1. The Toulmin Argument The everyday argument

2.  The most basic components are:  Evidence  Warrants  A claim Components

3.  Sometimes it will feel as if you MUST make a claim first. That is NOT the case. You must gather all of your evidence first, develop a few warrants, then make your claim.  That does not mean that your claim is in your conclusion! Beware!

4.  Backs up your argument  In the form of  Data  Quotes  Statistics  Theories  Examples  Historical analogies  Citations from experts/authorities  In other words, LOGOS!!! Evidence

5.  The general, hypothetical (and often implicit) logical statements that serve as bridges between the claim and the data.  These are often in the form of…  “Typically, when the ….”  “Usually, if the …..”  “As a rule, …..” Warrant

6.  Every argument has a claim  Claim = argument  A claim is your stance on an issue  It is the argument itself  Usually just one sentence  Sometimes includes a qualifier statement, but doesn’t always Argument

7.  Qualifiers limit the strength of the argument or statements that propose the conditions under which the argument is true. In other words, this is a true statement except when x, y, and z occurs.  A qualifier statement leaves room for a counter- argument. Counter-Argument

8.  Sometimes it will feel as if you MUST make a claim first. That is NOT the case. You must gather all of your evidence first, develop a few warrants, then make your claim.  That does not mean that your claim is in your conclusion!!!  Before you make your claim, you must figure out how all of the evidence fits together. You must build up your evidence first so there are no loopholes in your argument. Evidence first = strong foundation. Plod along carefully, grasshoppers

9.  Do not make an argument based on your emotions!!  That will leave loopholes and hurt feelings. No emoticons!