1. AcDv B61 Analyzing Arguments
Bakersfield College
Jessica Wojtysiak
AcDv B61 Analyzing Arguments

2. Author’s Purpose
To Inform
To Persuade
To Entertain

3. Argumentation Strategies
Aristotle believed that there were three essential strategies to achieving persuasion:
Logos
Ethos
Pathos
(page 109 in Course Handout Packet)

4. Modern Rhetorical Modes
Definition
Narration
Process Analysis
Description
Illustration
Comparison/Contrast
Cause/Effect
Division/Classification
Argumentation

5. Argumentation (Persuasion)
The writer articulates an opinion about a topic
Sometimes involves using outside sources and references to other writers

6. How to Evaluate an Argument?
Claim
Data
Warrant

7. Stephen Toulmin
Analytic Philosopher, Educator, and Author
Lived March 25, 1922 – December 4, 2009
Published The Uses of Argument (1958)

8. Toulmin’s View Absolutism dominated Western civilization
An Example of Absolutism: The Syllogism

9. Toulmin’s Alternative
Emancipate people from the “domination of theoretical argument”
Develop a practical model

10. The Basic Toulmin Model – P. 338
DATA
CLAIM
WARRANT

11. CLAIM
“A statement, usually supported with data or analysis advanced for other people to accept” (p. 339).
Ex: Thesis

12. “I am a British citizen.”
An Example of a Claim
“I am a British citizen.”

13. DATA “This is all the supporting information for the claim.”
Quotations
Statistics
Examples
Witness testimony
Photographs or images

14. An Example of Data
“I was born in Bermuda.”

15. Warrant The logical assumption linking the data to the claim.
The warrant explains why the data supports the claim.

16. A person born in Bermuda will legally be a British citizen.
An Example of a Warrant
A person born in Bermuda will legally be a British citizen.

17. Toulmin’s Basic Model Claim Data Warrant “I am a British citizen.”
“I was born in Bermuda.”
“A person born in Bermuda will legally be a British citizen.”

18. We’re almost done…
Any Questions?

19. Toulmin’s Basic Model Match-Up
DATA
WARRANT
CLAIM
You should quit smoking.
People with cancer are more likely to die than those without cancer.
Smoking causes cancer.

20. Toulmin’s Basic Model Match-Up
DATA
WARRANT
CLAIM
North Korea violated the terms of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT).
Nations that have broken treaties in the past are unlikely to honor new treaties.
The United States should not sign the nuclear pact with North Korea.