What is the Toulmin Method?
The Toulmin Method allows us to analyze arguments by asking questions about the author's claim, reasons, and evidence. It is a useful tool to examine the arguments of both our work and the writings of others. If a reader doesn't accept the beliefs and assumptions of the author, the argument will not be convincing or persuasive. According to the Communicating Online textbook written by Professor Green, the author states, "A great strength of the Toulmin method of analysis is that it asks readers to look for these unstated assumptions, an element of the argument that Toulmin calls warrants." (Green, 2022, pg 316) Warrants are usually unstated because the author assumes that the reader is already in agreeance with the belief and they don't need any convincing. There is also another element called qualifiers. In the same textbook, Green mentions that, "A qualifier limits or clarifies the claim. By limiting the claim to reasonable circumstances or specifying the meaning of key terms, a qualifier deprives opponents of opportunities to point out exceptions to the claim or other objections that would shoot down the argument." (Green, 2022, pg 317) While qualifiers often clarify the stated claim, rebuttals show that the author is anticipating a counterargument and works to refute it by exposing flaws.
How has the Toulmin Method been used?
On NASA's website, there is a page titled, Climate Change: How Do We Know?. On this page, NASA supports the claim that states, "Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal." In order to make this statement seem truthful, they develop the reason by stating that the oceans have warmed by 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the average surface temperature has increased by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit, and we have lost an average of 279 billion tons of ice due to warmer temperatures. Although these are reasons, they also provide concrete evidence to the claim. While most arguments include a qualifier, scientists and other climate change organizations believe that the warming of the climate is unequivocal, meaning that there is no doubt about that statement. Even though a qualifier usually strengthens an argument, I think leaving it out was intentional. Climate scientists don't want to leave any room for doubt among the general public. Within this argument, there is also a warrant which is that any ice loss in the poles or warming of the surface and ocean is due to climate change rather than random variation. With many climate deniers, NASA assumes that there will be counterarguments. With that being said, they use the word unequivocal to show the reader that they have absolutely no doubt that the planet is warming.
Green, J. M. (2017). Agenda-Setting Theory. In Communicating online (pp. 316, 317). essay, McGraw Hill Education Create.