Toulmin Assignment

Due:

Format: Instructions and Guidelines: With that said, please complete the following steps for each of the statements:

1.  Map the argument, using Toulminís model of argument analysis.

2.  Identify and illustrate one syllogism operating in this argument (one form of the deductive logic--Categorical, Hypothetical, or Disjunctive), following the form offered in class and in the online lecture notes. Example:

"No wonder there are so many shootings in the U.S.; anyone can walk into a store and buy a gun."

If I were doing this assignment, I would present the following information:

I argue that in this statement, the main claim could be stated as: "Shootings are the result of gun ownership." Much of the "big picture" argument is implied, but the advocate seems to be arguing that because we in the U.S. have the freedom to buy and possess firearms, the crime rate (as defined by shootings) is high. The argument is causal, specifically "Effect to Cause."

(You arenít required to provide this basic explanation, but it may be a good idea to explain how you approached the statement as well as how youíre interpreting the argument. If you complete your illustrations and feel like you need to supply more information, you may choose to come back and write an introductory paragraph like this one. You also arenít required to identify the specific type of argument in your assignment, but it is useful to know what type of argument youíre working with, and also helps me (the evaluator) see what youíre thinking and how youíre interpreting the statement).
 
 

Grounds:

Buying a gun is legal.
("Anyone can walk into a store and buy a gun.")
 

Warrant:

People who own guns will shoot them (implied). 

Claim:

The high number of shootings in the U.S. is the result of easy accessibility. 

 A possible hypothetical syllogism working in this example is:

1.  If people can readily buy guns, they will shoot other people.

2.  Owning a gun in the United States is easy (affirms the antecedent)

3.  Therefore, there are so many shootings in the U.S.

(This is a faulty argument; the major premise of the argument is not universally accepted.  You don't have to identify or correct the fault, so this is just FYI.  You should be aware of whether the logic is faulty or not)

Hereís another example of a syllogism operating in this example?you donít have to provide two, Iím just giving this as an example:

1.  Gun ownership (All A) is associated with high incidence of shooting (is B)

2.  In the U.S. (C), you can buy a gun anywhere (is A)

3.  Therefore, in the U.S. (C), there will be a high shooting rate (is B).

Again, the logic in this argument is faulty. You donít have to identify the fault or correct the argument, but FYI: The major premise here is not universal and all-inclusive. Although the minor premise may be true, the conclusion is not warranted, because the universal premise is not necessarily true)
 
 


Please analyze the following statements for your assignment:
1.  Fords are lousy cars. Iíve had nothing but trouble with my Ford since I first bought it. Iíll never buy another Ford product again.

2.  You said that in order to receive an A for this course we students needed to do very well on the final exam. I did very well on the final exam. So why did you give me only a B for the course?

3.  You must be doing something wrong. We never had any problem with the windows in this apartment until after you moved in.

4.  Our records show that students who do poorly in college tend to be overstressed. It seems clear that stress contributes to doing poorly in college.

5.  No wonder we were so unsuccessful in the Vietnam War; nearly half the army was on drugs.

6.  Iíve noticed that when my dog barks for a long time, it makes him really hungry. Whenever I feed him just after heís been barking for a long time, he really gobbles up his food.

7.  All three sex offenders arrested this month by municipal police had previous records for the same crime. It seems that once a sex offender, always a sex offender.