Exercise:              Combine each pair of sentences as if you were writing a pro-Reagan paper. Then combine them as if you were writing an anti-Reagan paper.

1)     Ronald Reagan was one of the most popular presidents in American history.

He had very little knowledge of the details about issues the government must deal with.

Pro: Even though he had very little knowledge of the details about issues the government must deal with, Ronald Reagan was one of the most popular presidents in American history.

Anti: Even though  Ronald Reagan was one of the most popular presidents in American history, he had very little knowledge of the details about issues the government must deal with.

2)     He consistently made glaring mistakes in his press conferences that had to be corrected afterward.

He was well liked personally by most news reporters on the White House beat.

Pro: Even though he consistently made glaring mistakes in his press conferences that had to be corrected afterward, Ronald Reagan was well liked personally by most news reporters on the White House beat.

Anti: Despite being well liked personally by most news reporters on the White House beat,  Ronald Reagan consistently made glaring mistakes in his press conferences that had to be corrected afterward.

Exercise:              Combine each pair of sentences as if you were writing a paper supporting television. Then combine them as if you were writing a paper supporting newspapers.

1)     Television offers entertainment in more abundance and greater diversity than any medium in history.

Most television programs are superficial and mindless.

1. Despite being superficial and mindless, television offers entertainment in more abundance and greater diversity than any medium in history
2. Even though television offers entertainment in more abundance and greater diversity than any medium in history, it is superficial and mindless.

2)     Cable channels are quite expensive to subscribe to.

They offer movies and other programs unavailable on network channels.

Newspapers give a much more complete account of the news than does television.

They are more prone to political bias than TV.

1. Even though newspapers give a much more complete account of the news than does television and cable channels are quite expensive to subscribe to, television offers movies and other programs unavailable on network channels.
2. Even though they offer movies and other programs unavailable on network channels, cable channels are quite expensive to subscribe to and newspapers give a much more complete account of the news than does television.

3)     The reason is that newspapers are usually owned by individuals or families with strong political feelings.

Television networks are owned by corporations run by boards and committees.

1. Even though newspapers are usually owned by individuals or families with strong political feelings, television networks are owned by corporations run by boards and committees.
2. Even though television networks are owned by corporations run by boards and committees, newspapers are usually owned by individuals or families with strong political feelings.

4)     The result is that we read newspapers for substance, detail.

We watch television news for balance.

1.  Even though we read newspapers for substance, detail, we watch television news for balance.
2. Despite watching television news for balance, we read newspapers for substance, detail.

Concession

Join the following sentences using concession words. Try to use a variety of these joining words; see the list above.

1. Sea View has two great cafes.

Sea View is far from campus.

1. a) Join from the point of view of a college student without a car, whose most important concern is having a way to get to school:

Although Sea View has two great cafes, it is far from campus.       

1. b)    Join from the point of view of a professor with a car whose day isn’t complete unless she has her morning espresso at a local cafe:

Sea View has two great cafes, even though it is far from campus.       

1.   Sunny Hills has several outstanding public schools.

Sunny Hills has one excellent private school.

1. a) Join from the point of view of a parent of two children in public school:

In addition to having one excellent private school, Sunny Hills has several outstanding public schools.

1. b)   Join from the point of view of a parent of two children in private school:

In addition to having several outstanding public schools, Sunny Hills also has one excellent private school.

1.   Sea View has poor public transportation.

Sea View has many services for senior citizens.

1. a) Join from the point of view of a 73-year-old retired person:

Sea View has poor public transportation, but has many services for senior citizens.

1. b)   Join from the point of a person who rides the bus to work:

Even though Sea View has many services for senior citizens, they have poor public transportation.

1.   Sea View has great ocean views.

Sea View is far from the freeway.

1. a) Join from the point of view of a computer specialist who must commute by freeway daily:

Despite the great ocean views, Sea View is far from the freeway.

1. b)   Join from the point of view of a person who rarely leaves home:

Regardless of its distance from the freeway, Sea View has great ocean views. 

1.   Sunny Hills has an outdoor swimming pool and bike paths.

Sunny Hills has no fitness centers.

1. a) Join from the point of view of a physically active outdoors person:

Even though Sunny Hills has no fitness centers, they have an outdoor swimming pool and bike paths.

1. b)   Join from the point of view of someone who likes to lift weights in front of an admiring audience.

Even though Sunny Hills has an outdoor swimming pool and bike paths, they have no fitness centers