Unit 2

introduces the fundamentals of college-level argumentation through case studies of American texts addressing gender identity. The content and activities foster understanding of how argumentation works with the goal of strengthening skills for critically analyzing arguments and producing sophisticated arguments. Students are introduced to stasis theory, claims and the three classical proofs of logos, ethos and pathos. You will be introduced to the Toulmin Model of argumentation and will use the Toulmin tools to help you analyze and produce arguments. The Unit takes up arguments concerning gender in America and asks you to consider how these arguments relate to our sense of ourpersonal and collective American identities. As you read, you’ll need to understand what eachpiece argues and how its argument works. But this is only the first step. You must then assess the quality of that argument and work through how the argument accords with your own views. And,of course, you’ll do so using what you’ve learned about rhetoric.

Toulmin Argument

What is the Toulmin Method?

Developed by philosopher Stephen E. Toulmin, the Toulmin method is a style of argumentation that breaks arguments down into six copmonent parts: claim, grounds, warrant, quantifier, rebuttal, and backing. In Toulmin’s method, every argument begins with three fundamental parts: the claim, the grounds, and the warrant.

A claim is the assertion that authors would like to prove to their audience. It is, in other words, the main argument.

The grounds of an argument are the evidence and facts that help support the claim.

Finally, the warrant, which is either implied or stated explicitly, is the assumption that links the grounds to the claim.

Source: Toulmin Argument