Intermediate College Composition

Student's Post

Jacqueline D Hicks

The Toulmin argument was developed by Stephen Toulmin, a modern English philosopher.  It consists a six part model and has been useful to many people in explaining the essential parts of an argument. The first three parts are present in every argument they are the claim, the data, and the warrant. The other three parts are used as needed to strengthen the argument these parts are the backing, the rebuttal, and the qualifier. The claim itself is followed by the support which is information to back up the claim, the unspoken part of the argument, the assumption that the author hopes the audience shares is the warrant. The other three parts of the Toulmin are basically there to help the first three parts if needed, the backing supports the warrant if suppose the audience does not agree. The rebuttal is the unless part of the argument basically why or why not and the qualifier demonstrates the probability of the argument.

My Optional Reply

You're right, the 1st 3 parts sound like enough "from the horse's mouth."  I say so because you point out the last 3 are just for if people don't agree with your popular topic claims.

Student's Post

Tyler Nicholas Tice

Stephen Toulmin created a method of argument which many view as an informal method of reasoning. He created six parts which collectively make the Toulmin Model and consist of: the claim, data, warrant, backing, rebuttal and qualifier. The first three parts, claim, data and warrant, are existent in every argument. In proper writing formats, all three of these parts are typically seen within the first paragraph. The last three parts, the backing, rebuttal and qualifier, are used in the Toulmin Model to strengthen the claim, data and warrant. Having read To Kill a Mockingbird recently, the classic courtroom debates come to mind. Atticus Finch represents Tom Robinson by presenting his claim that Mr. Robinson is innocent of the charges made against him based on the data Mr. Finch possessed, along with the wit of jury persuasion he attempted to communicate. I’m sure that this scenario could be further broken down into a detailed example of all six parts of the Toulmin Model, but I think you all can understand the point. This model closely follows our psychological behavior in a compelling argument and makes logical sense why, when executed well, presenters using the Toulmin Model typically accomplish their goal.

My Optional Reply

I agree that you insinuate from that story I did in English I in 8th grade that it has shown everyone that you can adjust the facts to apply to appeal to white people too lazy to sift through the possible sincerity of African Americans over white/Caucasian people.

Intermediate College Composition

(I could not find as much on the Toulmin argument in the book and used 3 online resources, which had some overlapping construction.  I finally summed up the lacking information provided by the textbook, as well as the paragraph required.)

The point of the Toulmin argument is to take cacophony and jarring fights to turn into an effective argument divided into 6 specific parts.  Those parts are divided into 2, the 1st 3 laying out the debate and the last 3 forcing the audience to agree.

Triad #1

"laying it down the line"

The Claim

The claim is your point.

It could be one of 3 of the following:

1. a fact

2. "passing judgment"

3. making a declaration of what should be or happen

Grounds

The grounds people love to come out, state the facts that prove your claim and introduce the beginning of a debate.

It could be one of 3 of the following:

1. statistics or facts

2. a reliable source

3. deductions

Warrant

The warrant is stating relevant significances.

It can be one of the 4 following:

1. Ethos - the ethics, like in relation to how credible and esteemed a person is

2. Logos - more impersonal credibility, facts, that can also deal with people

3. Pathos - the feeling emphasis, to appeal to an argument

4. Values - just what it says, things that people believe to be popular

Triad #2

The Fight/Debate

Backing

It simply helps your argument by answering a popular question.

Qualifier

This part of the argument is sincerity, saying how far the argument goes but saying how far it doesn't have to go.

Rebuttal

The author finally addresses the opposing views in question.

The Textbook

Claim - Stating the main idea of the debate.

Support - Proof of the claim.

Warrant - Stating why it is true.

Type of Claim - Being more specific and realistic in accomplishing something.

Paragraph Understanding

     The Toulmin argument is a very effective way of delivering a debate, especially in the form of writing.  It consists of usually 6 parts: the claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal.  You state the made idea and back it up with facts and give the facts credibility by appealing to people.  You start off proving yourself in the 1st 3 parts, and by the 2nd 3 parts you start the "fight" or persuasive lecture/speech.  It may be confusing and unclear, but it is very amusing.