The toulmin method argument of A Visual Explanation By Frank Clarke

6 The toulmin method: CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method: 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

AKA Argument, Assertion CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 1: The Claim AKA Argument, Assertion This is just what it sounds like. It is the assertion being made by the speaker. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher

6 The toulmin method Step 2: The Grounds CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 2: The Grounds AKA Evidence, Data Without some kind of grounds, the claim is unfounded. It is just an unsubstantiated opinion without the support of evidence. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. several of his students were sleeping today. CLAIM

6 The toulmin method Step 2: The Grounds CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 2: The Grounds AKA Evidence, Data Without some kind of grounds, the claim is unfounded. It is just an unsubstantiated opinion without the support of evidence. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. This always has a because in it. Sometimes it is explicitly stated. Sometimes it’s implied. CLAIM

6 The toulmin method Step 2: The Grounds CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 2: The Grounds AKA Evidence, Data Without some kind of grounds, the claim is unfounded. It is just an unsubstantiated opinion without the support of evidence. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; I say this because several of his students were sleeping today when I passed his classroom. This always has a because in it. Sometimes it is explicitly stated. Sometimes it’s implied. CLAIM

6 The toulmin method Step 2: The Grounds CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 2: The Grounds AKA Evidence, Data Without some kind of grounds, the claim is unfounded. It is just an unsubstantiated opinion without the support of evidence. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. This always has a because in it. Sometimes it is explicitly stated. Sometimes it’s implied. When analyzing an argument’s effectiveness, the first step is looking at the evidence presented. Is it viable? Does it provide enough verifiable data to support the claim? CLAIM

This is what the speaker assumes the audience will agree with him on. CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 3: The Warrant AKA Assumption This is what the speaker assumes the audience will agree with him on. In this case, the speaker assumes that his audience will agree with that a teacher who puts students to sleep is a bad teacher. A second warrant in this argument may be that only a bad teacher would allow his students to sleep in class. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. CLAIM GROUNDS

6 The toulmin method Step 3: The Warrant CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 3: The Warrant AKA Assumption This is what the speaker assumes the audience will agree with him on. In this case, the speaker assumes that his audience will agree with that a teacher who puts students to sleep is a bad teacher. A second warrant in this argument may be that only a bad teacher would allow his students to sleep in class. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. But is that a safe assumption on the part of the speaker? Are there potentially mitigating circumstances that would render his assumption false? The warrant is usually where an argument succeeds or fails, because the audience either agrees with the speaker’s reasoning or doesn’t. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT

6 The toulmin method Grounds Claim Warrant CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT By now, you should see that the Toulmin Method is a set of supports, a set of metaphorical building blocks. Claim Grounds Warrant CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT

6 The toulmin method Step 4: The Backing CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 4: The Backing The backing is a widely-held truth or belief. That means it doesn’t have to be true. It just has to be agreed-upon by most of the speaker’s audience. Christopher Columbus had difficulty obtaining financial backing because his argument’s backing was laughable. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. Taken out of context, any reasonable person would agree with that last sentence. And that is what a backing is: a statement that everyone agrees on. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT

6 The toulmin method Step 4: The Backing CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 4: The Backing The backing is a widely-held truth or belief. That doesn’t mean it has to be true. It just has to be agreed-upon by most of the speaker’s audience. Christopher Columbus had difficulty obtaining financial backing because his argument’s backing was laughable. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. Taken out of context, any reasonable person would agree with that last sentence. And that is what a backing is: a statement that everyone agrees on. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING

6 The toulmin method Grounds Claim Warrant Backing Inductive Reasoning CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Inductive Reasoning The Toulmin Method employs inductive reasoning. From the grounds to the warrant to the backing, it moves from the specific to the general. Did you notice? Claim Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher Several of his students were sleeping today Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. Grounds Warrant Backing

(Deductive reasoning moves from the general to the specific.) CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Inductive Reasoning Level 1: Very specific Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Level 2: More General Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. Level 3: Wide-ranging Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. In an effective application of the Toulmin Method, the Warrant cannot refer back specifically to the subject of the Claim & Grounds. The Backing must become still more general, usually employing a universal or national sense of focus. (Deductive reasoning moves from the general to the specific.)

6 The toulmin method Step 5: The Rebuttal CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 5: The Rebuttal The rebuttal is simple. This is where the speaker anticipates possible criticism of his argument and refutes it. In fact, Aristotle called this the Refutatio. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. You can say he’s senile, but that’s no excuse. Having one or more rebuttals can make an argument more effective by effectively ‘cutting off the legs’ of the opposing argument before it is implemented. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING

6 The toulmin method Step 5: The Rebuttal CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 5: The Rebuttal The rebuttal is simple. This is where the speaker anticipates possible criticism of his argument and refutes it. In fact, Aristotle called this the Refutatio. Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should find another line of work. Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. You can say he’s senile, but that’s no excuse. Having one or more rebuttals can make an argument more effective by effectively ‘cutting off the legs’ of the opposing argument before it is implemented. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL

6 The toulmin method Step 6: The Qualifier CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 6: The Qualifier The rebuttal makes an argument less absolute. Words like “probably”, and “most” are qualifiers. On first glance, one might think this would reduce the effectiveness of an argument. In fact, the opposite is often true. I think Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should probably find another line of work. Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. You can say he’s senile, but that’s no excuse. Politicians use qualifiers to great effect. It allows them to deny having even made the argument, if the tide of opinion shifts. Note: Not all arguments – not even all effective arguments – have a qualifier. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL

6 The toulmin method Step 6: The Qualifier CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Step 6: The Qualifier The rebuttal makes an argument less absolute. Words like “probably”, and “most” are qualifiers. On first glance, one might think this would reduce the effectiveness of an argument. In fact, the opposite is often true. I think Professor Peppenfeffer is a bad teacher; several of his students were sleeping today. Any teacher who puts students to sleep should probably find another line of work. Anyone who won’t do their job deserves to lose it. You can say he’s senile, but that’s no excuse. Politicians use qualifiers to great effect. It allows them to deny having even made the argument, if the tide of opinion shifts. Note: Not all arguments – not even all effective arguments – have a qualifier. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL

Can you apply the Toulmin Method to them? CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Here are five example arguments. Can you apply the Toulmin Method to them? The Baltimore Parakeets are the best team in football. They scored the most points in the league last year by far. The Dallas Cowgirls are the best team in football. They won the Super Bowl last year. Tiger Woods is the greatest athlete of all time. He has earned more money then anyone. Breyers ice cream is the best, because they use all natural ingredients. Sherlock is the best show on television. Its stars are classically trained British actors. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

6 The toulmin method STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 1 CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 1 Claim: The Baltimore Parakeets are the best team in football. Grounds: They scored the most points in the league last year by far. Warrant: The football team that scores the most points is the best team. Backing: Whoever scores the most is the best. Rebuttal: They didn’t win the championship. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

6 The toulmin method STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 2 CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 2 Claim: The Dallas Cowgirls are the best team in football. Grounds: They won the Super Bowl. Warrant: The NFL team that wins the Super Bowl is the best team. Backing: The winner of a championship is the best participant. Rebuttal: They had an easy schedule. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

6 The toulmin method STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 3 CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 3 Claim: Tiger Woods is the greatest athlete of all time. Grounds: He has earned more money then anyone. Warrant: The athlete that earns the most money is the best. Backing: Money represents success. Rebuttal: Players from earlier eras didn’t have the opportunities that Woods Has had. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

6 The toulmin method STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 4 CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 4 Claim: Breyers ice cream is the best, because Grounds: they use all natural ingredients. Warrant: Natural ingredients make ice cream taste better Backing: Foods with preservatives and artificial flavorings don’t taste as good (inversion) Rebuttal: Other ice creams last longer in the freezer. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

6 The toulmin method STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 5 CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT 5 Claim: Sherlock is probably the best show on television. Grounds: Its stars are classically trained British actors. Warrant: Classically trained British actors make a show better. Backing: People who are classically trained in their craft are more likely to create a viable product. Rebuttal: The storylines are convoluted. Qualifier: “probably” CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

Is it valid, according to toulmin? CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Here’s one you might be familiar with… Is it valid, according to toulmin? Take out the trash. Why? Because I said to, that’s why! Take a few minutes and apply the Toulmin Method to it. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

Can you apply the Toulmin Method to them? CLARKE’S EXPLANATION OF The toulmin method 6 STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT Can you apply the Toulmin Method to them? Claim: You should take out the trash. Grounds: Because I told you to. Warrant: I provide you with a clean home, food, schooling and meet all your needs. I have done so for your entire life. Small chores are hardly a dent in the debt you owe me. Backing: People should repay their debts. Rebuttal: But I’m an angry teenager. I have angst! It’s valid. CLAIM GROUNDS WARRANT BACKING REBUTTAL QUALIFIER

The toulmin method argument The End The toulmin method argument of A Visual Explanation By Frank Clarke