Toulmin Paper

Topic: Social Media makes us lazy. 

Attach to the paper an outline, and here an example for the outline: 

Toulmin’s Model of Argument

How to use this worksheet:

Toulmin’s model is an effective tool to help you question your sources and the essential elements of your own argument. 

Use this worksheet to plan your own argument. Decide on a claim that is supported by the data and the warrants you have discovered through your research. Knowing the elemental structure of your argument is an essential step toward producing an effective argument.

Sources: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List your claim made in the argument (thesis):

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reasons to support your claim:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Grounds/data to support each reason:

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Identify the warrants (What are the underlying assumptions? – need one for each reason) 

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Record backing given for the warrant(s):

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List qualifiers:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conditions of Rebuttal:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Concede in and/or refute rebuttals:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Remember, for each reason you have to back up your claim(thesis statement that should be the last sentence of your introduction), you need to include the grounds/data, warrants, backing, and qualifiers for that reason.

  

—You must have an opinion about the topic and you must be able to be research it

—Check for these questions when debating about a topic

1.Can a valid argument be made against it?

2.Can I defend it logically against this argument?

—If you can answer ‘yes’ to both of these questions, you can be assured that you have an interesting topic. 

  

—- Introduction 

—Attention grabber (often a memorable scene)

—Explanation of issue and needed background 

—Writer’s thesis (claim)

—- Presentation of writer’s position 

—Main body of essay 

—Presents and supports each reason in turn 

—Each reason is tied to value or belief held by audience 

—- Summary of opposing views 

—Summary of views different from your own (should be fair and complete)

—- Response to opposing views 

—Refutes or concedes to opposing views 

—Shows weaknesses in opposing views 

—May concede to some strengths 

—- Conclusion 

—Brings essays to closure 

—Often sums up argument 

—Leaves strong last impression 

—Often calls for action or relates topic to a larger context of issues 

  

—After the introduction paragraph, you will begin your body paragraphs. Each body paragraph will include the following: 

—Reason

—Grounds/Data

—Warrant 

—Backing 

—Qualifers

  

—After your have presented your argument, respond to opposing views (conditions of rebuttal). 

—Lastly, conclusion should wrap up/sum up your paper and return to the claim/thesis.  

  

—The claim is the conclusion you have drawn in support of your position – your thesis statement – where you stand 

—This statement must be strong and well-thought out. 

  

—Data/Grounds is the evidence or information that supports the claim; it is the proof that backs up your opinion 

—How do you come to an opinion?

—You examine the facts

  

—Data must be verifiable 

—It must come from a qualified source 

—The source is sufficiently unbiased 

—The data is recent and up to date 

—The source is credible and coming from a credible/trustworthy source 

—The source/information is typical

—the source/information is representative of your claim 

  

—All three points of rhetorical triangle addressed (logs, ethos, pathos)

—STAR criteria used to drive evidence 

—At least two direct quotes incorporated

—Outline clearly stating claim, reasons, warrant, grounds, etc.

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—Sources: Four sources, one must be a scholarly journal, one must be from the RMU database (please mark this source on your reference page as such)

—Length: 4-6 pages, not including cover page, abstract, references