The Toulmin Method

Writing a written argument is an act which many people recommend you master. The Toulmin method facilitates the way one analyzes an argument. Stephen Toulmin gives us the basics to this method which allows many people to respond to the argument given and also leads one to improve the argument made. Toulmin’s method invites one to examine the claim, reasons, qualifiers, evidence, warrant backing, rebuttals for any counter-arguments, and exceptions of an argument to decide the effectiveness of an argument. In the article titled “The Locavore Myth: Why buying from nearby farmers won’t save the planet,” James McWilliams argues that although the Locavore movement has brought attention to industrialized food, the movement does not prevent damage …show more content…
The different parts that are necessary for a successful argument are used and therefore makes McWilliams argument a success. Some of the main parts that make up an argument are the claim, the use of qualifiers and evidence that the author makes. Without the claim, the writer has nothing to debate about and the argument would be over before it even started. McWilliams’ claim is that the Locavore movement is not completely protecting and saving the earth because it does not take into account the other factors that use energy and contribute to the ruin of the earth. The author leads the reader to think that he will be writing on ALL the “other energy-hogging factors in food production.” The way McWilliams phrases his claim lets the reader know how far he is willing to go to prove his assertion. Qualifiers are another part of the Toulmin method that helps strengthen the argument. Notice how McWilliams uses the phrase “a lot of them” when referring to the fans of the locavore movement that are “making a big mistake”. If McWilliams used the phrase “all of them” he would have allowed opportunities for others to oppose his argument. Using qualifiers make it more manageable and easier to defend ones position because they prevent disputes from those who …show more content…
This chain of reasoning that connects the reason to the claim is known as the warrant. McWilliams does this by keeping in mind that “water usage, fertilizer types, processing methods and packaging techniques” and ” far outweighs the energy it takes to transport food”. McWilliams reasons that because all of these other factors also contribute to the problems of the food industry, food miles are not the only component that make up and add to these problems. In order to back up his warrant McWilliams uses the analysis done by Rich Pirog of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. The analysis shows “that transportation accounts for only eleven percent of foods carbon footprint” which makes his warrant credible by using