Claim Data Warrant – the secret to winning all of your arguments.

Stephen E. Toulmin philosopher and rhetorical theorist born in England in 1922 received his Bachelor’s degree at King’s College and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Cambridge University of Southern California, LAIH Fellows Web site. “Stephen Toulmin” Los Angeles, CA , 2/3/07 <http://www.usc.edu/libraries/partners/laih/fellows/images/Toulmin_Stephen.jpg> 2

More on Toulmin Toulmin taught at the University of Southern California from 1993 - 2009 In 1958, Toulmin offered his model of argumentation: a way to compare “truths” University of Southern California. Web site. 2/3/07 <http://www.usc.edu/libraries/partners/laih/fellows/StephenToulmin.php> 3

Toulmin’s Model Toulmin Model has three main parts: Claim Data Warrant

Toulmin Model, cont. Simply: A Claim is made. Data is provided in the form of supporting facts. The Warrant connects the Data to the Claim.

Example #1 “I am an American.” (Claim) “My mother was an American citizen when I was born.” (Data) Anyone born of an American citizen is a legal American citizen. (Warrant) Toulmin says that the Claim and the Data cannot hold without a sufficiently strong Warrant, or, the weakest argument is the one with the weakest warrant.

Example #2 The U.S. Postal service is wasteful and inefficient. The proposed new mail distribution agency will be wasteful and inefficient. Claim: The proposed new mail distribution agency will be wasteful and inefficient. Data: The U.S. Postal service is wasteful and inefficient. Warrant: the two situations are similar (Reasoning by analogy)

Let's try one together This is the coldest winter since 2000. My heating bills are going to be outrageous. Claim: Data: Warrant:

And another one together I work hard in class, do my homework every night and study for tests. I am going to ace my debate class! Claim: Data: Warrant:

Types of Claims fact: claims that have historical backing judgment/value: claims involving opinions and attitudes policy: claims advocating courses of action that should be undertaken

Types of Data Fact or Statistic: a point of data that claims some objective Expert Testimony: a stated opinion by a person experienced in the field Personal Anecdote: personal experience gained from time in the related field

Connecting the Claim and Data underline a claim, warrant (if it states one) and data in the article create a diagram of the claim, warrant, and data that looks like the example below Claim: ------------------ Data: Smoking is bad It causes lung cancer Warrant: Lung cancer is bad.