TOULMIN MODEL: ELEMENTS AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY

The Toulmin model is a logical structure that is used to make an argumentative text. This scheme was created by Stephen Toulmin (1922-2009), who argued that simple arguments should not follow the system of syllogisms.

For this English thinker, the subject who argues must present a thesis or opinion and then present a set of objective and logical reasons that allow him to reach a conclusion that confirms the proposed opinion.

Toulmin's model consists of a logical structure that is used to make an argumentative text. Source: pixabay.com

Toulmin affirmed that the scheme of syllogisms - created by Aristotle - is very complex for everyday texts and arguments. This occurs because syllogisms employ two premises: the major premise (where the predicate of the conclusion is found) and the minor premise (the subject of the conclusion).

Furthermore, syllogisms are made up of a series of rigorous rules that are no longer adapted to the needs of modern researchers, such as the fact that a syllogism does not accept more than three terms in its structure.

Luisa Rodríguez, in her text Toulmin's argumentative model in the writing of research articles (2004), establishes that this scheme is linked to the rules of argumentation and its steps can be used by any type of discipline or in any open space to the debate.

Likewise, the author proposes that through Toulmin's model it is learned that the excellence of an argument depends on a group of relationships that can be examined and specified. In addition, it also allows us to verify that the language of reason is present in all types of text and discourse.

Model elements

Toulmin considered that an argument is a complex data structure, which involves a movement that starts from an evidence, to later arrive at the establishment of an assertion (cause, thesis).

Therefore, the passage from evidence to assertion is the essential proof that shows that the line of argument has been successfully carried out. To this is added the guarantee, a process that allows establishing the connection between the previous elements.

- Evidence or assertion

It is the starting and finishing point of the argumentation procedure. For example: Possibly the election results will not be reliable. There are several types of assertions:

Factual assertions

These assertions infer about past, present and future conditions, events or relationships. Questions such as does it exist? Did it happen?

Value assertions

They are those that establish the value of an object, idea or practice taking into account the criteria supplied by the person arguing. From this perspective, values are negative or positive attitudes towards events and are based on indicators such as: moral / immoral, good / bad, positive / negative, among others.

Political assertions (or decisions to be made)

They are the assertions that inform what should or should not be done. In other words, they function as a set of decisions that can be made to solve the problem. (Example: The university must invest in more technological tools).

- The data

In this step, the one who argues must give a series of reasons that defend their premise or claim. These must be sufficient and relevant. For example: Political parties have cheated in previous elections.

- The guarantee

The guarantee consists of the justification of the transfer of the data to the evidence or claim. For this reason, the guarantee is defined as a process of union between the previous elements. For example: If parties have cheated before, they are likely to cheat again (according to common belief).

After completing these steps, Toulmin proposes three additional steps. In this way, the previous guarantee will have an endorsement, a modal qualifier and a reserve.

- The backup

It consists of demonstrating that the guarantee is valid and that your contribution is relevant. To support their premises, those who argue generally use oral testimonies, statistical data, life stories, among others. For example: The author Andrés López concludes that nations accustomed to electoral fraud always try to perpetuate this practice.

- The modal qualifier

Indicates the degree of probability of the assertion. Taking into account the previous example, it can be established that in this case the modal qualifier would be: possibly.

- The reservation or refutation conditions

It is about the possible objections that the argument may have. For example: Electoral fraud will not take place if each political party has a representative during the count. Furthermore, there should be a commission to ensure that small groups do not sell their votes.

In conclusion, Toulmin's system operates in the following way: based on evidence, an assertion or proposition is made. A guarantee is in charge of connecting the evidence with the assertion and offers its practical, theoretical or experimental foundation, this being the support.

On the other hand, modal qualifiers indicate how the assertion is interpreted, whether it is probable, contingent, or true. Finally, possible reservations or objections are taken into account.

Toulmin's model is best suited to the needs of the modern researcher. Source: pixabay.com

Examples

The National Autonomous University of Mexico in its Digital University Magazine proposes the following examples:

First example

Assertion: The student desks and the teachers' chairs should be replaced by group work tables.

Evidence: Students work in isolation from the group if they stay at their desks. This means that the desk stops teamwork and highlights the difference that exists between the students' space and the teacher's.

Guarantee: The performance of teamwork is more efficient than individual work.

Endorsement: The Johnson & Johnson Company has found that a cooperative approach - that is, group work - allows tasks to be accomplished more easily.

Reservation: Unless a job or activity must be performed that is necessarily individual.

Modal qualifier: “should”.

Second example

Assertion: Generally, the baccalaureate taught in public institutions is exclusive.

Evidence: There is a high percentage of public school graduates who do not pass the exam to enter the university. This means that most of the students who pass come from private schools.

Guarantee: Equal opportunity is one of the fundamental values of the nation.

Endorsement: The constitution establishes the right to study.

Reservation: Unless the individual maintains other interests.