Toulmin Style

CONSTRUCTING AN ARGUMENT

What car should we buy?

We should buy this Geo Metro because it is extremely economical.

Enthymeme 1

We should buy this used Volvo because it is very safe.

Enthymeme 2

We should buy this Ford Falcon because it is red.

Enthymeme 3

We should buy this Geo Metro because it is extremely economical.

Economy is the major criterion we should use when buying a car.

ASSUMPTION

We should buy this used Volvo because it is very safe.?

ASSUMPTION

We should buy this Ford Falcon because it is red.?

ASSUMPTION

Support or Refute

CRITERION REASONor

We should buy this Geo Metro because it is extremely economical.

Assumption Economy is the major criterion we should use when buying a car.

Reason

We should buy the car that is the safest.

Claim We should buy this used Volvo.

Warrant

TOULMIN TERMINOLOGY

Reason It is very safe.

We should buy the car that is the safest.

Claim We should buy this used Volvo.

Warrant(assumption)

TOULMIN TERMINOLOGY

Reason(Support)

It is very safe.

Grounds

Backing

http://www.abacon.com/compsite/instructors/conline/toulmin.html

These examples come from the Instructor’s Manuel for Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings by John D. Ramage and John C. Bean, which is available online at the site below: