Argumentative writing is of the utmost importance in any field. The Toulmin Model is a method of analyzing an argument by breaking it down into six parts (three main parts and three minor parts). Once an argument is broken down and examined, weaknesses in the argument can be found and addressed. This strategy can be seen in the courtroom and in everyday life. In this lesson, we will go over the three major parts of a Toulminized Argument (Warrant, Claim, Grounds) and then YOU will have a chance to pick several examples apart and see if you can use the Toulmin method. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or want more information! Madison@usmedresearch.com

1. Sample Arguments
to be Toulminized
Identify the claim, grounds, and warrant for each argument
Madison Hedrick, MA
Madison@usmedresearch.com

2. Toulmin Model
of Argument,
Explained
In his work on logic and
argument, The Uses of
Argument, Stephen
Toulmin indicates three
major, necessary parts
of an argument, along
with three additional,
optional parts.
The three major parts
are
•the claim,
•the grounds,
•and the warrants

3. Claim
A claim is the assertion that authors would like to prove to
their audience. It is the main point, the hypothesis, the
controlling idea.
The claim may be directly stated (usually at the first of a
text, but sometimes at the end for dramatic effect), or the
claim may be implied.
You can find the claim by asking the question,
"What is the author trying to prove?"

4. Grounds (evidence)
These are the reasons provided to support the claim. The are also
known as evidence, proof, data, arguments, or rationale.
A claim can be supported with:
•facts and statistics,
•expert opinions,
•examples,
•explanations,
•logical reasoning.
You can find the grounds by asking,
"What does the author say to persuade the reader of the claim?"

5. Warrants
These are the assumptions underlying the argument that link the
grounds to the claim. They can be implied or stated. They provide
the rationale that links the claim and the grounds.
Warrants are important because they are the "common ground"
of author and audience. These are useful when implied as they
allow the audience to unconsciously validate the claim by
supplying part of the argument.
You can infer the warrants by asking,
"What’s causing the author to say the things s/he does?" or
"Where’s the author coming from?"

6. Example:
Source of graphic:
Purdue Writing Lab. Toulmin Argument // Purdue Writing Lab. Purdue Writing Lab.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/historical_perspectives_on_argumentation
/toulmin_argument.html. Published 2018. Accessed August 6, 2019.
‌

7. Argument #1: Oh, Baby!
Claim:
“Baby Tim has red hair and freckles and
you forgot to put sunblock on him?! He is
going to be seriously sunburnt after going to
the sunny beach all day!”

8. The Toulminized Version
 Claim: Baby Tim is likely
sunburnt quite badly.
 Grounds: Baby Tim has fair skin,
freckles, and red hair.
 Warrant: People with fair skin,
red hair, and freckles sunburn
quite easily.

9. Argument #2: Stock Market
Claim:
“Volatility in the stock market will
probably persist for the foreseeable
future. In a global economy,
changing circumstances anywhere
in the world can create
uncertainty.”

10. The Toulminized version
 Claim: value/judgment: volatility in the
stock market will probably persist for the
foreseeable future.
 Grounds: In a global economy, changing
circumstances anywhere in the world can
create uncertainty.
 Warrant: cause-effect reasoningcause-effect reasoning;; political
and economic uncertainties elsewhere
produce fluctuations in stock values in the
U.S.
 Qualifier: probably

11. Argument #4: End of Days
Claim:
“I am now convinced that we are perilously
close to the end of civilization. William
Shatner sold his kidney stone on EBay for
$25,000.”

12. The Toulminized version
 Claim: value/judgment I am now
convinced that we are perilously close to
the end of civilization.
 Grounds: William Shatner sold his kidney
stone on EBay for $25,000.
 Warrant: Argument by example;Argument by example; absurd
acts like selling body parts on Ebay illustrate
that our civilization is teetering on the
edge.
 Note: this wouldn’t be a serious argument

13. Argument # 4: Kanye West
Claim:
“George Bush doesn’t care about black
people” Kanye West

14. The Toulminized version
 Claim: value/judgment George Bush
doesn’t care about black people.
 Grounds: FEMA’s response to hurricane
Katrina was intentionally slow.
 Warrant: cause-effectcause-effect the reason the
federal government didn’t respond
faster is because most of the victims
were black.

15. Argument #5
Claim:
“Ronald Reagan’s likeness should be chiseled onto
Mt. Rushmore, alongside Washington, Jefferson
Lincoln and Roosevelt. Polls show Americans rank him
with John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln as one of
the greatest presidents of all time.”

16. The Toulminized version
 Claim: policy Ronald Reagan’s likeness
should be chiseled onto Mt. Rushmore.
 Grounds: Polls show Americans rank him
with JFK and Lincoln as one of the greatest
presidents of all time.
 Warrant: value assumption;value assumption; public
popularity is the basis for determining
whose face belongs on Mt. Rushmore.

17. Argument #6
How do you know WWE wrestling is fake?
I’ll tell you how. You never see the
results printed in the Sports section of
the newspaper.

18. The Toulminized version
 Claim: factual claim WWE wrestling is fake.
 Grounds: The results are never reported in
the Sports section of the newspaper.
 Warrant: argument from authority & signargument from authority & sign
reasoning;reasoning; authority; newspapers only
print the results of legitimate sports. sign;
newspaper coverage is a reliable sign of a
genuine sport

19. Argument #7: Flag Burning
Claim:
“Citizens have a Constitutional right
to burn the American flag (despite
Conservative disapproval). Flag
burning is a symbolic political act. In
fact, the 1st amendment was
designed to protect these type of
offensive/unpopular acts.”

20. The Toulminized version
 Claim: value/judgment Conservatives may
not like it, but citizens do have a
Constitutional right to burn the American
flag.
 Grounds: Flag burning is a symbolic, political
act and it is precisely such unpopular,
offensive symbolic acts that the 1st
amendment was designed to protect.
 Warrant: value premise;value premise; Not only words, but
symbolic acts, such as flag burning, are
encompassed within the scope of the 1st
amendment.

21. Argument #8: Herbal Medicine
Claim:
Herbal remedies may do more
harm than good in some cases.
People with serious health
problems may delay or forego
needed medical care because they
are relying on herbal remedies

22. The Toulminized version
 Claim: value/judgment Herbal remedies
may do more harm than good.
 Grounds: People with serious health
problems may delay or forego needed
medical care because they are relying
on herbal medicines.
 Warrant: cause-effect reasoning;cause-effect reasoning; the
effect of relying on herbal remedies is to
postpone needed medical care
 Qualifier: in some cases