English 10 / Unit 8: Writing Arguments
8.3 Reasoning and Warrants
Notes
The Toulmin model breaks arguments into parts.
- Claim: the position. Grounds (data): the evidence.
- Warrant: the assumption that connects the evidence to the claim, often unstated.
- Backing: support for the warrant. Qualifier: limits the claim (usually, most). Rebuttal: conditions where the claim may not hold.
- Example: Claim: "The school should add a crosswalk." Grounds: "Three students were nearly hit this year." Warrant: "Schools should protect students from preventable dangers."
- If the audience rejects the warrant, the argument fails, even with good evidence.
Practice
Claim: "We should bring an umbrella." Grounds: "The forecast shows a 90 percent chance of rain." What is the warrant?
The warrant links the forecast to the decision to bring an umbrella.
In the Toulmin model, words like "usually" or "in most cases" are called:
Qualifiers limit how strongly a claim is stated.
Why does a weak or unstated warrant cause problems?
Without an accepted warrant, evidence does not lead to the claim.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 8 test.