Mission: write an argued essay or formal letter
Building a 250-word argued text with a thesis, concession and consequence connectors, and a formal register. Argue like someone who has weighed both sides.
FrenchB2 · Exam levelAbout 9 min: 5 reading, 4 practiceUpdated
- Plan an argued text: thesis, two or three arguments with examples, a counter-argument with concession, a conclusion
- Use connectors of concession (certes, bien que, néanmoins) and consequence (par conséquent, c'est pourquoi)
- Keep a formal register in a letter to a newspaper
- Write at least 250 words in one hour, as the DELF B2 asks
B2 exam skills: lesson 1 of 4
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Level Level B2 (around the DELF B2 exam). Real French: a formal letter to a regional newspaper about a local decision.
What it is
Your mission: the council of Angers wants to let every shop in the town centre open on Sundays, and the regional newspaper has asked readers to write in. You are Nicolas Garnier, a resident. Write a formal letter of 260 to 300 words that takes a clear position, gives arguments with examples, admits what the other side gets right, and ends with a conclusion.
The DELF B2 writing paper lasts 1 hour and asks for one text of at least 250 words. At B1 the minimum is 160 words, so a B2 text must be built, not just piled up. Each paper is marked out of 25, and you need at least 5 out of 25 in every paper. Our practice method for the hour: about 10 minutes to plan, about 40 to write, about 10 to reread and correct.
A plan that works (our practice method):
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| 1. Introduction | present the question, state your thesis |
| 2. Arguments | two or three, each with an example |
| 3. Counter-argument | admit a fair point, then answer it |
| 4. Conclusion | sum up, perhaps look ahead |
Connectors of concession admit a point without giving up your thesis:
| Connector | Followed by |
|---|---|
| certes… mais… | indicative |
| bien que, quoique | subjunctive |
| même si | indicative |
| malgré, en dépit de | a noun |
| néanmoins, pourtant, cependant | a new clause |
Connectors of consequence show what follows from an idea:
| Connector | Note |
|---|---|
| par conséquent, donc, ainsi | a plain result |
| c'est pourquoi, d'où | « d'où » + a noun |
| si bien que | + indicative |
Formal register in a letter: no colloquial words (ça, plein de), no slang, vous, and a polite opening and closing. Open with Madame, Monsieur, and close with Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.
More detail: how to reach 250 words without padding
Plan in words, not in sentences: an introduction of about 50 words, two or three arguments of about 60 words each (the idea, then an example), a concession and answer of about 60 words, and a conclusion of about 40. With two arguments that already comes to about 270. The example is where most of your words come from, and it is what makes an argument convincing. Count your first draft: it is easier to cut than to add in the last five minutes.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
You want to admit that the other side has a point, but keep your thesis. Which sentence does it?
- par conséquent introduces a result, not an admission
- en conclusion closes the text
Show answer
Certes, cette mesure a des avantages, mais ils ne suffisent pas.. certes… mais… admits a point and then answers it.
Why it matters
Arguing in writing is useful far beyond an exam: a letter to the council, a complaint, a request to your landlord, a comment that people will actually read. A text that states a position, backs it up and answers the obvious objection persuades much more than one that only says « je suis contre ». The same skills carry over to any language you write in.
Worked example
Nicolas's letter (our own example):
Objet : ouverture des magasins le dimanche
Madame, Monsieur,
Le conseil municipal envisage d'autoriser tous les commerces du centre-ville à ouvrir le dimanche. Cette question divise les habitants, et je souhaite vous exposer mon point de vue. Personnellement, je suis plutôt défavorable à cette mesure.
D'abord, le dimanche est, pour beaucoup de familles, le seul jour où tout le monde est disponible en même temps. Si les vendeurs doivent travailler ce jour-là, ils ne pourront plus voir leurs enfants ni partager un repas avec eux. Mon voisin, qui est caissier, rentre déjà trop tard le samedi soir pour jouer avec sa fille. Ensuite, les petits commerçants n'ont pas les moyens d'embaucher du personnel supplémentaire. Par conséquent, ce sont les grandes enseignes qui profiteront de la réforme, tandis que les boutiques de quartier risquent de fermer. Enfin, rien ne prouve que les clients dépenseraient davantage : ils achèteraient simplement le dimanche ce qu'ils achètent déjà le samedi.
Certes, on ne peut pas nier que cette mesure ait des avantages. Les personnes qui travaillent toute la semaine auraient plus de temps pour faire leurs courses, et les étudiants pourraient gagner un peu d'argent. Néanmoins, ces avantages ne me paraissent pas suffisants pour justifier un tel changement. Il serait plus raisonnable de prolonger les horaires en semaine, jusqu'à vingt heures par exemple, sans toucher au jour de repos.
En conclusion, bien que l'ouverture dominicale semble pratique, elle fragiliserait la vie de famille et le commerce local. C'est pourquoi j'espère que le conseil renoncera à cette réforme.
Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.
Nicolas Garnier
264 words. Counting rule: words separated by spaces, including the subject line, greeting and signature; standalone punctuation (here only the colon in « Objet : ») is not counted, and l'ouverture or c'est count as one word each. The shape: introduction with a thesis, three arguments (d'abord, ensuite, enfin) with an example or a detail each, a concession with certes… néanmoins, a consequence with par conséquent and c'est pourquoi, a conclusion with bien que, and a formal closing.
Real French: l'ouverture dominicale (Sunday opening) is the standard written phrase, and Je vous prie d'agréer… l'expression de mes salutations distinguées is the usual formal ending of a letter to someone you do not know.
Common mistake
Using the indicative after bien que: wrong: bien qu'elle est pratique. Say bien qu'elle soit pratique: bien que and quoique always take the subjunctive, while même si takes the indicative (même si elle est pratique).
And a second one: mixing registers. wrong: Franchement, c'est nul, cette idée in a formal letter. Keep to Personnellement, je suis plutôt défavorable à cette mesure.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
Which version is correct in a formal text?
- bien que takes the subjunctive, not the indicative
- bien que is never followed by the future indicative
Show answer
Bien qu'elle soit pratique, cette mesure est injuste.. bien que + subjunctive; même si + indicative.
Key terms
- une thèse
- a thesis, the position you defend
- un argument
- an argument
- un contre-argument
- a counter-argument
- une concession
- a concession, admitting a point
- certes… mais…
- admittedly… but…
- bien que + subjonctif
- although
- néanmoins
- nevertheless
- par conséquent
- as a result
- c'est pourquoi
- that is why
- les grandes enseignes
- big chain stores
- le repos dominical
- Sunday rest
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 11 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| une thèse | a thesis, the position you defend |
| un argument | an argument |
| un contre-argument | a counter-argument |
| une concession | a concession, admitting a point |
| certes… mais… | admittedly… but… |
| bien que + subjonctif | although |
| néanmoins | nevertheless |
| par conséquent | as a result |
| c'est pourquoi | that is why |
| les grandes enseignes | big chain stores |
| le repos dominical | Sunday rest |
Practice
Sort it
Does the sentence admit a point (concession) or show a result (consequence)?
Certes, on ne peut pas nier que cette mesure ait des avantages.
it admits something in favour of the other sideShow answer
Concession. it admits something in favour of the other side
Par conséquent, ce sont les grandes enseignes qui en profiteront.
it says what follows from the previous ideaShow answer
Consequence. it says what follows from the previous idea
Bien que l'ouverture dominicale semble pratique, elle fragilise le commerce local.
bien que admits a point against your thesisShow answer
Concession. bien que admits a point against your thesis
C'est pourquoi j'espère que le conseil renoncera à cette réforme.
it draws a conclusion from the reasons aboveShow answer
Consequence. it draws a conclusion from the reasons above
Néanmoins, ces avantages ne me paraissent pas suffisants.
it grants the point and then resists itShow answer
Concession. it grants the point and then resists it
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
How many words must the DELF B2 writing text have, at least?
- That is the B1 minimum
- More than needed; the minimum is 250
Show answer
250. Official format: 1 hour, one text of at least 250 words.
Choose the correct sentence.
- bien que takes the subjunctive
- the conditional does not follow bien que here; use the subjunctive
Show answer
Bien que cette mesure soit pratique, elle fragilise le commerce local.. bien que + subjunctive (soit).
Which closing suits a letter to a newspaper editor you do not know?
- too informal for a stranger
- slang greeting, wrong register
Show answer
Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.. a formal letter closes with a formal formula.
Which connector introduces a result?
- it introduces a contrast
- it introduces a concession
Show answer
Par conséquent. par conséquent, c'est pourquoi, donc and ainsi express a consequence.
Build the sentence
Build a sentence that opens with a concession. (Start with the connector.)
Show answer
Bien que cette mesure soit pratique, elle fragilise le commerce local.. bien que + the point admitted (subjunctive), then the main clause.
Practise speaking
Studyfern has no voice tools of its own. To practise out loud, copy this prompt into a voice-capable AI assistant and talk with it.
Mission role-play. You are Madame Roux, the letters editor of a regional newspaper, at level B2. Speak naturally but clearly, using vous. Ask me one question at a time. First, give me a local question on which to take a position (for example, free parking in the town centre). I will "write" my letter out loud, part by part: introduction with a thesis, two or three arguments with examples, a counter-argument with a concession, a conclusion, and a formal closing. After each part, tell me in English if there is a mistake (connectors, subjunctive after bien que, register) and let me try again. When I have covered every part, estimate whether my letter would reach 250 words, then say « Mission accomplie ! » and give me one tip. Keep every reply under 3 sentences.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. Many assistants turn your speech into text first, so a vowel or liaison you got wrong may be silently “heard” as the right word. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
New to this? Read Practising speaking with an AI.
In short
- DELF B2 writing: 1 hour, one text of at least 250 words (B1 asks for at least 160). Each paper is marked out of 25.
- Our practice method: about 10 minutes to plan, about 40 to write, about 10 to check.
- Plan: introduction with a thesis, two or three arguments with examples, a counter-argument with concession, a conclusion.
- Concession: certes… mais…, bien que + subjunctive, même si + indicative, néanmoins.
- Consequence: par conséquent, c'est pourquoi, donc, si bien que.
- In a formal letter, keep to vous, a neutral register and a polite opening and closing.
Mastery check
Answer without looking back. Score 80% or more and the lesson is marked done. Your result is kept only in this browser.
Check yourself
Answer in your head first, then open the answer. Nothing is saved.
What is the minimum length of the DELF B2 writing text, and how long do you have?
Show answer
At least 250 words, in one hour.
Which mood follows « bien que »?
Show answer
The subjunctive (bien qu'elle soit pratique).
What does a concession do in an argued text?
Show answer
It admits a fair point of the other side, then answers it, so your thesis looks considered rather than one-sided.
Further reading
- France Éducation international, DELF B2: the official exam format and sample papers.
- RFI, Journal en français facile: see how news writers present a view and its objection.
Finished? Mark it done to fill in your leaf on the French map.