chapter 4 the toulmin system

Argument Based Research:

Argument Based Research Eng 112-H1s May 31, 2011

Chapter 4 The Toulmin System:

Chapter 4 The Toulmin System

AN INTRODUCTION TO TOULMIN :

Issue: What car should we buy? Enthymeme #1: We should buy this Geo Metro because it is extremely economical. Enthymeme #2: We should buy this used Volvo because it is very safe. Enthymeme #3: We should buy this Ford Escort because it is red. Does one of these arguments seem a little odd or off-base? Why? Toulmin analysis will provide concepts and language to talk effectively about these enthymemes. AN INTRODUCTION TO TOULMIN

Unstated Assumption:

Each of these enthymemes depends on an unstated assumption. If the audience is going to be swayed by the argument, the audience has to grant this unstated assumption. What is the unstated assumption behind each enthymeme? Unstated Assumption

Unstated Assumption con’t:

Enthymeme #1: We should buy this Geo Metro because it is extremely economical. Assumption for enthymeme #1: We should buy the car that is most economical. [Economy is the major criterion we should use in selecting a car.] Unstated Assumption con’t

Unstated Assumption con’t:

Enthymeme #2: We should buy this used Volvo because it is very safe. Assumption for enthymeme #2: We should buy the car that is most safe. [Safety is the major criterion we should use in selecting a car.] Unstated Assumption con’t

Unstated Assumption con’t:

Enthymeme #3: We should buy this Ford Escort because it is red. Assumption for enthymeme #3: We should buy a car that is red. [The color red is the major criterion we should use in selecting a car.] Unstated Assumption con’t

Unstated Assumption = Warrant:

Here is how each of these enthymemes would be displayed using the Toulmin term warrant” for the unstated assumption. Enthymeme #1: Claim: We should buy this Geo Metro. Stated Reason: It is extremely economical. Warrant: We should buy the car that is most economical. Unstated Assumption = Warrant

Unstated Assumption = Warrant:

Enthymeme #2: Claim: We should buy this used Volvo. Stated Reason: It is very safe. Warrant: We should buy the car that is most safe. Unstated Assumption = Warrant

Unstated Assumption = Warrant:

Enthymeme #3: Claim: We should buy this Ford Escort. Stated Reason: It is red. Warrant: We should buy a car that is red. Unstated Assumption = Warrant

Unstated Assumption = Warrant:

We call these three statements (claim, stated reason, warrant) the “frame” or “skeleton” of a line of reasoning. This frame or skeleton needs to be fleshed out with “grounds” and/or “backing,” depending on the rhetorical context. Unstated Assumption = Warrant

Group Exercise:

For each of the above enthymemes, imagine a scenario in which you would most have to defend the stated reason. Then imagine another scenario in which you would most have to support the warrant. Group Exercise

Sample Scenario for Enthymeme #1:

Claim: We should buy this Geo Metro. Stated Reason: It is extremely economical. Grounds: Evidence that the Geo Metro is extremely economical. [Government statistics on gas mileage; projected repair costs; testimony from other Metro owners, etc.] Warrant: We should buy the car that is most economical. Backing: Arguments showing why economy is the most important criterion. [Argument would be aimed at specific audience: We need to save money; we have a long commute and need to cut fuel costs; we can put the money saved into our dream vacation, better clothes, etc.] Sample Scenario for Enthymeme #1

Conditions of Rebuttal: :

Questioning the stated reason and grounds: The Geo Metro isn’t as economical as you think. [Granted it gets high gas mileage, but repair costs are high, resale value is low, etc.] Questioning the warrant and backing: I’ll grant you that the Geo Metro is economical, but economy shouldn’t be our most important criterion. What about safety? Imagine that little Metro in a head-on collision with an SUV. Other arguments downgrading economy as the chief criterion. ] Qualifier: Perhaps the Geo Metro is the best choice for us. Conditions of Rebuttal:

Sample Scenario for Enthymeme #2:

Claim: We should buy this used Volvo. Stated Reason: It is very safe. Grounds: Evidence that the used Volvo is very safe. [Crash and injury data on Volvos; insurance company figures on Volvo safety; government crash tests; other data demonstrating safety of this particular make of car.] Warrant: We should buy the car that is most safe. Backing: Argument for why safety is the most important criteria. [Writer generates arguments aimed at particular audience: We have a young family; my sister died in an auto accident so I am uncomfortable in any car that isn’t safe; lower insurance rates; we commute on a dangerous highway, etc.] Sample Scenario for Enthymeme #2

Conditions of Rebuttal: :

Questioning the stated reason and grounds: Maybe the Volvo isn’t as safe as you think. [Evidence suggesting that another kind of car would be more safe.] Questioning the warrant and backing: While safety is important, other criteria are more important in our situation—economy, reliability, etc. [We’ll spend a fortune keeping the Volvo running; other cars are nearly as safe so the difference is negligible; this used Toyota Camry will be cheaper to buy, gets much better mileage, and will have smaller repair costs.] Qualifier: Let’s put the Volvo high on our list of cars to consider. Conditions of Rebuttal:

Sample Scenario for Enthymeme #3:

Claim: We should buy this Ford Escort. Stated Reason: It is red. Grounds: Evidence that it is red. [Humorous—nobody will dispute redness: testimony from others; scientific spectroscopy results; stated color on dealer’s spec sheet for car.] Warrant: We should buy a car that is red. Backing: Argument that the color red should be the primary criterion for deciding what car to buy. [Can you think of any situations in which a specific car color should be a primary criterion?] Sample Scenario for Enthymeme #3

Possible Backing for Enthymeme #3 :

You must think it ludicrous that I think we should buy the Escort because it is red. But think for a minute about Grandma’s situation. Grandpa died four months ago. Grandma has hardly left the house since then and needs to snap out of her depression. She likes to drive, even though Grandpa usually did all the driving in that clunky old Buick they owned. She never liked that car, and she won’t drive it now maybe because it reminds her of Grandpa. What Grandma needs is a sporty, new, little, easy-to-drive-and-park car. So, of course, redness isn’t the only criterion we should think about. But there are dozens of sporty little cars on the market that fit our other criteria. What is most important, I think, is that the car be red. That has always been her favorite color. It is youthful and energetic. I think a little red car will help her snap out of her mourning and get her out of the house. And let’s get it for her by next Monday, her birthday. Let’s have her wake up and see her own little red car in the driveway. So I say, let’s go get the Escort. It’s available today, and it is just exactly the kind of red that will perk Grandma up. Possible Backing for Enthymeme #3

Conditions of Rebuttal: :

Questioning the reason and grounds: Nobody will deny the car is red. Questioning the warrant and backing: I agree that red might perk Grandma up, but let’s look at other criteria before we buy on impulse. Qualifier: Maybe we should buy the Escort. Conditions of Rebuttal:

Assignments for this week:

1. Read the Notes for M1. 2. Complete Forum 1. 3. Complete Forum 2. 4. Complete Graded Essay 1 Forum. 5. Respond to at least 2 classmates’ Icebreaker posts. **I would complete these assignments in this order. **Instructions for the assignments are in the forums. Assignments for this week