Toulmin

Argument

Model Model Three: The Final

Model

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.

BUT WAIT! We skipped a step…

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.

Why Warrants Matter…

The audience must agree with the

warrant for the argument to be

persuasive.

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.