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AP LANG
For use with Synthesis and Argument
Essays
Six Elements in Toulmin Argument
1.Claim
2.Support/Evidence
3.Warrant/the Assumption
4.Backing
5.Qualifier
6.Reservation
The Claim:
Your claim is your arguable assertion
It is a conclusion whose merits you seek to
establish
Claim: I should take my umbrella.
Support/Evidence:
Should be relevant, accurate and sufficient
Can be first hand (anecdotes, observations or
general knowledge)
Can be second hand, (historical, expert
opinion, or quantitative data)
Evidence: It is raining.
Warrant/Assumption:
Your warrant expresses the assumption
necessarily shared by the speaker and audience.
The assumption links the claim to the evidence.
In other words, if the speaker and audience do
not share the same assumption regarding the
claim, all the evidence on earth wont be enough
to sway them.
Warrant/Assumption: An umbrella will keep me
dry.
Backing:
Backing consists of further assurances or data
without which the assumption lacks authority.
Backing: The material is waterproof.
The Qualifier:
The Qualifier when used, for example, usually,
probably, maybe, in most cases, most likely),
tempers the claim a bit, making it less
absolute.
Qualifier: Probably.
The Reservation:
The Reservation explains the terms and
conditions necessitated by the Qualifier.
In many cases, the argument will contain a
rebuttal that gives voice to objections.
The Reservation: Unless it has a hole in it.
A fully expressed Toulmin argument:
Because it is raining, therefore I should
probably take my umbrella, since it will keep
me dry on account of its waterproof material,
unless, of course, there is a hole in it.
TOULMIN ARGUMENT MODEL:
EVIDENCE CLAIM
BACKING
Analyzing Assumptions
Because the fast food industry continues to grow and
is not going away, therefore even those of us who
support Slow Food should invest in it, since investing
has the power to persuade businesses to change.