APSU Writing Center
Toulmin Argument
Toulmin Argument
The Toulmin Argument is a six component way in which to analyze arguments. It was created by
Stephen Edelson Toulmin who sought to provide practical ways to evaluate arguments
effectively.
Claim: The thesis statement or overall topic the writer wants to discuss.
Grounds: The foundation, data, proof, evidence, and proof to back up the claim or thesis
statement.
Warrant: A brief explanation on why the grounds (evidence) supports the claims (thesis).
Backing: Additional reasons that support and give credit to the warrant.
Qualifier: Measures the strength of the warrant by stating how strong the claims are. Consists of
words such as “presumably,” “many,” “most,” “usually,” “always,” or “sometimes.”
Rebuttal: An acknowledgement of an opposing view or exception to the claims.
Example:
Claim: Students who schedule tutoring appointments with the writing center improve in their
academic writing.
Grounds: 53.5% more writing center users demonstrated greater writing gains, as reflected in
thesis clarity and essay organization, than non-writing center users.
Warrant: All students want to improve on their writing in order to succeed.
Backing: Tutoring is offered for free for all currently enrolled students.
Qualifier: Writing handouts help most students.
Rebuttal: Students who use Purdue Owl improve their writing.
Example by Liza Long, Amy Minervini, and Joel Gladd:
Claim: My grandfather should wear a hearing aid.
Grounds: Hearing aids raise hearing quality.
Warrant: A hearing aid helps most people hear better.
Backing: Hearing aids are available locally.
Qualifier: Hearing aids help most people.
Rebuttal: There is a support desk that deals with technical problems.
if you anticipated a counterargument that hearing aids, as a technology, may be fraught with
technical difficulties.
Example from the Judith G. Gardener Center for Writing Excellence:
Claim: The Electoral College should be abolished.
Grounds: The Electoral College gives small states undue influence.
Warrant: No individual state(s) should have undue influence on presidential elections.
Backing: Presidential candidates focus their campaigns on states with comparatively large
electoral power and neglect many other states.
Rebuttal: The Electoral College was created to ensure that presidential elections were limited to
the main candidates instead of becoming chaotic.
APSU Writing Center
Toulmin Argument
Context
Qualifier
Grounds Claim
Warrant Rebuttal
Backing
APSU Writing Center
Toulmin Argument
Context
Qualifier
Grounds Claim
Warrant Rebuttal
Backing
APSU Writing Center
Toulmin Argument
Context
Qualifier
Grounds Claim
Warrant Rebuttal
Backing
APSU Writing Center
Toulmin Argument
Context
Qualifier
Grounds Claim
Warrant Rebuttal
Backing
