Most of the material in this presentation is taken directly or adapted from Stephen Toulmins The Use

1
Most of the material in this presentation is
taken directly or adapted from Stephen Toulmins
The Uses of Argument. Jurgen Habermas
differentiates between ideological and
argumentative warrants in his Theory of
Communicative Action, Vol 1 Reason and the
Rationalization of Society. Richard Weaver maps
arguments by definition and circumstance
vis-à-vis American political positions in The
Ethics of Rhetoric.
2
Datum The ground which we produce as support
for the original assertion. Claim The a
rgument finally asserted. Warrant The bridge
or hypothetical connection between datum and
claim.
Harry was born in Bermuda
Harry is a British Subject
Example
So
Form
Since
D
So C
Since W
A Man born in Bermuda will be a British subject
3
Modal Qualifiers Used to express a warrants
contingency. Conditions for Rebuttal Also used
to express a warrants contingency
Harry was born in Bermuda
Harry is a British Subject
So, presumably
Example
Form
Since
D
So Q, C
Since W
Unless R
Unless
A Man born in Bermuda will generally be a British
subject

Both of his parents were aliens/ he as become a
naturalized American/
4
Backing Supports the warrant when there is no
popularly accepted assurance of its connection
between data and claim
Harry was born in Bermuda
Harry is a British Subject
So, presumably
Example
Since
Form
Unless
D
So Q, C
A Man born in Bermuda will generally be a British
subject

Since W
Unless R
Both of his parents were aliens/ he as become a
naturalized American/
On account of
On account of B
The following legal provisions
5
Warrant Establishing Arguments Inductive
arguments moving from specific examples to
general premises
Specific
General
Warrant Using Arguments Deductive arguments
moving from general premise to either a
specific instance, or another general
premise
General
Specific
General
General
6
Enthymemes in Schaflys Article If the
administration doesn't start construction on the
fence before Nov. 7, we can assume that the
passage and signing of a fence bill were just
pre-election posturing to fool voters. (paragraph
5)
We can assume the passage and signage of the
fence bill were just pre-election posturing to
fool voters.
The administration doesnt start construction on
the fence before Nov. 7th.
So
Example
Since
Form
D
So C
Since W
Whenever politicians promote and pass popular
legislation before an important election but
dont make efforts to put that legislation into
effect, they are trying to win votes, not trying
to implement good policy.
7
Enthymemes in Schaflys Article At least
two-thirds of the illegal immigrants in the
United States, as well as those who would benefit
by the president's guest-worker plan, likewise do
not have a high school education, so they are in
direct competition with native-born Americans
At least two-thirds of the illegal immigrants in
the United States, as well as those who would
benefit by the presidents guest-worker program,
likewise do not have a high school education.
They are in direct competition with native-born
Americans

Example
So
Form
Since
D
So C
Since W
Many native-born Americans do not have
high-school educations themselves, so they will
need jobs that similarly educated immigrants
attain.
8
Enthymemes in Schaflys Article The number of
young - ages 16 to 34 - native-born American men
who were employed declined by 1.7 million, while
over the same period, the number of new male
immigrant workers increased by 1.9 million. If
jobs held by new immigrant males aged 16 to 34
were made available to jobless native-born males,
then the job deficit among our native-born males
would be completely eliminated.
The number of young - ages 16 to 34 - native-born
American men who were employed declined by 1.7
million, while over the same period, the number
of new male immigrant workers increased by 1.9
million.
If jobs held by new immigrant males aged 16 to 34
were made available to jobless native-born males,
then the job deficit among our native-born males
would be completely eliminated.
Example
So
Form
Since
D
So C
Since W
The decline in employment among native-born
Americans is a direct result of non-native-born
workers taking jobs that would otherwise be
available to and desirable for native-born
Americans.
9
Enthymemes in Schaflys Article The failure of
President Bush to carry out his constitutional
duty to "take care that the laws be faithfully
executed," e.g., the laws against illegal entry,
illegal hiring and illegal documents, gives the
lie to his famous boast that he is a
compassionate conservative. His failure shows
that he is not only not conservative he is not
compassionate.
The failure of President Bush to carry out his
constitutional duty to "take care that the laws
be faithfully executed," e.g., the laws against
illegal entry, illegal hiring and illegal
documents,
gives the lie to his famous boast that he is a
compassionate conservative. His failure shows
that he is not only not conservative he is not
compassionate.
So
Example
Since
Form
D
So C
Since W
Someone who is conservative must stop illegal
entry into the country. Someone who is compassi
onate must care for the citizens of that
country. Failure to enact laws against illegal
entry hurts American citizens.
10
Examples in Schaflys Article A fence is just
the first step that must be followed by a greatly
increased border-patrol force, Social Security
verification of employees, and tracking of
visitors who become illegal immigrants when they
overstay their visas.But, as Rep. Duncan Hunter,
R-Calif., said, border fencing is a "critical
component." The triple-layered fence that was
finally built near San Diego has led to a 70
percent drop in illegal immigration there.
Example
A fence is just the first step that must be
followed by a greatly increased border-patrol
force,
The triple-layered fence that was finally built
near San Diego has led to a 70 percent drop in
illegal immigration there.
Form
General
Specific