Toulmin Essay Topics

Laptops in the Classroom



Do you think laptops should be encouraged, allowed, or banned from the college classroom? Find below two arguments for and against. Read them, then use one as a source to argue your position in a Toulminian style. Utilise the source you do not agree with as a source for your opposition section.


Why students using laptops learn less in class even when they really are taking notes - Fred Barbash




Don't Ban Laptops in the Classroom - Nicole Short

ENG 105 - Toulmin Argument Outline

Toulminian Argument is named after British philosopher Stephen Toulmin. Essentially, Toulmin argues that good, realistic arguments consist of 6 parts. Support, Claim, Warrant, Qualifier, Rebuttal, and Backing. See the Inventing Argument text for further reading.

See an example argument:
Congress should ban animal research (Claim #1) because animals are tortured in experiments that
have no necessary benefit for humans such as the testing of cosmetics (Support). The well being of
animals is more important than the profits of the cosmetics industry (Warrant). Only congress has the
authority to make such a law (Warrant) because the corporations can simply move from state to state
to avoid legal penalties (Backing). Of course, this ban should not apply to medical research (Qualifier). A
law to ban all research would go too far (Rebuttal).
So, the law would probably (Qualifier) have to be carefully written to define the kinds of research
intended (Claim #2).

Toulmin Outline
I. Introduction of the problem or topic.
    A. Material to get the reader's attention (a "hook")
    B. Introduce the problem or topic
    C. Introduce our claim or thesis, perhaps with accompanying qualifiers that limit the scope of
         the argument. (NB: This will help you cut the topic down to a manageable length.)
II. Offer support for the argument.
    A. Support #1
    B. Support #2
    C. (and so on)
III. Explore warrants that show how the data logically is connected to the data
    A. Warrant #1
    B. Warrant #2
    C. (and so on)
IV. Offer factual backing to show that logic used in the warrants is good in term of realism as well
as theory.
    A. Backing for Warrant #1
    B. Backing for Warrant #2
    C. (and so on)
V. Discuss counter-arguments and provide rebuttal
    A. Counter-argument #1
    B. Rebuttal to counter-argument #1
    C. Counter-argument #2
    D. Rebuttal to counter-argument #2
    E. (and so on)
VI. Conclusion
    A. Implications of the argument, summation of points, or final evocative thought to ensure the
         reader remembers the argument.

Read Ryan Brown's "Community of Cars" or Lynda Smith's "Disconnected."

ENG 105 - Rogerian Argument Prompts and Research Topic Exercise

Source: Wikipedia

Use the following prompt for your Rogerian Essay. You MUST read both articles in order to construct your argument.You need to use your rhetorical analysis skills to identify the claims and support of both sides, and also how they deal with their respective oppositions. Think carefully about the types of values both sides seem to have and consider how you can use those to come to a workable conclusion.

1. The topic of marriage has been a popular issue recently, largely in relation to marriage equality. However, how popular is marriage at all? Read these two conflicting perspectives on marriage and cosntruct your own Rogerian argument to come to your own conclusions.

Articles:
"Skirting the Issue: Since when did getting married become so unfashionable" by Louisa Peacock
"We need to have a frank discussion about marriage" by Tauriq Moosa





Secondly, we need to start thinking about our Final Projects. Start brainstorming your topics and feel free to email me for my input.

ENG 105 - Rogerian Outline

ROGERIAN STYLE OUTLINE: (may vary due to the length of your essay… each section shown here can include many more points and supporting details/evidence)


I. Introduction: This should be a detailed definition of the exigence and rhetorical situation.

II. The body of the paper begins with a classification and division of Side A and Side B.

A. This introduces the con position of the debate. (OPPOSITION)

1. This should be the first major issue to support the ‘opposing side’
a. This is a minor detail supporting number '1'.
b. This is a second minor detail supporting number '1'.

2. This is the second major detail to support the ‘opposing side’
a. This is a minor detail supporting number '2'.
b. This is a second minor detail supporting number '2'.

etc.

B. This introduces the ‘proposition’ of the debate. (YOUR SIDE)

1. This should be the first major issue to support the ‘pro side’
a. This is a minor detail supporting number '1'.
b. This is a second minor detail supporting number '1'.

2. This is the second major detail to support the ‘pro side’
c. This is a minor detail supporting number '2'.
d. This is a second minor detail supporting number '2'.

etc.

C. This particular section compares and contrasts the issues in order
to highlight the differences between the pro and opposing position (can use the
information from the two sides in the sections above)

1. This might begin with a sentence stating a pro position.
2. The following might point out a con position.
3. The next point might refute a previous claim.
4. The next point might restate a position.


III. Drawing a conclusion.
It should recount the highlights of the argument, but it draws a logical conclusion or compromise. See the example essay you read in your text – Obesity Lawsuits by Nancy Hall. For more material see the Youtube video we watched in class as well as a lengthier guide here.

ENG 105: Critical Response Outlining

Introduction:Identify the writer and the text and follow with a summary of the writer's main claims.

For e.g.
In "A Community of Cars" Ryan Brown asserts that we have become a society that is overly reliant on the convenience that cars provide. This unfortunately, is to our detriment as seen in the negative impacts this driving culture has to our environment, our health, and our sense of community.

Body:
In the body, you should identify each of the writer's supporting claims and determine what sort of support (example, evidence, appeal) he chooses to use. Deal with each supporting claim independently.

For e.g.I. There is a negative impact on our environment caused by our addiction to the convenience of cars.
According to Brown, the damage done to our environment by cars varies from the ground-level ozone produced by traffic to the expansion of roadways that "tear up the countryside, destroying wildlife routes and habitats" (39). He uses statistical evidence, pointing towards the rising rates of asthma levels in children between 1980 and 1995 (39).

Conclusion:
In the conclusion, talk about your personal reaction to the argument. How much have you been convinced? How does the writer's rhetoric affect the way you perceive his argument? Do you think it is intriguing enough to sway people who may have held an opposing view prior to reading it?

For e.g.
All in all, Brown posits a competent argument against our reliance on cars. While his emotional and character appeals in terms of the loss of community, environment, and health are seductive ones, he seems to disregard litigating factors such as the increasing population and the increased demand for goods and transportation that follows.