{"id":40833,"date":"2022-02-07T09:42:48","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T14:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/?post_type=section&#038;p=40833"},"modified":"2024-02-11T14:55:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-11T14:55:00","slug":"toulmin-argument","status":"publish","type":"section","link":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/","title":{"rendered":"Toulmin Argument"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tts_content_wrapper_2\" >\n<p>Stephen Toulmin&#8217;s (1958) model of argument conceptualizes argument as a series of six <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/organization\/rhetorical-moves\/\">rhetorical moves<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/claim\/\">Claim<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/evidence\/\">Data, Evidence<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/warrant\/\">Warrant<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/backing\/\" title=\"Backing\">Backing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Counterargument, Counterclaim<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reservation\/Rebuttal<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/#Related_Concepts\" title=\"Related Concepts\">Related Concepts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/#Why_Does_Toulmin_Argument_Matter\" title=\"Why Does Toulmin Argument Matter?\">Why Does Toulmin Argument Matter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/#When_should_writers_or_speakers_consider_Toulmins_model_of_argument\" title=\"When should writers or speakers consider Toulmin&#8217;s model of argument?\">When should writers or speakers consider Toulmin&#8217;s model of argument?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/#Summary_of_Stephen_Toulmins_Model_of_Argument\" title=\"Summary of Stephen Toulmin&#8217;s Model of Argument\">Summary of Stephen Toulmin&#8217;s Model of Argument<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/#The_Three_Essential_Components_of_Argument\" title=\"The Three Essential Components of Argument\">The Three Essential Components of Argument<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/toulmin-argument\/#The_6_Elements_of_Successful_Argument\" title=\"The 6 Elements of Successful Argument\">The 6 Elements of Successful Argument<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Concepts\"><\/span>Related Concepts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/evidence\/\">Evidence<\/a>; Persuasion; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/research\/research-methods\/textual-methods\/rhetorical-analysis\/\">Rhetorical Analysis<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-reasoning\/\">Rhetorical Reasoning<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Does_Toulmin_Argument_Matter\"><\/span>Why Does Toulmin Argument Matter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Toulmin&#8217;s model of argumentation is particularly valuable for college students because it provides a structured framework for analyzing and constructing arguments, skills that are essential across various academic disciplines and real-world situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By understanding Toulmin&#8217;s components\u2014claim, evidence, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal\u2014students can develop more coherent, persuasive arguments and critically evaluate the arguments of others. This model encourages students to think deeply about the logic and effectiveness of their argumentation, emphasizing the importance of supporting claims with solid evidence and reasoning. Additionally, familiarity with Toulmin&#8217;s model prepares students for scenarios involving critical analysis and debate, whether in writing essays, participating in discussions, or presenting research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By mastering this model, students enhance their ability to communicate effectively, a crucial skill for academic success and professional advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_should_writers_or_speakers_consider_Toulmins_model_of_argument\"><\/span>When should writers or speakers consider Toulmin&#8217;s model of argument?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Toulmin&#8217;s model of argument&nbsp;works especially well in situations where disputes are being reviewed by a third party \u2014 such as judge, an arbitrator, or evaluation committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/writing-studies-definition\/epistemology\/declarative-conceptual-knowledge\/\">Declarative knowledge<\/a> of Toulmin Argument helps with<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/invention\/\">inventing<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/the-writers-guide-to-writing-commons\/\">developing<\/a> your own arguments (even if you&#8217;re developing a <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/rogerian-argument\/\">Rogerian<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/aristotelian-argument\/\">Aristotelian argument<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/collaboration\/critique\/\">critiquing<\/a> your arguments or the arguments of others.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_of_Stephen_Toulmins_Model_of_Argument\"><\/span>Summary of Stephen Toulmin&#8217;s Model of Argument<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/claim\/\">Claim<\/a><\/strong>: <\/td><td><\/td><td>A claim is a proposition, a thesis. It&#8217;s what you want that audience to think, feel, act, and do. For example, during the course of your day, you may make claims of fact; claims of cause-and-effect relationships; claims about best solutions; or claims about values<br><br>A claim can be made at the <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/unity\/\">global<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/simplicity\/\">local level<\/a> of a text<br><br><strong>Example<\/strong>: Mashed potatoes are superior to baked potatoes.<br><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/evidence\/\">Data: <\/a><\/strong><br><strong>(Facts\/Evidence\/Grounds<\/strong>)<\/td><td><\/td><td><strong>Synonyms<\/strong><br>Data may be called Facts, Evidence, Grounds<br><br>Data is evidence gathered to support the claim.<br><br><strong>Example<\/strong>: Mashed potatoes lower the rates of heart disease.<br><br><strong>Recommended Resources<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/\">Information Literacy<\/a><br><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/warrant\/\" title=\"Warrant\"><strong>Warrant<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> <\/td><td><\/td><td>Warrants serve as bridges between warrants and claims. Warrants clarify how the data supports the claim. <br><br>Warrants may be rules, inference-licenses, scientific laws, principles of historical interpretation, a law, a psychological generalization about human behavior, an extended scholarly conversation on a topic.<br><br><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Example<\/strong>: You should eat mashed potatoes lower the rates of heart disease.<br><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/backing\/\"><strong>Backing<\/strong>:<\/a><br><\/td><td><\/td><td>When situations are especially tricky&#8211;maybe <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/\">the rhetorical situation<\/a> is emotionally charged or complex&#8211;additional data may be insufficient to win the argument. In those instances, writers, speakers, knowledge workers may provide backing to support the warrant.<br><br><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Example<\/strong>: Mashed potatoes lower the rates of heart disease.<br><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Counterargument (aka  Counterclaim or Rebuttal<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><td>Other theories, explanations, evidence that refute a claim<br><br><strong>Example<\/strong>: Many claim, however, that baked potatoes are superior to mashed due to the amount of toppings and sides available for baked potatoes.<br><br>or<br><br><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Example<\/strong>: But isn&#8217;t there also evidence that mashed potatoes are fattening because people use alot of butter and cream cheese in their potatoes. Doesn&#8217;t obesity leads to heart disease?<br><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Reservation<\/strong>\/<strong>Rebuttal:<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><td>Reservation refers to those elements in an argument that define the conditions in which the audience needs to reconsider whether the warrant applies to the particular subject being examined. A reservation can anticipate objections and narrow the general application of the warrant<br><br><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Example<\/strong>: Mashed potatoes lower the rates of hear disease so long as the potatoes do not use a lot of butter and cream cheese.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Table 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-three-essential-components-of-argument\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Three_Essential_Components_of_Argument\"><\/span>The Three Essential Components of Argument<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Stephen Toulmin&#8217;s model of argument posits the three <em>essential<\/em> <em>elements<\/em> of an argument are<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Data (aka a <em>Fact<\/em> or Evidence)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claim<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warrant (which the <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/writer-speaker-author-rhetor-sender\/\">writer, speaker, knowledge worker . . .<\/a> may  imply rather than explicitly state).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Toulmin&#8217;s model presumes data, matters of fact and opinion, must be supplied as evidence to support a claim. The claim focuses the discourse by explicitly stating the desired conclusion of the argument. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In turn, a warrant, the third essential component of an argument, provides the  reasoning that links the data to the claim.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"961\" height=\"716\" src=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-07-at-6.29.13-PM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-07-at-6.29.13-PM.png 961w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-07-at-6.29.13-PM-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-07-at-6.29.13-PM-768x572.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 961px) 100vw, 961px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Figure 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The example in Figure 1 demonstrates the abstract, hypothetical linking between a claim and data that a warrant provides. Prior to this link&#8211;that. people born in Bermuda are British&#8211;the claim that Harry is a British subject because he was born in Bermuda is unsubstantiated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_6_Elements_of_Successful_Argument\"><\/span>The 6 Elements of Successful Argument<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the argument presented in Figure 1 is a simple one, life is not always simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In situations where people are likely to dispute the application of a warrant to data, you may need to develop backing for your warrants.<br><br>o account for the conflicting desires and assumptions of an audience, Toulmin identifies a second triad of components that may not be used: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/backing\/\" title=\"Backing\">Backing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reservation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Qualification. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Charles Kneupper provides us with the following diagram of these six elements (238):<br><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"855\" height=\"584\" src=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-08-at-8.40.43-AM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-08-at-8.40.43-AM.png 855w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-08-at-8.40.43-AM-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-08-at-8.40.43-AM-768x525.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*This article is adapted from Moxley, Joseph M. \u201c<em>Reinventing the Wheel or Teaching the Basics<\/em>?:&nbsp;<em>College Writers<\/em>&#8216;&nbsp;<em>Knowledge of Argumentation<\/em>.\u201d Composition. Studies 21.2 (1993): 3-15.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40938,"parent":40836,"menu_order":0,"template":"","tags":[],"chapters":[2512,1810],"class_list":["post-40833","section","type-section","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","chapters-argument","chapters-genre"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/40833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/section"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/40833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63273,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/40833\/revisions\/63273"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/40836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40833"},{"taxonomy":"chapters","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapters?post=40833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}