Exam 5: How Is a Unit of Argument Created

The secondary triad in the Toulmin Model of argument, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal, show an argument's strength or force.

"A nuclear waste dump would benefit the local economy," is a

"The United States should not sell grain to China," is a factual claim.

Read the following argument and then answer multiple choice items. The lakeshore condominium project will threaten the ecology of the Lake Superior shoreline. The plan calls for widening Lakeshore Drive to four lanes, putting in six highrise buildings, and building a four-foot wall around the complex. Look what happened when a similar project was built in Duluth-water fowl lost their nesting places and the grasses that hold the shoreline were uprooted by construction equipment. When there is a major construction project along a shoreline, the plant and animal life are harmed. -"Look what happened when a similar project was built in Duluth-water fowl lost their nesting places and the grasses that hold the shoreline were uprooted by construction equipment," functions as which part of this unit of argument?

Qualifier phrases show the degree of force which the arguer believes his claim possesses.

"The lakeshore condominium project will offer potential buyers a variety of options, but it may be too expensive for most potential home buyers in the Marquette area," is

Read the following argument, and then answer multiple choice question. "This is an unsatisfactory place to live, because unemployment nationally is running at a lower rate than it is here. The U.S. Department of Labor announced an 8.5% national rate of unemployment while the State Employment Security Commission has said that the local unemployment rate is 11.5%." -"This is an unsatisfactory place to live" functions as

The provides specific information about how the arguer reasons.

"For the bookstore to pay students less that the wholesale value for a used textbook is an outrage," is an example of a factual claim.

"It is morally wrong to sell grain to China," is a factual claim.

Rebuttal phrases show the degree of force which the arguer believes his claim possesses.

"The lakeshore condominium project will benefit the local economy," is

Read the following argument and then answer multiple choice items. The lakeshore condominium project will threaten the ecology of the Lake Superior shoreline. The plan calls for widening Lakeshore Drive to four lanes, putting in six highrise buildings, and building a four-foot wall around the complex. Look what happened when a similar project was built in Duluth-water fowl lost their nesting places and the grasses that hold the shoreline were uprooted by construction equipment. When there is a major construction project along a shoreline, the plant and animal life are harmed. -"When there is a major construction project along a shoreline, the plant and animal life are harmed," functions as which part of this unit of argument?

The reasoning process in a unit of argument is moving from grounds, through the warrant, to proving the claim statement.

A claim may offer a conclusion about a fact, definition, value, or policy.

The reliability of the warrant is established by the in the argument.

The backing provides the mental leap from grounds to claim.

In general, the evidence used to ground your arguments can be tested by determining whether or not it

"The bookstore typically pays students about 40% of the wholesale value of a used textbook," is an example of a factual claim.

"The United States will continue to sell grain to China," is a factual claim.