The Toulmin Method

     The Toulmin Method is a style of argumentation that was created by philosopher Stephen E. Toulmin. The Toulmin Method breaks arguments down into six components: claim, grounds, warrant, qualifier, rebuttal, and backing. However, the Toulmin Method believes that every argument starts with three fundamental parts: the claims, the grounds, and the warrant. 

    These first three fundamental parts of an argument, the claims, the grounds, and the warrant, all must be present in order for this style of argumentation to take place. The claim is the assertion that the speaker wants to make to the audience. Basically, the claim is the main argument. The grounds of an argument are the evidence and facts of the argument. In order to link the grounds to the claim, there must be a warrant which is either implied or stated explicitly. 

    Although the first three aspects of the Toulmin Method are fundamental to the style of argument, the latter three are not. The qualifier, rebuttal, and backing may be added to help writers construct a full argument. Backing refers to any additional support of the warrant. In many cases, the warrant is implied, and therefore the backing provides support for the warrant by giving a specific example that justifies the warrant. The qualifier shows that a claim may not be true in all circumstances. Words like “presumably,” “some,” and “many” help your audience understand that you know there are instances where your claim may not be correct. The rebuttal is an acknowledgment of another valid view of the situation. 

    An example of the Toulmin Method that I found online was in a paper about the exploitation of adolescent pageants in the media. The author clearly presents her claim, "Just because child beauty pageants are socially acceptable does not mean they should be. Our culture needs to eliminate child beauty pageants, at least in their current form," in the opening of her paper. Next, she presents her claim when she states, "The networks defend their shows, saying they are just documentaries of the life that thousands of children lead and that viewers must make their own judgments." She then follows up her claim and grounds with a warrant when she states, "Clearly, pushy Commented [A2]: Here, the writer presents a ground for her argument. This is evidence to support her claim that beauty pageants are harmful and should be eliminated as they currently exist. Jackson 3 parents are a part of the morbid attraction that those TV shows have for the masses..." She then continues to strengthen her argument by implementing a backing, qualifier, and rebuttal.