1. “People quarrel because they do not know how to argue.”
The Toulmin Model
“People quarrel because they do not know how to argue.”
- G.K. Chesterton
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.

2. 1. Basic Model
Evidence – an informative statement believed by the listener or reader and used to secure belief in another statement
Warrant – Method by which the proof is derived; mental leap; the “so what”
Claim – The explicit appeal
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.

3. Types of Claims Question of Definition – Something is, was, or will BE
Question of Fact – Something is, was, or will be SO
Question of Value – The value of something
Question of Policy – What proposal should be accepted
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.

4. 2. Additions to Basic Model
Support for the warrant –what makes the audience believe the assumption of the warrant
Reservations – what might be possible refutations
Intervening proofs
Special considerations
Qualifier - the degree of force attached to the claim
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.

5. 3. Evidence Real or personal Original or hearsay
Direct or circumstantial
Pre-appointed or casual
Written or unwritten
Positive or negative
Eager or reluctant
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.

6. 4. Warrants Substantive Cause-effect Sign Generalization Parallel Case
Analogy
Statistics
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.

7. Warrants (cont’d) Authoritative
Is the witness an expert?
Did the witness have an opportunity to gather the facts?
Is the witness reasonably unbiased?
Motivational – based on audience values
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.

8. Toulmin Exercise
All professors favor merit pay except those who are incompetent. Professor Meyer of UWGB said, “Merit pay is the only fair way to reward our faculty”. And Prof. Meyer is on a national committee that is investigating the uses of merit pay in education. Moreover, a recent nationwide study showed that 90% of the professors with exemplary publication records favor merit pay, while only 10% of the non-publishing faculty favor merit pay. Finally, think about how our society in general rewards those who are the best at what they do. Sports is just one example.
11/20/2018
Phillip G. Clampitt, Ph.D.