AP Language Toulmin Model Elements of the Toulmin Model Stephen Toulmin is a Bri2sh philosopher and teacher, best known for the model of argumenta2on that bears his name. In The Uses of Argument (1958), he proposed analyzing the kind of prac2cal arguments that people engage in every day, rather than the abstract world of philosophical debate. Toulmin believes that reasoning is less an ac2vity of inference involving the discovering of new ideas, but more so a process of tes2ng and siFing already exis2ng ideas—an act achievable through the process of jus2fica2on. Toulmin developed his theory of argumenta2on because of what he viewed as an inherent problem with formal logic. Put simply, Toulmin recognized what every person should already know: Real people do not argue in syllogisms, like the one we studied as a part of logos: • Major Premise: All men are mortal, • Minor Premise: Socrates was a man, • Conclusion: Socrates is mortal. Toulmin realized that this form of argumenta2on is not what we encounter when we debate poli2cs, discuss the rela2ve merit of our favorite films or listen to argument in almost any context. Consequently, Toulmin developed his theory in order to explain how argumenta2on occurs in the natural process of everyday argument. Claim Think of the claim in an argument as the most general statement in the argument. It may not be a par2cularly general statement all by itself, and some claims for arguments are very narrow. But the claim in an argument is like the umbrella statement that all other parts of an argument have to fall under. If a reason (or evidence) doesn't fall under the umbrella of the claim, then it’s irrelevant. Data Data is the informa2on that generates the claim in theory. More oFen, it is searched for aFer the claim is provided, but ideally, the claim will come from careful analysis of the data. • “the evidence, facts, data, and informa2on that are the reason for the claim in the first place a reasoned beginning” (Ross, 1985). • Data is significant because it establishes the basis of the argument. In effect, the data is the star2ng point from which all sound arguments must begin. • Types of Data: Anecdotal, Tes2mony, Sta2s2cs. Classroom Notes: Toulmin Model AP Language and Composition - LCHS, Mr. Thomas 1