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WorksheetYear 13Level 3 · Challenge

Free Year 13 Argumentative Essays: Counterarguments, Concession and Qualified Claims Worksheet

A senior persuasive writing worksheet on making arguments more convincing by engaging seriously with the other side. Students study an original model paragraph, learn the difference between rebuttal, concession and qualification, identify straw man arguments, try steelmanning an opposing view, use concessive connectives (although, admittedly, granted, even so) and qualify absolute claims with precise hedging language. A final task asks students to write a counterargument paragraph, with a model answer and a marking rubric.

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Year
Year 13
Subject
English
Topic
Persuasive Writing
Difficulty
Level 3 · Challenge
Estimated time
50 minutes
Curriculum
New Zealand Curriculum
Questions
13
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practise

  • presenting an opposing argument fairly and in its strongest form
  • distinguishing rebuttal, concession and qualification
  • using concessive connectives and hedging language precisely
  • avoiding straw man arguments
  • writing a counterargument paragraph that strengthens a contention

Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Argumentative Essays: Counterarguments, Concession and Qualified Claims

You've reached the end of this topic — next up: Text Analysis & Essays

Study guide

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

Year 13 students (typically ages 17–18) working on persuasive writing. It is pitched at level 3 · challenge.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 50 minutes for 13 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Move on to Text Analysis & Essays.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 13 · English · Persuasive Writing

Argumentative Essays: Counterarguments, Concession and Qualified Claims

Name

Date

Score /

The strongest arguments do not ignore the other side. They meet it at its best and still come out ahead.

Part A: The language of engagement

Answer each question.

1.Match each term to its definition.
  • counterargument
  • rebuttal
  • concession
  • qualification
  • straw man
  • steelmanning
  • A view that opposes the writer's contention.
  • Limiting a claim so that it is accurate rather than absolute.
  • Misrepresenting an opposing view as weaker than it is, so it is easy to knock down.
  • Presenting the opposing view in its strongest, fairest form before answering it.
  • Admitting that part of the opposing view is true or reasonable.
  • Showing that an opposing argument is wrong, weak or incomplete.
2.Which sentences in the model are concessions?
  1. ASentences 1 and 2
  2. BSentences 3 and 4
  3. CSentences 5 and 6
  4. DSentence 6 only
3.Sentence 3 rebuts the opposing view mainly by:
  1. Ainsulting the critics
  2. Bchallenging an assumption behind the argument
  3. Cchanging the topic
  4. Drepeating the contention
4.Which phrase in sentence 6 is a qualification?
  1. AFree entry is therefore not a luxury
  2. Ba condition of their public purpose
  3. Cprovided that governments commit to stable funding
  4. Drather than leaving institutions
5.Which of these is a straw man version of the argument for entry fees?
  1. AFees help fund the care of fragile collections.
  2. BSupporters of fees simply want to keep poor people out of museums.
  3. CFees can reduce overcrowding at popular exhibitions.
  4. DSome visitors value what they pay for.

Part B: Practice

Answer in full sentences.

6.Why does engaging with counterarguments usually make an essay MORE persuasive rather than less?[2 marks] (answer space)
7.Steelman this view before you argue against it: "Homework should be banned." Write one or two sentences presenting it at its strongest.[2 marks] (answer space)
8.Rewrite this absolute claim so that it is qualified and more defensible: "Social media destroys teenagers' mental health."[2 marks] (answer space)
9.Combine these into one sentence using a concessive connective: "Electric cars are still expensive to buy. They are cheaper to run over their lifetime."[1 mark] (answer space)
10.List four hedging words or phrases that can be used to qualify claims in an essay.[2 marks] (answer space)
11.A student writes: "Some people think uniforms are good, but they are wrong." Identify two weaknesses and rewrite the sentence.[3 marks] (answer space)
12.Explain the difference between conceding a point and abandoning your contention.[2 marks] (answer space)
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Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

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