Communicating Online: The Toulmin Method

 Hello, classmates!

This week, we are looking at the Toulmin Method, which is a way of analyzing arguments that help opposing factions see the logic, or the assumed beliefs, underpinning the other's claims. The analyzing is broken down into several sections: claims, grounds, warrants ("unstated beliefs that connect evidence to a claim" [Green, 2002, p. 352]), backing, qualifier, and rebuttals. 

Purdue University uses this method in their writing lab, illustrating the method as a series of steps that easily break down the method into manageable parts. In the basic step, the claim one is making is connected to the grounds, such as "I need to get my homework finished this week" claim connected to the grounds of "I need to get caught up in my classes." The warrant, or unstated belief, is that "Doing the classwork will help ensure I get the most out of my education" The backing, or the additional support, is that "Being caught up ensures I'm graded on time and will allow me to progress towards graduation." The Qualifier, or the "who cares?" of the method, provides evidence of the already established belief of the claim. 

The evidence, reasoning, and arguments can be broken down into several paths, from strongest to weakest: argument from cause, argument from sign, argument from generalization, and argument from analogy. Cause and Sign both require hard evidence; Generalization and Analogy both stem from opinion. 

Interestingly, I serve as a Fellow for the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative at Davidson College, which is an organization that is attempting to re-establish civil conversation around polarizing topics wherein the participants model their arguments around a method very similar to Toulmin's idea, and has managed to help weed out those weaker arguments based on generalization and analogy. Providing clear, concise language and evidence after stating a claim or opinion based on political policy in the US is the way our group is able to facilitate and foster conversations that are productive. The link for our Initiative is here which also outlines the conversational models we use.