A persuasion, argumentation structure Toulmin Model A persuasion, argumentation structure

Prior Knowledge Check On piece of paper, jot down your definition of these terms in relation to persuasion/argumentation Claim Warrant Grounds/Support Qualifier Backing Rebuttal When enter do this With team, discuss what you think these mean Will come back at end and see if you have changed, adjusted or kept definitions the same Acknowledge these are key terms in relation to the Toulmin model we are going to learn today

What is the Toulmin Model? The Toulmin method, in short, is an effective way of looking at and accurately describing the way people make convincing and reasonable arguments. It is a type of textual "dissection" that allows us to break an argument into its different parts so that we can make judgments on how well the different parts work together.

Why use the Toulmin Model? Gives us an alignment and articulation starting point for those that need to teach argumentation and persuasion Eventually will help us align and articulate with the argumentation expectations at the high school

FYI Toulmin is used worldwide in middle, high schools and colleges in all subject areas We are open to suggestions We will use the MS Lit leaders, ROE days to further this process We want to begin implementation by the fall

The way we will make this stick Developmental continuum Teach it, define it Find it in a model, identify it Evaluate the effectiveness Practice writing/creating it on our own Then evaluate our own for effectiveness Revise based on our evaluation and/or feedback from others We are modeling this continuum with you today, can do same with your students- Teach it, define it Find it in a model, identify it Evaluate the effectiveness Practice writing/creating them, doing it on own Then evaluate own for effectiveness Revise based on their evaluation and/or feedback from others Maybe we will get to the fourth bullet, maybe not, I will have things for you to take though that can use for practice with kids

Claim What you want the reader to believe or agree with Thesis, the controlling idea Statement you want the reader to accept What is the author trying to prove? Claims worth arguing tend to be controversial and debatable

Examples of Claims The Electoral College has outlived its usefulness. It’s time to lower the drinking age. NASA should launch a human expedition to Mars. Vegetarianism is the best choice of diet. New York City is the true capital of the United States.

Often the best claims contain the reason So, the claim would state the position and then give at least one reason _____(Claim goes here)_______ because _____________________________. To find claims that aren’t explicitly stated finish the sentence, “The author believes that…” This strategy most applies to when you teach students to write. It helps them to structure their claim. Adult writing will not often be this obvious.

Examples of claims and reasons The Electoral College has outlived its usefulness because it gives undue power to small and mid-sized states in presidential elections. It is time to lower the drinking age because I’ve been drinking since I was 14 and it hasn’t hurt me. NASA should launch a human expedition to Mars because Americans need a unifying national goal. Vegetarianism is the best choice of diet, the only one that doesn’t require the suffering of animals.

Find it in a model With group, read each text sample and identify the claim, write it on the line provided

Warrant Links the grounds to the claim- establishes logical connection between the two At their simplest, warrants can be stated as X is good or X is bad. This is an oversimplification, but it may help to see how warrants are based on shared judgments of value. It is the generally accepted beliefs, values They are the common ground between the author and the reader Can be stated, implied, assumed or unstated It tells the reader what your assumptions are How did you arrive at that claim based on the data collected? How exactly do I get from the claim to data?

Examples of warrants No states should have undue influence on presidential elections Drinking problems are not determined by age Times have been so bad, the US needs something to rally around No one likes to hurt animals Starting with Since is a good way to help kids address the warrant

Examples of Common warrants, easily acceptable by the reasonable person All people should be treated equally A unified nation is stronger Violence is wrong Could have kids make up lists of common warrants

If the readers accept your warrant , you can then present specific evidence to develop the claim If the reader isn’t likely to accept your warrant (for example the lowering the drinking age argument) the writer needs to have a warrant that defends before moving onto the claim Ex: The legal age for drinking should be lowered because I have been drinking since age 14 without any problems. What works for me should work for everyone else. – weak warrant

Warrants tell you what arguments you have to make and at what level you have to make them. Warrant isn’t controversial- move on to defending your claim (grounds/data) If warrant is controversial- you must defend your warrant

Weak warrants Goes against our culture, values, ethics Basing it only on a selfish or silly principle- Since I don’t like it. If you don’t defend your warrant the structure will crack and fall Good warrants and faulty warrants- coyotes in city

Grounds and Support The support for the claim Evidence Hard facts Proof Anecdotal, personal testimony, expert opinion, facts/data What does the author say to persuade the reader of the claim?

Claim Universities should reinstate affirmative action admissions policies. Support Affirmative action provides equal access to education for all ethnic groups. Warrant Equality of access is a basic American value.

Qualifier Indicates the strengh (or weakness) of the argument It is not always black and white It often considers the counterargument Places limits on claims It lets the reader know how sure the arguer is about the claim Because argument is about probability and possibility, not about certainty, you should not use superlatives like all, every, absolutely or never, none, no one. Instead you may need to qualify (tone down) your claim with expressions like many, many times, some or rarely, few, possibly. Most, usually, sometimes, on occasion, unless, in most cases

Backing Further supports the warrant Helps the reader understand the reasoning behind the warrant Sometimes the warrant itself needs evidence to support it, to make it more believable, to further "back up" the argument. Ethos, logos, pathos Evidence for every questionable claim you make The more questionable the more backing Ex: drinking age

Project’s Claim: Juicy Fruit is the Best Gum Ever! Reason #1: Juicy Fruit is the best tasting gum. Warrant/Principle: Good gum must taste good. Backing: (This is a pretty “well duh” warrant that probably wouldn’t need any backing. In other words, would anyone disagree with this warrant?) Evidence #1: Consumer Reports survey compared the taste of Juicy Fruit with other types of gum. Warrant/Principle: People trust research done by the Consumer Reports magazine Backing: Consumer Reports is not invested in the research. They do not care which gum tastes best. Backing: Consumer Reports uses research methods that are sound. Backing: Consumer Reports studies usually include a lot of people in the research; in other words, they don’t just ask ten people what they thing about the taste of different gums.

Rebuttal To disprove opposing view The counter to the opposing view Concession is given and the writer rebuts the concession You need to answer questions and objections raised in the minds of the audience; if you fail to do so, your own argument will be weakened and subject to attack and counter-argument Good rebuttal usually requires evidence

Qualifier: If a university does not have a diverse student body Claim: Qualifier: If a university does not have a diverse student body Claim: ...it should use affirmative action admissions policies. Support: Affirmative action policies provide equal access to education for all ethnic groups. Warrant: Equality of access is a basic American value. Backing: Equality before the law is a fundamental right of all Americans. Rebuttal: Affirmative action policies do not result in "reverse discrimination" because they are only part of a process that attempts to ensure fairness in college admissions.

Can all arguments be analyzed according to Toulmin’s model? No, not all writers express themselves in perfectly sequence claims or warrants. That is not a problem if you appreciate the Toulmin model for what teaches- Claims should be stated clearly and qualified carefully Claims should be supported with data and good reasons Claims and reasons should be based on assumptions readers will likely accept All parts of an argument need the support of solid evidence Effective arguments anticipate objections readers might offer.