TOULMIN’S MODEL OF ARGUMENT USES OF TOULMIN SCHEME TOULMIN TEST ROGERIAN’S MODEL OF ARGUMENT ROGERIAN SCHEME STRUCTURE ROGERIAN TEST TOULMIN VS ROGERIAN

2.  Developed by British philosopher
Stephen Toulmin in 1950’s
 Emphasizes that logic often based on
probability rather than certainty
 Focuses on claims

3.  To check your own logic
 To evaluate another logic
 To test ideas and reasons
 Toulmin logic is simple involving THREE
basic elements:
› Claim (the main point or position)
› Data (the evidence supporting the claim;
the reasons)
› Warrant (an underlying assumption or basic
principle that connects data and claim)

4.  Backing:
Credentials designed to certify the
statement expressed in the warrant;
backing must be introduced when the
warrant itself is not convincing enough to
the readers or the listeners.
 Rebuttal:
Statements recognizing the restrictions which
may legitimately be applied to the claim.

5.  Qualifier:
Words or phrases expressing the speaker’s
degree of force or certainty concerning
the claim. Such words or phrases include
“probably,” “possible,” “impossible,”
“certainly,” “presumably,” “as far as the
evidence goes,” and “necessarily.”

6.  Claim = My parents should allow me to
go to my class reunion on Friday night.
 Data = The parents of nearly all of my
friends in my class have given their
children permission to attend this
reunion.
 Warrant = My parents should act in
accordance with my friend’s parents.

7. Data
Warrant
Backing
Claim
Rebuttal
Qualifier

8.  Claim:
“I am a British citizen.”
 Data:
“I was born in Bermuda.”
 Warrant:
“A man born in Bermuda will legally be a
British citizen.”

9.  Backing
“A man born in Bermuda will legally be a British
citizen.”
 Rebuttal
“A man born in Bermuda will legally be a British
citizen, unless he has betrayed Britain and has
become a spy of another country.”
 Qualifier
The claim “I am definitely a British citizen” has a
greater degree of force than the claim “I am a
British citizen, presumably.

10.  Developed by psychologist Carl Rogers
(also in the ’50s)
 Emphasizes problem-solving and/or
coming to consensus
 Allows the author to appear open-minded
or even objective
 Appropriate in contexts where you need
to convince a resistant opponent to at
least respect your views
 Rogerian logic are simple involving SIX
elements:

11.  Introduction: statement of problem to be
solved or question to be answered
 Summary of Opposing Views: described using
a seemingly objective persona
 Statement of Understanding: concedes
circumstances under which opposing views
might be valid
 Statement of Your Position
 Statement of Contexts: describes contexts in
which your position applies/works well
 Statement of Benefits: appeals to self-interest
of readers who may not yet agree with you;
demonstrates how your position benefits
them

12.  Introduction = Smoking cigarettes can
cause lung problems. Both first-hand and
passive smokers are affected by cigarette
smoke.
 Summary of opposing views = Scientific
findings and researches show that the
chemical substances in cigarettes, apart
from the smoke, can lead to health
problems such as lung cancer.
 Summary of understanding = Smoking
cigarettes should be banned in public
places.

13.  Statement of Position = My position differs from
those who might say that smoking altogether
should not be banned. My position is that smoking
in public places such as restaurants and shopping
complexes should be banned.
 Statement of Context = In public places, more
people, both young and old, can be exposed to
the smoke from cigarettes.
 Statement of Benefits = Smoking in public places
should be banned because it causes health
problems to individuals who are non-smokers and
who do not want to inhale the fumes from
cigarettes. The risks are double to those who
already have lung ailments.

14. TOULMIN ROGERIAN
Emphasizes that logic often based
on probability rather than certainty
Emphasizes problem-solving and/or
coming to consensus
THREE basic elements:
-Claim
-Data
-Warrant
SIX elements:
-Introduction
-Summary of Opposing Views
-Statement of Understanding
-Statement of Position
-Statement of Contexts
-Statement of Benefits
Three other elements:
-Qualifier
-Backing
-Rebuttal