The Toulmin Method/ Schema for Arguments

The Toulmin Method is another method to conduct a proposal argument. Toulmin rejected previous methods of argument that had been placed, and started his own method that was based upon the courtroom model. The model that he based his method upon was somewhat different from the logical order that a courtroom. 

The model itself follows six steps that help the author be more convincing to the audience. The first step is the claim, which is a statement that you are asking the audience to accept. An example of the claim would be; “You should vote”. 

The second step is having grounds, or the facts supporting your claim. An example of grounds would be; “Young people make up a majority of the voting population.” 

The third step in the Toulmin method is having a warrant, or something that links data to the claim and making it legitimate. It is important to show its relevancy, whether it be explicit or implicit. The question you ask with the method is; why do the grounds make my claim true? An example of the warrant would be; “If young people make up a majority of the voting population, then we must all vote so we have a ‘voice’ in the Government, and make the changes we want to see.” 

The fourth step in the Toulmin method is to present backing, or support for the argument, which answers different questions. An example would be; “Voting booths are located at numerous locations throughout your town or city, and open during most of the day to accommodate your busy schedule.”               The fifth step is to have a qualifier, which includes words like ‘most’, ‘usually’, ‘always’ or ‘sometimes’. An example of a qualifier is; “Most young people don’t see the importance of voting because they view their votes as insignificant, but every vote always counts in an election.” 

The final step is to always be aware of your audiences’ potential rebuttals. A rebuttal to the ‘voting’ claim would be; “An individual vote doesn’t really matter because the overall choice is determined upon that State’s majority vote, and the State’s vote is only worth so many points when compared to the whole sum of points available in an election.” The Toulmin method is very helpful, in that it lays out the structure that the author should use when executing a proposal argument to be most effective.