Concession Works for Linking Contrasting Ideas

Concession words are words like although, even though, despite, whereas and while that help students express contrast or acknowledge opposing ideas. They show the reader that two ideas don’t quite align and that the writer is thinking critically about how to connect them.

For example: I thought it would rain all weekend. In fact, it only rained on Saturday morning.

In this example, the concession phrase ‘in fact’ shows that there was a difference between what was predicted and what actually happened.

This worksheet pack has been created by the Teach Starter team to help your students use concession words in their writing. This resource includes nine thoughtfully sequenced worksheets that guide students from identifying concession words in simple sentences to using them confidently in paragraphs and extended responses.

Some of the activities you will find in this sequence words worksheet pack include:

• Cloze passages
• Joining sentences using concession words
• Identifying concession words in context
• Uplevelling texts using concession words
• And many more!

This sequence words worksheet pack downloads as an easy-print PDF or an editable Google Slides file. Answers are included in both file options.

By engaging with this resource, your students will learn how to use concession words to express more subtle relationships between ideas.

Enhance Students’ Writing with Concession Connectives

Learning about concession words can significantly enhance student writing. It teaches learners how to express contrast, acknowledge differing viewpoints and introduce nuance into their ideas. When used correctly in writing, concession words:

• Show contrast clearly, which greatly improves the logical flow of sentences and paragraphs.
• Acknowledge alternative ideas or exceptions, an essential skill in persuasive and analytical writing.
• Balance opposing viewpoints, helping them write with nuance instead of giving one‑sided explanations.
• Develop critical thinking, as students must decide which idea is the main point and which is the concession.
• Enhance sentence variety, moving beyond repetitive structures and building more engaging writing.

Download to Teach Concession Words

Ready to access this concession words resource? Click the Download button for immediate access to the quick-print PDF or the editable Google Slides file. Please note that you will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides file to your computer before accessing it.

As this resource contains answer sheets, we recommend printing one copy of the entire document, removing the answer pages, then making copies of selected pages for your students.

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Teaching Linking Words

Focusing on cohesion in your writing lessons? You’ve come to the right place! Click below to explore more worksheets on various types of linking words to use with your students.

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