ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING

BASED UPON THE STEPHEN TOULMIN MODEL FOR ARGUMENTCreated By, Jennifer Duke

October 26, 2012

People who write argumentative essays use logic. Logic is when a writer uses facts and evidence to support a claim rather than feelings or emotion.

Argumentative Writing

If you are writing a persuasive paper, you use feelings and emotion. If you are writing an argument, you use facts and evidence.

WHAT’S A CLAIM?A claim is the point that the

arguer is trying to make. The claim is the statement that you are trying to get

your reader to accept. The claim answers the question,

“What’s your point?”

EXAMPLE OF A CLAIM

Caffeine is harmful to your

health.

WHAT’S A COUNTER CLAIM?

A counter claim is a statement showing an opposing viewpoint.

EXAMPLE OF A COUNTER CLAIM

Caffeine boosts memory and

improves concentration.

WHAT IS EVIDENCE?

Evidence is NOT opinion. Evidence is made up of proven

facts that support the claim.

EXAMPLE OF A EVIDENCE

Studies done by The American Psychological

Association say that anxiety and sleep

disorders are two of the effects of drinking

caffeine.

WHAT IS A WARRANT?A warrant links the evidence to the claim. The warrant answers

the question, “Why does the evidence mean that

your claim is true?”

WHAT IS A WARRANT?Warrants are rules that people generally accept as true. The warrant is the “so

what” in your writing.

EXAMPLE OF A WARRANT

Untreated anxiety and sleep disorders can

cause a person to live an unhealthy life.

WHAT IS BACKING?Backing gives

support to the warrant. Backing answers additional questions about the

warrant.

EXAMPLE OF BACKING

Anxiety can cause a person to have a stroke, lack of

concentration, or Insomnia.When a person does not get enough sleep, he or she may suffer negative consequences as the result of drowsy driving, forgetfulness, or weight gain.

WHAT ARE QUALIFICATIONS? Qualifications can

refute opposing claims. A “qualifier” indicates

the strength of the claim. Qualifiers include words such as 'most', 'usually', 'always' or 'sometimes'.

EXAMPLE OF A QUALIFICATION

Most people can form caffeine addictions without

even trying.The effects of caffeine are not always serious, but it

usually causes health problems in some people.

WHAT IS A REBUTTAL?A rebuttal is a

counter-argument that can still be used against your claim despite how well-constructed your argument might be.

WHAT IS A REBUTTAL?A rebuttal is another

argument in and of itself. A rebuttal has a

claim, evidence, warrant, backing, and

qualifications.

EXAMPLE OF A REBUTTAL

CLAIM: Caffeine is beneficial to your health.EVIDENCE: Caffeine increases energy. Caffeine lowers heart disease risk. Caffeine increases mental focus. Caffeine lowers the risk of Parkinson’s Disease.This rebuttal would also include a

WARRANT, BACKING, andQUALIFICATIONS.

Argument Quiz

Argument Quiz

#1What is a claim?

A. Evidence that supports the warrant.B. A statement that is NOT supported

in the paper.C. A statement in the paper that is

supported by evidence, a warrant, backing, and qualifications.

Argument Quiz

#2What is evidence?

A. An opinion based upon a person’s feelings or emotions.

B. Proven, logical facts that support the claim.

C. A counter-argument.D. The words most, always, and

usually.

Argument Quiz

#3What are qualifiers?

A. Opinions based upon a person’s feelings or emotions.

B. Counter-arguments.C. Proven, logical facts that support

the claim.D. The words most, always, and

usually.

Argument Quiz

#3What does a warrant do?

A. Links the evidence to the claim.B. Links two words together.C. Justifies an estimation.D. Arrests people.

Argument Quiz

#4What is the difference between

argument and persuasion?A. An argument mostly uses feelings

and emotion.B. Persuasion mostly uses logic, facts,

and examples.C. Argument mostly uses logic, facts,

and examples.

Argument Quiz

#5What is NOT a rebuttal?

A. A paper that is based mostly upon opinion and feelings.

B. A paper that has a claim, evidence, warrant, backing, and qualifications.

C. An opposing argument.