AP® English Language and Composition review sheet from Aim for Five (aimforfive.com/lang/units/9)
Unit 9
Skills used across the whole examCounterarguments: Concession, Rebuttal and Refutation
The last unit is about joining a debate that's already going on and dealing fairly with people who disagree. You learn to concede what's fair, rebut or refute what isn't, and use transitions to move into and out of a counterargument. Handling opposing views well builds your credibility and can help you earn the sophistication point on the essays.
Study this unit
Flashcards (27)Practice questions (41)English Language must-know sheetFree-response questions on this unit
Write your own answer, then score it with the rubric or with AI.
- Synthesis essayFine-free public libraries6 points · about 55 minutes
- Synthesis essayCar-free downtown streets6 points · about 55 minutes
- Synthesis essayRequired community service for graduation6 points · about 55 minutes
- Argument essayChanging your mind6 points · about 40 minutes
- Argument essayDoes competition bring out the best in people?6 points · about 40 minutes
Big ideas
- Arguments join conversations that started before you
- Evidence can support, complement or contradict your thesis
- Conceding a fair point can make you more believable
- Rebuttal offers another view; refutation shows a claim is wrong
- Not every argument needs a counterargument
Full unit reviews
Longer videos that cover the whole unit. Good for a first pass or a final review.
Topics
Most issues were argued about long before you showed up, so a strong argument responds to the positions people have already taken. As you gather sources, sort them by whether they support, complement or contradict your thesis.
Key terms
- conversation
- discourse
- position
- support
- complement
- contradict
A few quick questions on this topic, with the answers explained.
To concede is to grant the other side something: that its point is partly or fully right, that it holds in some situations, or that your own argument has limits. Done well, a concession shows you're fair-minded and makes readers trust you more.
Key terms
- concession
- counterargument
- opposing view
- limitation
- credibility
A few quick questions on this topic, with the answers explained.
To rebut is to answer an opposing claim with a different way of looking at it or with other evidence, to suggest it's at least partly wrong. To refute goes further: you use evidence to prove that all or part of the opposing claim doesn't hold up.
Key terms
- rebuttal
- refutation
- counterclaim
- contradictory evidence
- invalid
A few quick questions on this topic, with the answers explained.
Transitions like "Admittedly," "Some argue that" and "However" signal that you're moving into or out of a counterargument. Not every argument has to address the other side directly, so decide whether a counterargument actually makes your case stronger.
Key terms
- transition
- counterargument
- signal phrase
- concession
- line of reasoning
A few quick questions on this topic, with the answers explained.