Skip to content
Marlbridge
Free trial

Flashcards · AP® English Language and Composition · Unit 9

Unit 9: Counterarguments: Concession, Rebuttal and Refutation flashcards

20 cards on topics 9.1 to 9.5. Pick a topic or study the whole unit.

Study mode needs JavaScript. Every card is listed below, so you can still cover the answers and test yourself.

All 20 cards

For a quick read-through or printing. Cover the right-hand side to test yourself.

9.1 Entering an ongoing conversation

What does it mean to enter an ongoing conversation?
To write in response to what others have already said about an issue, so that your argument shows you know the debate. You contribute a position, not just a repetition.
How can a writer show they know the conversation?
By naming or summarising existing views, saying how their own position relates to them and adding something new, such as a condition, a case or a better reason.
How can an echo of a famous text work in an argument?
It signals a shared tradition and lets the writer claim its authority, then a small change can redirect it, as when a familiar founding phrase is extended to include a new group.
What are ways of responding to another view?
Agree and extend, agree with qualification, concede part and rebut part, or disagree and refute. State clearly which one you are doing.

9.2 Evidence that supports, complements or contradicts a thesis

How can evidence support a claim?
It directly shows the claim is true, such as data that confirms a trend. Supporting evidence is the central proof of the argument.
How can evidence complement a claim?
It adds a different kind of support or a wider angle, such as a story that humanises a statistic. It strengthens the claim without proving it alone.
How can evidence contradict a claim, and what should a writer do?
Evidence may show the claim is too broad or wrong. A careful writer acknowledges it and either adjusts the claim or explains why it does not defeat it.
What are the limits of first-hand experience as evidence?
It is vivid and credible for the individual's own case, but may not be typical. Combine it with wider evidence when the claim is general.

9.3 Conceding

What is concession?
Acknowledging that an opposing view has some merit. It shows fairness, builds credibility and lets the writer move to a stronger point with the audience's trust.
How do you concede without weakening your argument?
Grant a limited, accurate point, then pivot with "but" or "yet" to why your position still holds. Do not concede the central claim.
Why can praising something the audience values be a strategic concession?
It shows respect and gains attention before the writer turns to criticism. The audience listens because they feel acknowledged.
What is a limit on conceding?
Conceding too much hands the argument to the other side. Concede what is true and relevant, and leave the main claim intact.

9.4 Rebutting and refuting

What is the difference between rebutting and refuting?
Rebutting offers a counter-reason or a different weighing of the evidence. Refuting aims to show the opposing claim is false or unsupported, usually with stronger evidence.
How do you rebut an opposing claim?
State it fairly, then give a reason why it is less persuasive, such as it ignores evidence, applies only in some cases or has costs that outweigh its benefits.
How can a writer weaken a common belief?
By naming it, showing that it is repeated without examination and offering evidence that contradicts it. Words that suggest habit, such as "repeat", imply the belief has not been tested.
Why must you state the opposing view fairly before rebutting?
A distorted version, known as a straw man, is easy to knock down but unconvincing. Readers trust a writer who engages the strongest form of the other side.

9.5 Introducing counterarguments, and when to address them

How do you introduce a counterargument?
Use a signal such as "some argue", "it may be objected" or "critics say", state the view fairly and then respond. The signal tells the reader a different voice is speaking.
What is the role of a transition in a counterargument paragraph?
It marks the turn from your claim to the opposing view and then back, for example "Although", "Yet" or "Nevertheless". Clear signals keep the line of reasoning readable.
Does every argument need a counterargument?
Not every one, but strong arguments usually address at least one reasonable objection. A brief, well-handled counterargument shows fairness and strengthens the claim.
Where can a counterargument go in an essay?
In the introduction, in a body paragraph or near the end. Placing it after your main points can let you finish on your strongest ground.

Study Unit 9 further

AP® and Advanced Placement® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this website. Marlbridge is an independent tuition provider. It is not an authorized AP course provider, an AP school or an exam centre, and these resources are not official College Board materials. Reading them or doing simulations does not meet the laboratory requirement of an AP science course.