toulmin

The Toulmin Method

Analyzing your own arguments

Who is Toulmin and why should you care?
As you read about in your readings for this week, Stephen Toulmin was an English philosopher who identified six elements of argument: claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal
We will be using Toulmin’s method to help make rhetorical decisions as you compose your arguments for your final research proposal.
Using this method, you will clarify the following questions: Will my audience accept my stated reason? Will they accept my warrant? If not, I will need to clarify and provide backing.

Issue: What home should my family purchase?
Claim #1: We should buy the older brick ranch because it is extremely economical.
Claim #2: We should buy the two story, yellow house because it is close to work.
Claim #3: We should buy the detached condo because it is blue.

One of these claims should stand out as strange to you.
Toulmin analysis will help us discuss why this seems off-base and analyze the claims.

Each claim depends on an unstated assumption (warrant). If the audience is going to be convinced by the argument, the audience must share this unstated assumption with the writer.
Claim #1: We should buy the older brick ranch because it is extremely economical.
Claim #2: We should buy the two story, yellow house because it is close to work.
Claim #3: We should buy the detached condo because it is blue.
Assumption for #1: We should buy the home that is most economical (Economy is the major criterion we should use in choosing a home).
Assumption for #2: We should buy the home closest to work. (Length of work commute is the major criterion we should use in selecting a home).
Assumption for #3:We should buy a home that is blue. (The color blue is the major criterion we should use in selecting a home).

Here is how each of these enthymemes would be displayed using the Toulmin term “warrant” for the unstated assumption.
Claim #1:
Claim: We should buy the older brick ranch.
Stated Reason: It is extremely economical.
Warrant: We should buy the home that is most economical.
Claim #2:
Claim: We should buy the two story house.
Stated Reason: It is close to work.
Warrant: We should buy the home closest to work.
Claim #3:
Claim: We should buy the detached condo.
Stated Reason: It is blue.
Warrant: We should buy a home that is blue.

– These three components (claim, stated reason, warrant) are referred to as the the “frame” or “skeleton” of a line of reasoning.
– Consider how you might defend the warrants in each of the claims.
-The next slides apply the Toulmin scheme to the three enthymemes.

Toulmin Scheme for Claim 1
Claim: We should buy the older brick ranch.
Stated Reason: It is extremely economical.
Grounds: Evidence that the brick ranch is economical (Market analysis that compares other home prices; projected repair costs,etc).
Warrant: We should buy the home that is most economical.
Backing: Arguments showing why economy is the most important criterion (Argument would be aimed at specific audience: We need to save money; we need to save for college, lifestyle, etc.).
Conditions of Rebuttal: Questioning the stated reason and grounds: The home isn’t as economical as you think(Granted it does appear to be less expensive than others in a similar market; however, many repairs and updates will need to be done). Questioning the warrant and backing: I agree that the ranch home is economical, but economy shouldn’t be our most important criterion. What about resale value/investment? (Other arguments downgrading economy as the chief criterion).

Toulmin Scheme for Claim 2
Claim: We should buy the two story, yellow house.
Stated Reason: It is close to work.
Grounds: Evidence that the house is close to work (Mileage comparison between the three houses;).
Warrant: We should buy the home that is closest to work.
Backing: Arguments for why work proximity is the most important criteria (Writer generates arguments aimed at particular audience: We have a young family who is anxiously awaiting us at the end of the day.).
Conditions of Rebuttal: Questioning the stated reason and grounds: Maybe your commute is not going to be as short as you think(Evidence suggesting that traffic is often heavy in the route you would take). Questioning the warrant and backing: While proximity to work is important, other criteria are more important in our situation- economy, etc. (We’ll spend too much on mortgage and be house poor: we won’t be able to afford vacations; etc).

Toulmin Scheme for Claim 3
Claim: We should buy the detached condo.
Stated Reason: It is blue.
Grounds: Evidence that it is blue (Ridiculous-nobody would dispute color: testimony from others; scientific spectroscopy results; stated color on dealer’s spec sheet for car).
Warrant: We should buy a home that is blue.
Backing: Argument that the color blue should be the primary criterion for deciding what home to buy.

What we learn from the warrant
These claims are obviously more simply phrased than the claim you will make in your persuasive essay. However, the simplicity allows you to understand the concept of warrant a bit clearer.
In other words, you can clearly see that the audience reading the third claim would not likely agree with the unstated assumption, or warrant. It is important to analyze others’ arguments and our own using the Toulmin method to ensure our unstated assumptions are reasonable and would likely be shared with our audience.
Performing the analysis also allows us to see if we have any gaps in our backing

Your Toulmin Analysis
For your Toulmin assignment this week, you will use the Toulmin method to analyze your claim. Please identify the following five components and format your assignment like this:
Claim-
Stated Reason-
Warrant (unstated assumption)-
Conditions of Rebuttal-
Backing-