What Is Toulmin's Model Of An Argument

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Toulmin’s model of argumentation breaks down an argument into six parts, the claim, data, warrant, backing, qualifier and rebuttal. The claim is the thesis of an argument and the data is what evidence is used to support the claim. The warrant is usually not as clear, it is the information that connects the data to the claim. Backing is similar to the data, but it is what influences the speaker to argue their specific claim and the qualifier reveals how strongly the speaker feels about the topic. Finally, the rebuttal is where a potential opposing view is included in the argument and denounced to help strengthen the claim. Toulmin’s model also describes the force of an argument which refers to the way certain phrases are put together to impact …show more content…

First, the repetitiveness of the claim that is found in both the first and last paragraph creates force in Iveson’s argument by using the same words in a childlike and an adulthood voting context, because everyone has special connections to their childhood fantasies. The other place force was used, was at the end of the second paragraph, “as if clarity comes from volume alone.” This phrase has force because it has a sarcastic tone and it makes the reader think about this circumstance where there is truly no correlation between volume and clarity. This relates to her argument by demonstrating the ineffectiveness of trying to change someone’s beliefs and instead we should recognize the value of all different opinions. Each element of Toulmin’s model of argumentation is present in Cande Iveson’s “The Value of the Middle.” Because of this, her argument is concise and effective in just one page of writing. Toulmin’s model can be used to analyze any effective argument and his concepts can even help when creating one. I think that Iveson’s claim that “…the middle can, once again, seem extraordinary, magical and fabulous – the best place to be” is morally sound because this argument seeks to better society by opening our eyes to understanding points of view different from our