Toulmin ModelToulmin Model

A persuasion, argumentation A persuasion, argumentation structurestructure

Prior Knowledge CheckPrior Knowledge CheckOn piece of paper, jot down your definition of these terms in On piece of paper, jot down your definition of these terms in

relation to persuasion/argumentationrelation to persuasion/argumentation

ClaimClaimWarrantWarrantGrounds/SupportGrounds/SupportQualifierQualifierBackingBackingRebuttalRebuttal

What is the Toulmin Model?What is the Toulmin Model?

The Toulmin method, in short, is an The Toulmin method, in short, is an effective way of looking at and accurately effective way of looking at and accurately describing the way people make describing the way people make convincing and reasonable arguments. convincing and reasonable arguments.

It is a type of textual "dissection" that It is a type of textual "dissection" that allows us to break an argument into its allows us to break an argument into its different parts so that we can make different parts so that we can make judgments on how well the different parts judgments on how well the different parts work together. work together.

Why use the Toulmin Model?Why use the Toulmin Model?

Gives us an alignment and articulation Gives us an alignment and articulation starting point for those that need to teach starting point for those that need to teach argumentation and persuasionargumentation and persuasion

Eventually will help us align and articulate Eventually will help us align and articulate with the argumentation expectations at the with the argumentation expectations at the high school high school

FYIFYI

Toulmin is used worldwide in middle, high Toulmin is used worldwide in middle, high schools and colleges in all subject areasschools and colleges in all subject areas

We are open to suggestionsWe are open to suggestionsWe will use the MS Lit leaders, ROE days We will use the MS Lit leaders, ROE days

to further this process to further this process We want to begin implementation by the We want to begin implementation by the

fallfall

The way we will make this stickThe way we will make this stick

Developmental continuumDevelopmental continuumTeach it, define itTeach it, define itFind it in a model, identify itFind it in a model, identify itEvaluate the effectivenessEvaluate the effectivenessPractice writing/creating it on our ownPractice writing/creating it on our ownThen evaluate our own for effectivenessThen evaluate our own for effectivenessRevise based on our evaluation and/or Revise based on our evaluation and/or

feedback from othersfeedback from others

ClaimClaim

What you want the reader to believe or What you want the reader to believe or agree withagree with

Thesis, the controlling ideaThesis, the controlling ideaStatement you want the reader to acceptStatement you want the reader to acceptWhat is the author trying to prove?What is the author trying to prove?Claims worth arguing tend to be Claims worth arguing tend to be

controversial and debatablecontroversial and debatable

Examples of ClaimsExamples of Claims

The Electoral College has outlived its The Electoral College has outlived its usefulness.usefulness.

It’s time to lower the drinking age.It’s time to lower the drinking age.NASA should launch a human expedition NASA should launch a human expedition

to Mars.to Mars.Vegetarianism is the best choice of diet.Vegetarianism is the best choice of diet.New York City is the true capital of the New York City is the true capital of the

United States.United States.

Often the best claims contain the reasonOften the best claims contain the reason

So, the claim would state the position So, the claim would state the position and then give at least one reasonand then give at least one reason

_____(Claim goes here)_______ _____(Claim goes here)_______ becausebecause_____________________________._____________________________.

To find claims that aren’t explicitly stated To find claims that aren’t explicitly stated finish the sentence, “The author believes finish the sentence, “The author believes that…”that…”

Examples of claims and reasons Examples of claims and reasons

The Electoral College has outlived its usefulness The Electoral College has outlived its usefulness becausebecause it gives undue power to small and mid- it gives undue power to small and mid-sized states in presidential elections.sized states in presidential elections.

It is time to lower the drinking age It is time to lower the drinking age because because I’ve I’ve been drinking since I was 14 and it hasn’t hurt been drinking since I was 14 and it hasn’t hurt me. me.

NASA should launch a human expedition to NASA should launch a human expedition to Mars Mars becausebecause Americans need a unifying Americans need a unifying national goal. national goal.

Vegetarianism is the best choice of diet, the only Vegetarianism is the best choice of diet, the only one that doesn’t require the suffering of animals. one that doesn’t require the suffering of animals.

Find it in a modelFind it in a model

With group, read each text sample and With group, read each text sample and identify the claim, write it on the line identify the claim, write it on the line providedprovided

WarrantWarrant Links the grounds to the claim- establishes logical connection Links the grounds to the claim- establishes logical connection

between the twobetween the two At their simplest, warrants can be stated as X is good or X is bad. At their simplest, warrants can be stated as X is good or X is bad.

This is an oversimplification, but it may help to see how warrants are This is an oversimplification, but it may help to see how warrants are based on shared judgments of value.based on shared judgments of value.

It is the generally accepted beliefs, valuesIt is the generally accepted beliefs, values They are the common ground between the author and the readerThey are the common ground between the author and the reader Can be stated, implied, assumed or unstatedCan be stated, implied, assumed or unstated It tells the reader what your assumptions areIt tells the reader what your assumptions are How did you arrive at that claim based on the data collected?How did you arrive at that claim based on the data collected? How exactly do I get from the claim to data?How exactly do I get from the claim to data?

Examples of warrantsExamples of warrants

No states should have undue influence on No states should have undue influence on presidential electionspresidential elections

Drinking problems are not determined by Drinking problems are not determined by ageage

Times have been so bad, the US needs Times have been so bad, the US needs something to rally aroundsomething to rally around

No one likes to hurt animalsNo one likes to hurt animalsStarting with Starting with SinceSince is a good way to help is a good way to help

kids address the warrantkids address the warrant

Examples of Common warrants, Examples of Common warrants, easily acceptable by the easily acceptable by the

reasonable personreasonable person

All people should be treated equallyAll people should be treated equallyA unified nation is strongerA unified nation is strongerViolence is wrongViolence is wrong

If the readers accept your warrant , If the readers accept your warrant , you can then present specific you can then present specific evidence to develop the claimevidence to develop the claim

If the reader isn’t likely to accept your warrant If the reader isn’t likely to accept your warrant (for example the lowering the drinking age (for example the lowering the drinking age argument) the writer needs to have a warrant argument) the writer needs to have a warrant that defends before moving onto the claimthat defends before moving onto the claim

Ex: The legal age for drinking should be lowered Ex: The legal age for drinking should be lowered because I have been drinking since age 14 because I have been drinking since age 14 without any problems. without any problems. What works for me should What works for me should work for everyone else. – weak warrantwork for everyone else. – weak warrant

Warrants tell you what arguments you Warrants tell you what arguments you have to make and at what level you have have to make and at what level you have to make them. to make them.

Warrant isn’t controversial- move on to Warrant isn’t controversial- move on to defending your claim (grounds/data)defending your claim (grounds/data)

If warrant is controversial- you must If warrant is controversial- you must defend your warrantdefend your warrant

Weak warrantsWeak warrants

Goes against our culture, values, ethicsGoes against our culture, values, ethicsBasing it only on a selfish or silly principle- Basing it only on a selfish or silly principle-

Since I don’t like it. Since I don’t like it. If you don’t defend your warrant the If you don’t defend your warrant the

structure will crack and fallstructure will crack and fallGood warrants and faulty warrants- Good warrants and faulty warrants-

coyotes in citycoyotes in city

Grounds and SupportGrounds and Support

The support for the claim The support for the claim EvidenceEvidenceHard factsHard factsProofProofAnecdotal, personal testimony, expert Anecdotal, personal testimony, expert

opinion, facts/dataopinion, facts/dataWhat does the author say to persuade the What does the author say to persuade the

reader of the claim?reader of the claim?

Claim Claim Universities should reinstate Universities should reinstate affirmative action admissions policies.affirmative action admissions policies.

Support Affirmative action provides equal Support Affirmative action provides equal access to education for all ethnic groups.access to education for all ethnic groups.

Warrant Equality of access is a basic Warrant Equality of access is a basic American value.American value.

QualifierQualifier Indicates the strengh (or weakness) of the argumentIndicates the strengh (or weakness) of the argument It is not always black and whiteIt is not always black and white It often considers the counterargumentIt often considers the counterargument Places limits on claimsPlaces limits on claims It lets the reader know how sure the arguer is about the claimIt lets the reader know how sure the arguer is about the claim Because argument is about probability and possibility, not about Because argument is about probability and possibility, not about

certainty, you should not use superlatives like all, every, absolutely certainty, you should not use superlatives like all, every, absolutely or never, none, no one. Instead you may need to qualify (tone or never, none, no one. Instead you may need to qualify (tone down) your claim with expressions like many, many times, some or down) your claim with expressions like many, many times, some or rarely, few, possibly. rarely, few, possibly.

Most, usually, sometimes, on occasion, unless, in most casesMost, usually, sometimes, on occasion, unless, in most cases

BackingBacking

Further supports the warrantFurther supports the warrant Helps the reader understand the reasoning Helps the reader understand the reasoning

behind the warrantbehind the warrant Sometimes the warrant itself needs evidence to Sometimes the warrant itself needs evidence to

support it, to make it more believable, to further support it, to make it more believable, to further "back up" the argument. "back up" the argument.

Ethos, logos, pathosEthos, logos, pathos Evidence for every questionable claim you makeEvidence for every questionable claim you make The more questionable the more backingThe more questionable the more backing Ex: drinking ageEx: drinking age

Project’s ClaimProject’s Claim: Juicy Fruit is the Best Gum Ever!: Juicy Fruit is the Best Gum Ever! Reason #1Reason #1: Juicy Fruit is the best tasting gum.: Juicy Fruit is the best tasting gum. Warrant/PrincipleWarrant/Principle: Good gum must taste good. : Good gum must taste good.

BackingBacking: (This is a pretty “well duh” warrant that probably wouldn’t need : (This is a pretty “well duh” warrant that probably wouldn’t need any backing. In other words, would anyone disagree with this warrant?) any backing. In other words, would anyone disagree with this warrant?)

Evidence #1Evidence #1: Consumer Reports survey compared the taste of : Consumer Reports survey compared the taste of Juicy Fruit with other types of gum. Juicy Fruit with other types of gum. Warrant/PrincipleWarrant/Principle: People trust research done by the Consumer : People trust research done by the Consumer

Reports magazine Reports magazine BackingBacking: Consumer Reports is not invested in the research. They do not : Consumer Reports is not invested in the research. They do not

care which gum tastes best. care which gum tastes best. BackingBacking: Consumer Reports uses research methods that are sound. : Consumer Reports uses research methods that are sound. BackingBacking: Consumer Reports studies usually include a lot of people in the : Consumer Reports studies usually include a lot of people in the

research; in other words, they don’t just ask ten people what they thing about research; in other words, they don’t just ask ten people what they thing about the taste of different gums.the taste of different gums.

RebuttalRebuttal

To disprove opposing viewTo disprove opposing view The counter to the opposing viewThe counter to the opposing view Concession is given and the writer rebuts the Concession is given and the writer rebuts the

concessionconcession You need to answer questions and objections You need to answer questions and objections

raised in the minds of the audience; if you fail to raised in the minds of the audience; if you fail to do so, your own argument will be weakened and do so, your own argument will be weakened and subject to attack and counter-argument subject to attack and counter-argument

Good rebuttal usually requires evidence Good rebuttal usually requires evidence

Qualifier: Qualifier: If a university does not have a diverse student bodyIf a university does not have a diverse student bodyClaim: ...Claim: ...it should use affirmative action admissions policies.it should use affirmative action admissions policies.Support: Support: Affirmative action policies provide equal access to Affirmative action policies provide equal access to education for all ethnic groups.education for all ethnic groups.Warrant: Warrant: Equality of access is a basic American value.Equality of access is a basic American value.Backing: Backing: Equality before the law is a fundamental right of all Equality before the law is a fundamental right of all Americans.Americans.Rebuttal: Rebuttal: Affirmative action policies do not result in "reverse Affirmative action policies do not result in "reverse discrimination" because they are only part of a process that discrimination" because they are only part of a process that attempts to ensureattempts to ensure fairness in college admissions.fairness in college admissions.

Can all arguments be analyzed Can all arguments be analyzed according to Toulmin’s model?according to Toulmin’s model?

No, not all writers express themselves in perfectly No, not all writers express themselves in perfectly sequence claims or warrants. sequence claims or warrants.

That is not a problem if you appreciate the Toulmin That is not a problem if you appreciate the Toulmin model for what teaches-model for what teaches- Claims should be stated clearly and qualified carefullyClaims should be stated clearly and qualified carefully Claims should be supported with data and good reasonsClaims should be supported with data and good reasons Claims and reasons should be based on assumptions readers Claims and reasons should be based on assumptions readers

will likely acceptwill likely accept All parts of an argument need the support of solid evidenceAll parts of an argument need the support of solid evidence Effective arguments anticipate objections readers might offer. Effective arguments anticipate objections readers might offer.