Could we agree to let me try the phone for a month, and if I do these things, you can take the phone away?

A politician arguing that his country needs to send troops into a warzone makes the following concession :

I know that any time we send troops into harm's way, it is a risk that some will not come back. However, there are innocent women and children being murdered, and we cannot stand idly by. Our men and women wear the uniform for just such a time as this.

A businessman making a proposal for a new skin product makes the following concession : This is a tough market, with many skin care products already out there. However, this product is different-it provides the same level of advanced skin care for a fraction of the cost.

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Paragraphs: Concession

Transitions : although it is true that, certainly, despite, granted that, however, indeed, granted, I admit that, in fact, in spite of, it may appear that, naturally, nevertheless, of course, once in a while, sometimes, still, yet

Example : Mason (2007) and Holmes (2009) vehemently disagree on the fundamental components of primary school education. Despite this strong disagreement, the scholars do agree on the overall importance of formal education for all young children.

Explanation : In these two sentences, the author is highlighting a disagreement between the two scholars. The author begins the second sentence with the transition phrase, "Despite this strong disagreement," however, to make a concession that Mason and Holmes do agree on the importance of formal education for young children.

Transitions Video Playlist

Note that these videos were created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

Academic Paragraphs: Introduction to Paragraphs and the MEAL Plan (video transcript)
Academic Paragraphs: Types of Transitions Part 1: Transitions Between Paragraphs (video transcript)
Academic Paragraphs: Types of Transitions Part 2: Transitions Within Paragraphs (video transcript)
Academic Paragraphs: Appropriate Use of Explicit Transitions (video transcript)
Engaging Writing: Incorporating Transitions (video transcript)
Engaging Writing: Examples of Incorporating Transitions (video transcript)
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Conceding and Refuting in English

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Conceding and refuting are important language functions in English. Here are a few short definitions:

Concede : Admit that another person is right about something.

Refute : Prove that someone else is wrong about something.

Often, speakers of English will concede a point, only to refute a larger issue:

It's true that working can be tedious. However, without a job, you won't be able to pay the bills.
While you might say that the weather has been really bad this winter, it's important to remember that we needed lots of snow in the mountains.
I agree with you that we need to improve our sales figures. On the other hand, I don't feel we should change our overall strategy at this time.

It's common to concede and refute at work when discussing strategy or brainstorming. Conceding and refuting are also very common in all types of debates including political and social issues.

When trying to make your point, it's a good idea to first frame the argument. Next, concede a point if applicable. Finally, refute a larger issue.

Framing the Issue

Begin by introducing a general belief that you would like to refute. You can use general statements, or speak about specific people that you would like to refute. Here are some formulas to help you frame the issue:

Person or institution to be refuted + feel / think / believe / insist / that + opinion to be refuted

Some people feel that there is not enough charity in the world.
Peter insists that we haven’t invested enough in research and development.
The board of directors believes that students should take more standardized tests.

Making the Concession:

Use the concession to show that you have understood the gist of your opponent’s argument. Using this form, you will show that while a specific point is true, the overall understanding is incorrect. You can begin with an independent clause using subordinators that show opposition:

While it’s true / sensible / evident / likely that + specific benefit of argument,

While it’s evident that our competition has outspent us on, ... While it’s sensible to measure students’ aptitudes, ...

Although / Even though / Though it's true that + opinion,

Although it's true that our strategy hasn't worked to date, ... Even though it’s true that the country is currently struggling economically, ...

An alternate form is to first concede by stating that you agree or can see the advantage of something in a single sentence. Use concession verbs such as:

I concede that / I agree that / I admit that

Refuting the Point

Now it’s time to make your point. If you've used a subordinator (while, although, etc.), use your best argument to finish the sentence:

it’s also true / sensible / evident that + refutation it’s more important / essential / vital that + refutation the bigger issue / point is that + refutation we must remember / take into consideration / conclude that + refutation

… it’s also evident that financial resources will always be limited. … the bigger point is that we do not have the resources to spend. … we must remember that standardized testing such as the TOEFL leads to rote learning.

If you've made a concession in a single sentence, use a linking word or phrase such as however, nevertheless, on the contrary, or above all to state your refutation:

However, we currently do not have that capability. Nevertheless, we've succeeded in attracting more customers to our stores. Above all, the people's will needs to be respected.

Making Your Point

Once you’ve refuted a point, continue to provide evidence to further back up your point of view.

It is clear / essential / of utmost importance that + (opinion) I feel / believe / think that + (opinion)

I believe that charity can lead to dependence.
I think that we need to focus more on our successful products rather than develop new, untested merchandise.
It is clear that students are not expanding their minds through rote learning for tests.

Complete Refutations

Let’s take a look a few concessions and refutations in their completed form:

Students feel that homework is an unnecessary strain on their limited time. While it's true that some teachers assign too much homework, we must remember the wisdom in the saying "practice makes perfect." It is essential that information we learn is repeated to fully become useful knowledge.

Some people insist that profit is the only viable motivation for a corporation. I concede that a company must profit to stay in business. However, the larger issue is that employee satisfaction leads to improved interactions with clients. It is clear that employees who feel they are compensated fairly will consistently give their best.

More English Functions

Conceding and refuting are known as language functions. In other words, language which is used to achieve a specific purpose. You can learn more about a wide variety of language functions and how to use them in everyday English.

Modifying Words and Phrases to Express Opinions
Comparing and Contrasting in English
Teaching Conversational Skills Tips and Strategies
Compromise Role Play Lesson
Subordinate Clauses: Concessive, Time, Place and Reason Clauses
Text Organization
Violence in the Media Needs To Be Regulated
Phrases for Performing Well in Business Meetings
Persuasive Writing: For and Against
Sentence Connectors: Showing Opposition in Written English
Adverb Placement in English
Intermediate Level English Practice: Tenses and Vocabulary
The Use of More in English
The Challenge of Teaching Listening Skills
Paragraph Writing
How to Write a Business Report for English Learners

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Concession Paragraphs for IELTS

Posted by David S. Wills | Jan 25, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

In IELTS writing task 2, you might find that you need to include a concession paragraph . In today’s lesson, I will tell you everything you need to know about this feature of academic writing. We will explore:

What concession means
What a concession paragraph is
Why you might need one for IELTS
Some examples

What Does “Concession” Mean?

The word “concession” is the noun form of the verb to “concede.” This means “admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it.” Thus, “concession” can mean the admission of something contrary to your belief.

An example is this:

A man believes that capital punishment is wrong, but he admits that some extreme crimes, such as genocide, might warrant its use. This is his “concession.”

In that example, the man understands that his belief has some limitations. By admitting those limitations, he is making a concession.

What is a Concession in Writing?

In an academic essay, you are supposed to show your ability to think logically and critically. Even when you are not required to show balance, it is a sign of intelligence that you can acknowledge opposing ideas and arguments. Therefore, making concessions is quite useful.

In an essay, then, we might include a concession such as the above example. That would involve stating our own opinion but admitting that in some instances it is not 100% true.

For example:

Whilst I firmly believe that laws should be implemented to require people to recycle more of their household rubbish, it is important to note that not all people have the facility to do so. In rural areas, for example, there may be no local recycling centre, and so punishing these people would be unreasonable.

Here, we can see that the writer’s belief is that these laws should be implemented. However, they concede the point that those laws cannot be applied to all people. This is an example of how a concession could be made in writing.

What is a Concession Paragraph?

A concession paragraph is the part of an essay that shows an awareness of opposing ideas. Although this does not entirely concede the main point of the author’s essay, it provides an acknowledgement of the validity of other ideas, thereby demonstrating maturity and complexity of thought.

There are essentially two reasons that you might include a concession paragraph:

To provide balance to your essay to show the degree to which you agree/disagree
To acknowledge an opposing idea even though you don’t fully agree with it

As you can see from the use of the words “agree” and “disagree” here, concession paragraphs are quite useful in IELTS essays that ask you whether you agree or disagree with something.

The degree to which a concession paragraph actually acknowledges the other side of the debate as valid also entirely depends on your purpose. For example, you might want the whole paragraph to show a valid opposing argument for the purpose of balance or else you might just show the opposing argument and then refute it.

There are no set rules to the use of concession paragraphs, so they could appear almost anywhere in the body of an essay. For IELTS, you would typically have four paragraphs , and it is quite possible to include the concession as either the second or third. It depends on your focus and purpose.

How to Start a Concession Paragraph

The most important thing about writing a concession paragraph is making it clear to your audience that you are conceding a point rather than making a point. What I mean is that the reader needs to understand that this is not your main idea, but rather you are admitting something contrary to your viewpoint.

For example, if you want to argue that zoos don’t belong in the modern world because of animal rights issues, but you do admit that they can serve some positive function, then you might include a concession paragraph. You should start it in a way that makes clear to the reader that these ideas are contrary to your main point.

Here are some examples of how to start a concession paragraph:

While I am generally opposed to the idea of zoos, I admit that they have some value…
Although zoos should probably be outlawed for the sake of animal rights, there are some admittedly reasonable arguments in favour of them…
In spite of my previous arguments, I must concede that there are some positive aspects to zoos…
However, there are several reasons why perhaps zoos should be allowed to exist.

You can see that three of these sentences begin with subordinating conjunctions and one begins with a conjunctive adverb. (Learn about the difference here .) The meaning in each case shows contrast. In other words, the paragraph that follows will present ideas contrary to your personal ones.

Another way to start a concession paragraph is to invoke the idea of the people who generally hold that opinion:

Some people believe that zoos are beneficial…
Many people think that zoos are good places…
Supporters of zoos think that…

Whatever you use to start your concession paragraph, it is important that you make it clear that this is not your main idea. If you fail to make it clear, you will not score highly for Coherence and Cohesion .

Do You Need Concession Paragraphs for IELTS?

Concession paragraphs can be useful in IELTS writing task 2 essays, but they are by no means essential . There is nothing in the marking rubric to say that you absolutely must use them.

However, as I have previously mentioned, they can be quite useful, particularly for agree or disagree type questions. They show a depth of thought, telling the examiner that you are a mature thinker by conveying more complex ideas than a straightforward essay with no concessions given.

Let’s say that you are given an agree or disagree question that asks you whether this is the best era to be alive. You might think, “It is probably the best, but there are some parts of the past that were pretty good, too.” Whilst it is easier to give a straightforward answer that totally agrees or disagrees, it can be useful to provide balance and so you might want to include a concession paragraph.

Your structure could look like these:

Intro	Intro
Why the past was better	Why the present is better
Why the present is better	Why the past was better
Conclusion	Conclusion

As you can see, there is only a slight difference in structure here. However, you need to think carefully about how to present these ideas. Remember that your overall position needs to be consistent, so you cannot say in your introduction, “I completely agree…” and then later decide to include a concession paragraph.

Ok, now let’s look in more depth at the question I alluded to above:

Advances in science and technology and other areas of society in the last century have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better lime to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

My viewpoint here is that the present is probably the best but that it is a difficult question because it is not the best for everyone and certain points in time may have been better for certain groups of people, or indeed for the planet as a whole.

My structure will be:

Introduction	Overview of topic State position (present probably best)
First idea	Say why the present is better for many people
Concession paragraph	Say why other the past might be better
Conclusion	Summarise my overall idea

Many people believe that this is the best time to be alive, but others suggest that there were better times in history. This essay will suggest that it depends on many factors, but that today might be the best time for some people.

To begin with, it is important to acknowledge that the idea of a best time to live is dependent on many factors, including your location, gender, and the things in life that are important to you. Throughout much of human history, there has been great inequality, particularly affecting women and homosexuals. Due to sudden advancements in human rights over the past century, the modern era would surely be the best because it allows more opportunities. However, not all of the world agrees upon human rights and so it depends entirely where these people live. Similarly, it has always been difficult to be part of a racial or religious minority, but in the modern era there is more tolerance than ever before. As for those who do not fall into these categories, such as men of the dominant majority, there are many benefits also, such as being unlikely to be sent to war now.

However, this overlooks some of the important and positive parts of the past. For one thing, humans have utterly destroyed the planet over the past century, and for those who care about nature, it might be better to have lived at a time when it was still thriving. People who love mystery and romance also would have been better living in the past, for nowadays knowledge can be found easily on a smartphone, taking the joy of discovery out of life. In the past, these people could have travelled the globe in search of unknown places, but now none exist. As for the diversity of human culture, this has also vanished, leaving a sterile world ravaged by globalisation, where people of all nationalities seem to listen to the same dull music and possess the same greedy dreams of wealth.

In conclusion, there are major arguments for and against the present being the best time to live and it would totally depend on a person’s personality, and for most people the present is probably the best.

As you can see, my introduction and conclusion give my position, which is that the present is probably the best time to live for the majority of people.

The body paragraphs present a complex view. In my second paragraph, I argue in favour of the present and in the third I argue in favour of the past. This is a good structure to use for a concession paragraph.

In terms of internal paragraph structure , I have attempted to also include elements of concession, meaning that even within a paragraph that says “the present is the best” I refute this to some extent by saying “it is not the best for 100% of people.” Again, this shows the writer as a mature thinker capable of expressing complicated ideas.

Let’s look at another sample question and answer to better understand how and why we can use concession paragraphs for IELTS.

Here is the question:

The most important consideration when choosing any career or job is having a high income. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Basically, to this question I would want to say “having a high income is really important but it is not the most important thing.” To show this, I will give a paragraph that says money is important and then another paragraph that emphasises other things.

My structure would be:

Introduction	Overview of topic (money not the most important)
Concession paragraph	Say why money is so important
Main idea	Say why other things are MORE important than money
Conclusion	Summarise my overall idea

When thinking about a new job, salary is certainly the first thing that comes into most people’s heads. It is, in many ways, the ultimate reward for a job, and also a significant part of our life and self-worth. However, this essay will argue that it probably should not be the most important consideration.

Firstly, let us look at why salary is so highly regarded. It is a fact that money makes our modern societies tick. Without money, we cannot have a home, cannot eat or drink, and cannot pay our taxes. We would simply not be able to get by without money, and so we need at least some income. There are many luxuries available to those with high salaries, and a great deal of social status. These things encourage people to seek higher salaries. Ultimately, money can give us a far better life, and even ensure the quality of life for our descendants, and so for most of us, salary really is the foremost consideration when seeking a job.

However, perhaps this should not be the case. After all, many people who spend all their time working to earn a high salary have a very low level of contentment, high degrees of stress, and die at a younger age. If money has done that to them, can it really be so important? Perhaps it is better to seek a job that can give you purpose or satisfaction. The people who report the highest levels of happiness are not those with high salaries, but those whose jobs contribute to the wider society, and who get to communicate with more people on a daily basis. Their life has meaning and interaction, which are far more valuable than money.

In conclusion, although money is undoubtedly important and can bring great benefits to our life, it probably should not be the most important consideration in finding a new job.

This example answer is different to the first because here I have placed the concession paragraph before the main idea. This allows me to present those opposing ideas clearly and then refute them intelligently. It shows a great depth of thought and a mastery of logic.

Conclusion – How Important are Concession Paragraphs for IELTS?

We have seen in this lesson that concession paragraphs are very useful for IELTS, but of course they are never truly necessary. If you have to answer an agree or disagree question, you could definitely put them to good use, but there is nothing in the marking rubric that explicitly says you must do this.

As such, I would recommend concession paragraphs to those students looking for a band 7 or higher in their test. Honestly, if you are routinely scoring band 6 or lower, you probably would struggle to employ this method of writing effectively and it could pose more problems than benefits for you.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.