Toulmin example. Guide: Using the Toulmin Method 2022-10-27

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The Toulmin model is a logical argument structure that was developed by philosopher Stephen Toulmin in the 1950s. It is often used in academic writing, particularly in fields such as philosophy, political science, and law, to analyze and evaluate the strength of arguments.

A Toulmin argument consists of six main components: the claim, the grounds, the warrant, the backing, the qualifier, and the rebuttal.

The claim is the main argument or position being presented. It is what the writer is trying to prove or persuade the reader to believe.

The grounds are the evidence or reasons supporting the claim. These can include factual information, examples, statistics, or expert testimony.

The warrant is the logical connection between the grounds and the claim. It explains how the evidence supports the argument being made.

The backing is additional information or context that helps to support the warrant. It may include further evidence or explanations that help to make the logical connection between the grounds and the claim more clear and persuasive.

The qualifier is a statement that acknowledges any limitations or qualifications on the claim. It allows the writer to acknowledge any potential counterarguments or weaknesses in the argument, while still maintaining the overall strength of the claim.

The rebuttal is the response to any potential counterarguments or objections to the claim. It allows the writer to address and refute any challenges to the argument being made.

An example of a Toulmin argument might be the following:

Claim: The death penalty is a just and effective means of deterring crime.

Grounds: Studies have shown that states with the death penalty have lower rates of violent crime than those without it.

Warrant: These lower crime rates suggest that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to potential criminals.

Backing: The deterrent effect of the death penalty has been supported by numerous other studies and by the testimony of legal experts.

Qualifier: While it is not always possible to definitively prove that the death penalty caused a decrease in crime rates, the evidence suggests that it is a likely contributing factor.

Rebuttal: Some critics argue that the death penalty does not actually deter crime, but this claim is not supported by the available evidence.

In this example, the Toulmin model is used to structure and present a logical argument in favor of the death penalty as a means of deterring crime. The claim is supported by the grounds of studies showing lower crime rates in states with the death penalty, and the warrant explains how this evidence supports the claim. The backing provides further evidence and context, while the qualifier acknowledges any limitations on the argument. The rebuttal addresses and refutes any potential counterarguments.

Toulmin Model of Argument

toulmin example

In other words, does the reason invoke a value that most people most importantly, you as a reader can believe in and accept? In Fort Collins, we must use herbicides when growing these foreign turfs. You see, southern Ohio borders Kentucky and that is where Kentucky bluegrass grows. As mentioned previously, this reason is referred to throughout the essay, but it is treated most directly in paragraphs 10-13. It is expected that at least 15% of MCNY students use recreational or hard drugs on a regular basis. Illegal immigrants are taking away jobs from Americans who need work.

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Toulmin Argument

toulmin example

An in-depth analysis can also help you change how you think about a topic depending on how logically the opposing party presents their viewpoints. Identifying and Examining Reason One In reading on from paragraph 2 to paragraph 3 of the essay, we see that the first reason the writer addresses is the question of harm. Evaluate if you want to bolster or challenge those assumptions in order to prove your claim. The 6 Elements of Successful Argument While the argument presented in Figure 1 is a simple one, life is not always simple. Warrant implicit assumptions : Coffee contains caffeine. Rebuttal Are all computer games completely harmless, and are they a great form of leisure? If it does appeal, then why and how does it appeal? In the West, 60 percent of urban water goes to watering lawns Bormann, Balmori, and Geballe 107.

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Toulmin Argument

toulmin example

These grasses are prairie grasses meant for our area. Single parents in New York City more than anywhere in the country. Backing: Parents can limit their youngster's exposure to video games to protect their physical and mental health. In a telephone interview conducted March 24, 1997, Laura D'Audni of the Fort Collins City Water Utilities reported the yearly outdoor water use of Fort Collins residents is between 50 and 55 percent. Your response to this counterargument could be that schools might only need to slightly lengthen their days if students are more productive as a result of longer lunches.


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Guide: Using the Toulmin Method

toulmin example

I can think of plenty of other things I'd rather do with this money and time. Read more: How to Develop Persuasiveness Skills in the Workplace Warrant The warrant is the component of the Toulmin method that explains how your data proves your claim rationally and logically. Lesson Summary The clarity and simplicity of the Toulmin Model of Argument makes it a very flexible and useful instrument for both analyzing and constructing arguments. These flags picture cross marks through silhouettes of children and pets. Backing: The support for the warrant.

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What Is the Toulmin Model of Argumentation? (With Key Parts)

toulmin example

In the case of this essay, two of the reasons are given in the same breath as the general claim "It is time for us to rethink our landscaping practices" in the second paragraph. This analysis can then be used to critique or challenge the argument. If you have occasionally got a task to craft an essay that shows the Toulmin method, this article is exactly what you need. What should we do? When I practiced this level of lawn care on my bluegrass here in Fort Collins, I ended up with a sorry-looking, balding brown patch of weed-infested turf. How To Write an Essay in The Toulmin Method Argumentative essays are a genre of writing that challenges the student to research a topic, gather, generate and evaluate evidence, and summarize a position on the issue. We could argue, therefore, that this is an effective reason.

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Toulmin Analysis Example

toulmin example

This is because they share many characteristics. In other words, how do the responses we made about the claim, reasons, evidence, etc. The claim is a crucial component in the Toulmin model. When Do I Use the Toulmin Method? Does it provide for a complete separation of church and state? It is the uppermost level of our "house of cards. Both articles tend to define the general human behaviour based on the characters displays.


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Toulmin Essay Outline With Examples: How to Write

toulmin example

For example, we can diagnose an illness or disease by its symptoms. For example, most people believe that treating other people well is essential to all human interactions. We shall therefore take a look at how it is done. Determining the Sufficiency of Evidence As you look at the evidence supporting a reason, ask yourself if the author makes use of enough evidence to convince a reasonable reader. I remember their distinct smell and the irritation they caused when the wind blew them into my children's eyes as they played outdoors.

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The Toulmin Model Of Argument, Sample of Essays

toulmin example

Warrant Based on Principle: An agreed-upon value or rule applied to a specific scenario. If one reason given in an argument is On the university level, argument is valued by professors of various disciplines who say that they would like for their students to be able to take a strong position and support it with ample reasons and evidence, statistics taken from The National Inquirer and given in support of this reason will typically be much less credible than ones taken from The Journal of Higher Education. However, if we were looking for a way to call her reasoning into question, we might want to point out that the writer lacks evidence on these last two points. Identifying and Examining Evidence Once you have identified and examined the reasons supporting the claim in an argument, your next step is to examine the evidence which, in turn, supports those reasons. Your claim can be hard to defend if you employ qualifiers that are too absolute, such as always, must, or never. Distinguishing Between Qualifiers and Exceptions Qualifiers and exceptions are similar in that they both put limits on how far a claim may be carried. It and other high-maintenance turf varieties are not meant to be grown in northern Colorado.

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Guide to Toulmin Argument

toulmin example

The claim is an author's or speaker's position, the grounds are the evidence that the claim is built upon, the warrant is the link between the claim and the grounds, backing is support for the warrant in the form of further evidence, modality limits the claim and is also known as a qualifier, and the rebuttal is an acknowledgment of opposing arguments and at times referred to as a refutation. Welfare programs should not be dismantled. A drunkard person is generally characterized by recklessness interms of speech and actions. In southern Ohio, I never had to water my half acre of Kentucky bluegrass. Initial costs can be kept to a minimum by overseeding with these new types of grass seeds, seeding bare patches with them, and letting them take hold gradually. It is poor, arid, and alkaline and must constantly be boosted with chemical fertilizers and amendments. Whether or not there are significant, verifiable, relevant similarities? In this case, the reason, having to do with the danger of herbicides to the environment and to people, invokes the reader's fear and distaste of such harm.

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The Toulmin Method

toulmin example

Choosing a variety that requires little or no watering also saves Fort Collins homeowners money. But the chemicals we use to eradicate them run off into the water supply where they cause problems. . If the argument does not assume the existence of another opinion, it will be regarded as feeble. The Toulmin Model is a tool for analyzing and constructing arguments.

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