
Toulmin’s method of argument underlies many of the most common and persuasive forms of academic argument that we read and compose. Most of us, however, don’t know the theory or the terminology behind this method. In this Credit Unit, students will be introduced to the Toulmin method for composing and analyzing arguments, along with a few other common argument forms. Then, as part of composing the first argumentative paper, students will use the Toulmin approach to analyze research on their chosen topics before applying its structure to their own writing.
Credit Unit Outcomes:
- Analyze the rhetorical needs (the needs of their audience in relationship to the assignment) for college-level persuasive writing assignments.
- Apply appropriate levels of critical thinking strategies (knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation) in their written assignments, with an emphasis on analysis and evaluation/persuasion.
- Implement appropriate rhetorical elements and organization (introduction, thesis, development and support, counter-argument, conclusion, etc.) in their written assignments, with an emphasis on standard argument models, particularly the Toulmin model.
- Locate, evaluate, and integrate high-quality information and opinion appropriate for college-level analysis and argument assignments.
- Craft sentences and paragraphs that communicate their ideas clearly and effectively using words, sentence patterns, and writing conventions at a high college level to make their writing clear, credible, and persuasive.