Argument in the AP English Language Classroom

1
Argument in the AP English Language Classroom

• Don Stoll
• Rowan University

2
Argument vs. Persuasion

• Definition of Argument
• Reasoned inquiry-logos
• Rational discourse
• Seeking common ground-ethos
• Rhetoric
• Definition of Persuasion
• A question of belief and preference-pathos
• Manipulate-able

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Types of Argument

• Argument of Fact
• Something is or is not the case
• Causal argument
• Arguments of Value
• Something is or is not desirable
• Evaluations of quality or worth according to
  accepted criteria
• Argument of Policy
• Something should or should not be done

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Toulmin Model - terminology

• Claim - an assertion
• Support - data used as evidence, reasons, or
  grounds
• Warrant - assumption shared by the writer the
  reader
• Backing - data/assurances to support the warrant
• Qualifier - restrictor
• Reservation - explains the qualifier
• Rebuttal - objections to claim and/or warrant

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The Toulmin Sentence

• Because (data as support), therefore, or so
  (qualifier?) (claim), since (warrant), because,
  or on account of (backing), unless (reservation).
• Because of the new cell phone law, in most cases
  no one should call while driving since it is good
  to obey the law because if the law is broken it
  means a heavy fine unless, of course, there is an
  emergency.

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Writing the Toulmin Sentence

• Claim - People should wear seatbelts
• Support - High rate of serious injury in
  accidents when seatbelts are not worn
• Warrant -Serious injury should be avoided
• Backing - serious injury is costly, painful, and
  dangerous
• Qualifier - Typically
• Reservation - cases where seatbelts may be
  dangerous like small children
• Rebuttal -High rate of serious injury when
  seatbelts are worn

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Toulmin Sentence.

• Because of the high rate of serious injury in
  accidents when seatbelts are not worn, in most
  instances we should all wear seatbelts. This is
  true because avoiding serious injury is good.
  Serious injury can be costly, painful, and
  dangerous. Of course there are situations when
  seatbelts may be dangerous such as in the case of
  small children who might have their necks broken
  by the seatbelt. While some may say there is a
  high rate of serious injury when seat belts are
  worn, such as when the car goes underwater or
  bursts into flames, having a device to cut the
  seatbelt near at hand in such cases is better
  than not wearing a seatbelt at all.

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Writing the Toulmin Sentence - Again

• Claim - Sweetened soft drinks should be removed
  from the schools vending machines
• Support - high obesity of teens in our school
• Warrant - sweetened soft drinks lead to fat teens
• Backing - obesity leads to heart disease and
  diabetes
• Qualifier - After it is cleared by the
  administration
• Reservation - People who need sweetened food in
  an emergency like diabetics
• Rebuttal - Tens should be encouraged to take
  responsibility for their own health and make
  their own decisions.

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Writing the Toulmin Sentence - Claim of Fact

• Claim - Students who work hard in high school do
  better in college
• Support - There is greater demand for AP courses
• Warrant -
• Backing -
• Qualifier -
• Reservation -
• Rebuttal -

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Writing the Toulmin Sentence - Claim of Value

• Claim - Faux news programs are a great addition
  to television
• Support People who are aware of current events
  are better off than being ignorant
• Warrant -
• Backing -
• Qualifier -
• Reservation -
• Rebuttal -

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Writing the Toulmin Sentence - Claim of Policy

• Claim - Department chairs should receive
  extensive training in management skills
• Support - The new principal is decentralizing
  power
• Warrant -
• Backing -
• Qualifier -
• Reservation -
• Rebuttal -

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Further Reading

• http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/argument/toulmin
  .html
• http//writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co300
  man/list10.cfm
• http//www.unl.edu/speech/comm109/Toulmin/index.ht
  m
• http//www.public.asu.edu/macalla/toulmintime.htm
  l