Toulmin

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Toulmins method

• An analytical response to an argument determines
  our basis for agreement or disagreement with it.

2
The Toulmin method

• helps us see how and why the different parts of
  an argument work together,
• and analyze the effectiveness of each part.

3
The Parts of an Argument according to the
Toulmin Model

• Claims - are the main point of the argument.
• Data (support) - provides the evidence,
  opinions, reasoning, examples, and factual
  information about a claim.

4
Parts of a Toulmin Argument

• Warrants - are assumptions, general principles,
  conventions of specific disciplines, widely held
  values, commonly accepted beliefs, and appeals to
  human motives. 
• Most warrants are not stated in an argument.

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Parts of a Toulmin Argument

• iv) Backing - is audience specific and it bridges
  the gap between the author's warrant and the
  audience's opinion.
• v) Rebuttals - establish what is wrong, invalid,
  or unacceptable about an argument and they may
  present counter arguments or new arguments that
  represent different points of view.

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Parts of a Toulmin Argument

• vi) Qualifiers - are words throughout the
  argument that quantify the argument.
• Some examples include
• always, never, is, are, all, none, and
  absolutely always and never change to sometimes,
  is and are change to may be or might, all changes
  to many or some, none changes to a few, and
  absolutely changes to probably or possibly.
• (Adapted from Wood, Nancy V.  Perspectives on
  Argument.  Third Edition.  Upper Saddle River,
  New Jersey  Prentice Hall, 2001. )
• (http//courses.durhamtech.edu/perkins/toul.html)

7
Dr. Nancy Mack

• Revising How We Teach Emotion Rejecting the
  Public Spectacle of Polarized Arguments

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Dr. Macks critique

• False dichotomies
• Turning differences into oppositions
• Justifying attacks
• Deliberative rhetoric erases inequalities
• Deliberation will only solidify beliefs
• Logic makes it easier to be blind to students
  emotions/problems

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Critique of Toulmin

• The Frankfurt School

• Ira Shore

• Advocated posing problems and engaging in hopeful
  activities

• Social forces embedded in the lives of real people

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In Memory of Stephen Toulmin
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Kurt Vonnegut I am very real