The Toulmin Model of Argumentation

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The Toulmin Model of Argumentation

• 23 January 2008

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The Toulmin Model
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The Elements of Toulmin (pg. 192)

• Grounds the facts that serve as the foundation
  or support offered as evidence
• Claim what the arguer wants the audience to
  believe or accept
• Warrants reasons for believing claim
• Backing provides support for the warrant
• Qualifiers words that express how reliable the
  speaker believes the claim to be
• Rebuttal identifies the circumstances or
  exceptions that might invalidate the claim in
  particular cases

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Sample Argument (pg. 264)

• Grounds This patient is on a weight control
  program.
• Backing Clinical experience shows that
• Warrant As part of a weight control program,
  D-amphetamine may be prescribed.
• Qualifier It seems very likely that
• Claim This patient needs D-amphetamine as part
  of a weight control program.
• Rebuttal or Exception Unless that patient has a
  history of heart disease, high blood pressure,
  etc.

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WWF, Toulminized (R. Gass, Ph.D., Cal State
Fullerton)

• How do you know WWF wrestling is fake? Ill tell
  you how. You never see the results printed in
  the Sports section of the newspaper.
• Claim. WWF is fake (factual claim).
• Grounds. The results are never reported in the
  Sports section of the newspaper.
• Warrant. Only the results of legitimate sports
  are published in the newspaper (argument from
  authority underlying presumption)

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Brief Assignment 2

• Objective To practice identifying and analyzing
  counterarguments and rebuttals.
• Purpose Identifying and analyzing potential
  counterarguments is an important part of
  constructing your own argument and evaluating the
  effectiveness of arguments written by others.
  This brief assignment will give you practice in
  doing so.
• Description Read one article from the list below
  or one specified by your Classroom Instructor,
  and then do the following to complete the
  assignment.
• First, identify and summarize the
  counterargument(s) that the author addresses in
  his or her article.
• Second, summarize the rebuttal to each
  counterargument.
• Third, write a brief analysis of the
  counterarguments and rebuttals. For example, your
  analysis might include a discussion that answers
  the following questions Are the counterarguments
  discussed in the article the most powerful ones
  against the primary argument? Are there other
  counterarguments the writer should have
  addressed? If so, explain what these are and how
  the writer might rebut them.
• Your response should be in paragraph form and 400
  500 words in length.
• Cohen, Lizabeth. The Mall as Threat to
  Democratic Values. First-Year Writing Writing in
  the Disciplines. Boston Pearson Custom, 2007.
  557 563.
• Fowles, Jib. Advertisings Fifteen Basic
  Appeals. First-Year Writing Writing in the
  Disciplines. Boston Pearson Custom, 2007. 722
  739.
• Ince, Susan. The Science of Sleep. First-Year
  Writing Writing in the Disciplines. Boston
  Pearson Custom, 2007. 582 590.
• Milgram, Stanley. The Perils of Obedience.
  First-Year Writing Writing in the Disciplines.
  Boston Pearson Custom, 2007. 480 492.
• Williams, Patricia J. My Best White Friend
  Cinderella Revisited. First-Year Writing
  Writing in the Disciplines. Boston Pearson
  Custom, 2007. 704 708.