Jonathan Coleman Toulmin Model Example

The Use of the Toulmin Model
When writing a valid argumentative paper, it is important to have all of the necessary parts to make it successful. The Toulmin Model is a method proposed by Stephen Toulmin in which the paper encompasses integral parts of an argument. The Toulmin Model consists of a seven step process to project the argument within the article. The steps used include: the claim, the stated reasons, grounds, the warrant, backing, the conditions of rebuttal, and the qualifier. The use of these steps in your essay can make your argument effective when trying to get your point across. The author, Jonathan Coleman, uses the Toulmin Model in his article, “Is Technology Making Us Intimate Strangers?” Coleman’s article will be used as

an example for argumentative writing throughout this essay.
Every argument has a claim, otherwise known as the main idea or the position that the author is standing for. The claim does not necessarily have to be at the beginning of the argument. Coleman proposed his claim in the eighth paragraph of his article and stated, “Technology for the most part, creates the illusion of intimacy” (Coleman 484). There are also the stated reasons that correspond with the claim. They are the ideas in which you feel the way you do about the main idea or the claim. In Coleman’s article, his stated reasons are that technology “foils us,” “keeps us from the best of ourselves, and enables us to avoid others,” and “it makes us intimate strangers” (Coleman 484). The author proposed these stated reasons right after he gave his claim. For your stated reasons you must have some type of evidence to make your ideas valid. Otherwise known as the grounds. An example of one of the grounds that Coleman used was from his own personal experience. He said “a father [was] more intent on the cell-phone call conversation . . .than on watching his daughter play” (Coleman 483). The three steps used are a main part in the argument when bringing your whole idea together.
There is a belief that is beyond the claim, called the warrant.

The warrant is not stated in the argument, more so, it is what you interpret from the main idea. In Coleman’s article his warrant would be something along the lines off, the use of technology draws our attention away from humanity and we should be engaged in the connection with people and life.. Grounds are evidence of the stated reasons as to backing is with the warrant. Backing is the evidence that supports the warrant. The example that Coleman used for backing was how some people are too busy on their electronic devices to notice the little things in life like “. . .[how] the light hits the magnificent public library at a particular time . . .” (Coleman 484). Without the warrant and grounds, then there would not be statement for the claim to be made.
It’s imperative to understand the oppositions beliefs in an argument. Without doing so, the audience may feel as though your argument is not fair. After stating the ideas that the opposition’s may have, you would propose reasons on why they were wrong. Usually, rebuttals are found more towards the end of the argument after the author stated the claim and warrant, but it can be placed anywhere. There are some arguments that do not contain all of the steps in Toulmin Model. It is unfortunate that Coleman did not include the conditions of the rebuttal in his

argument.
The last step that is going be discussed is the qualifier. The qualifier is the way you limit the amplitude of your argument. The use of words like “most” would be qualified because it shows that you are not definite on whether your claim is completely true or not. Coleman stated his qualifier where he stated his claim. He said “technology for the most part . . .” and that is the qualifier. It is the qualifier because it shows not everyone feels the same way as he does. Within arguments people will doubt your claim, and if you have the qualifier it would be easier for those opposing to understand your claim.
The Toulmin Model is a helpful technique that can be used in argumentative essays, articles, magazines, and such. It provides the author with certain steps that will make the argument succeed better. The seven steps are the claim, the stated reasons, grounds, warrant, backing, conditions of rebuttal, and qualifiers. In the article, “Is Technology Making Us Intimate Strangers?” The way Jonathan Coleman used these steps was mostly effective. However, including the conditions of rebuttal would have ensured it to be a well-thought agrument.