Post on 19-Oct-2018
transcript
About the Toulmin Model
Created by a British philosopher, Stephen
Toulmin
Most people don’t use formal (classical) logic;
their reasoning is unstructured and messy
Acknowledges that life is not clear cut, so it
isn’t airtight.
Less about the order than about the elements.
The Claim
Debatable and
controversial
statements or
assertions you
hope to prove
Can be
demonstrated
using logic or
evidence
Arguments depend
on the conditions set
by others—the
audience
The sky is blue.
Whoa!
Well actually
that’s an
illusion
caused by…
Claims (continued)
Though arguments
have a central
claim, or thesis,
they generally
feature several
claims throughout.
Stitch is a part of Lilo family.
Evidence and Good Reasons
The support for the claim.
Combine a reason with your claim to form an enthymeme.
Enthymeme – an informal syllogism, in which one claim is implicit.
Topic sentences?
Stitch is a part of Lilo’s
family because they care
about one another.
The Warrant
This is the logical and
persuasive connection
between a claim and the
reasons/data supporting it
The speaker’s often
unstated assumptions
Warrants can be stated or
implied.
NOOO!
The Warrant (continued)
The warrant is the bridge connecting the
reason to the claim.
Reason (s) So Claim
Since Warrant
Warrant Examples
Reason (s) So Claim
Since Warrant
Stitch and Lilo care
about each other.
So Stitch is a part of Lilo’s
family.
Since Family members
care about each other.
Warrant Examples
Reason (s) So Claim
Since Warrant
The mushroom is
poisonous. So don’t eat it!
Since eating poisonous
things is dangerous
Warrant Examples
Reason (s) So Claim
Since Warrant
Cheerios can help you
lower your cholesterol by
4% in 6 weeks.
So you should buy
Cheerios.
Since lowering your
cholesterol improves
overall health.
Warrant Examples
Reason (s) So Claim
Since Warrant
I don’t like grades. So grades in college
should be abolished.
Since what I don’t like
should be abolished.
Warrant Examples
Reason (s) So Claim
Since Warrant
Flat taxes treat all
taxpayers the same way.
So flat taxes are fairer
than progressive taxes.
Since treating people
equally is the American
way.
People with more
income can afford to
pay more and benefit
more from government.
So progressive taxes are
fairer than flat taxes.
Since people should be
taxed according to their
ability to pay.
Backing
This is the evidence
used to support a
warrant.
Stitch and Lilo
care about each other.
So Stitch is a
part of Lilo’s family.
Since Family
members care
about each other.
The term ―ohana‖ means
family, and that ―no one
gets left behind or
forgotten.‖ Thus, according
to ―ohana,‖ families are
shaped by deliberately
forged emotional
connections.
Evidence
Uses clear
examples and
concrete details to
substantiate the
author’s claim.
Must be clearly
linked (through the
warrant) to the
claim.
Lilo shows she cares about
Stitch by offering him
unwavering love, even
when Stitch fails to return it.
Stitch shows he cares about
Lilo by attempting to reform
and by sacrificing his
freedom to save her.
Conditions of Rebuttal Throughout the
argument, the speaker acknowledges potential objections to the argument.
This can lead to revised claims and reasons (based on weak warrants), concessions, or refutations.
Even though they fight
and yell, Lilo and Stitch
care about each other.
Sure, their family is small
and broken, but it is still
good. Still good.
Reading is love.
Qualifiers
Words or phrases
that place limits on
claims.
This is a contrast to
classical argument
and its reliance on
deduction.
―All humans are
mortal…‖
Makes writing more
precise and honest.
Your SAT scores are in the
98th percentile, so it is likely
you will get into a good
college.
perhaps
The federal government
should ban smoking in
public spaces because
smoking causes serious
diseases in smokers.
Don’t
eat
me!
Ending Toulmin Beneficial because it most accurately
reflects how people make arguments.
Teaches important concepts:
Claims should be clearly stated and qualified carefully
Claims should be supported with evidence and good reasons
Speakers (and their audiences) should be aware of speakers’ assumptions (and how they agree with audiences’ values)
Effective arguments anticipate objections
Toulmin can be used to analyze any type of argument.