COMM 1117 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Stephen Toulmin, Golden Retriever
2 May 2018
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Toulmin Model of Argumentation
Used to decipher arguments
Grounds: a statement made about persons, conditions, events, or things that says support is available to
provide a reason for a claim
Warrant: a general statement that justifies using the grounds as a basis for the claim
Backing: any support (specific examples, statistics, testimony, values, or credibility) that provides more
specific data for the grounds or warrant)
Qualifier: a statement that indicates the force of the argument (often with words such
as certainly, possibly, probably, usually, or always), expressing the confidence of the arguer in the
acceptability of the claim
Rebuttal: the basis on which the claim might be questioned by a decision maker
Reservation: the limits the arguer puts on [the scope of the claim], an exception to the original claim that
answers the rebuttal
3 main components:
Claim: idea/action for which you are seeking adherence
Grounds/data: support the claim (response to why should I agree with your claim?) evidence, values,
credibility
Warrant: the general, hypothetical (and often implicit- not always flat out stated) logical statements that
serve as bridges between the claim and the data. Usually seen as value statements in the form of a
reason, law, principle, rule, maxim, rationale, custom, procedure, rule of thumb) links claim and evidence
Example:
Claim: You should put a sweatshirt on
Grounds: The sun is going down
Warrant: It gets cold when the sun goes down (more because..)
Gay couples should not be allowed to arry legally. The bible says, Ada ad Eve ot Ada ad
“teve
Claim: Gay couples should not be allowed to marry legally
Grounds: The bible says so
Warrant: The church says so (scripture condemns homosexuality)- authority
Muffin is running a temp. I bet she has an infection
Warrant: sign- temp is sign of infection
That dog is probably friendly. It is a golden retriever
Warrant: Golden retrievers are usually friendly
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Grounds: a statement made about persons, conditions, events, or things that says support is available to provide a reason for a claim. Warrant: a general statement that justifies using the grounds as a basis for the claim. Backing: any support (specific examples, statistics, testimony, values, or credibility) that provides more specific data for the grounds or warrant) Qualifier: a statement that indicates the force of the argument (often with words such as certainly, possibly, probably, usually, or always), expressing the confidence of the arguer in the acceptability of the claim. Rebuttal: the basis on which the claim might be questioned by a decision maker. Reservation: the limits the arguer puts on [the scope of the claim], an exception to the original claim that answers the rebuttal. Claim: idea/action for which you are seeking adherence. Grounds/data: support the claim (response to (cid:1688)why should i agree with your claim? (cid:1689)) evidence, values, credibility.
