For this unit’s Discussion, you will use the Toulmin Model to analyze your argument for change.
Before submitting your post, please review the
following podcast, “Argument and the
Toulmin Model,” The transcript
is available at
https://kuportal-a.akamaihd.net/ascmedia/kuwc/podcasts/38toulminargument.pdf
Then, respond to the following prompts in at least two well-developed paragraphs:
- Share your revised thesis statement and identify the claim and warrant in that statement. Will the audience be likely to agree with your warrant, and if not, how might you revise the thesis?
- Which of the logical appeals might be most useful to emphasize, and what logical fallacies might you need to avoid with this argument?
Here is an example of a
thesis statement with the claim and warrant:
Thesis: The United States should abolish capital punishment because it
does not reduce the crime rate.
Claim: The United States should abolish capital punishment.
Warrant: (may not be directly stated): If something does not reduce
the crime rate, then it should not be used.
To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at
least two peers’ initial Discussion posts and show active engagement in the
discussion as described in the grading rubric. These responses should stay on
topic and generate further discussion by asking questions, mentioning relevant
examples, and if possible, referencing concepts from the unit Learning
Activities.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in
complete sentences using Standard American English. Before posting, proofread for
grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every
aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Learning Activities, be
sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you
are directly quoting the Learning Activities or another source, be sure to use
quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full
references. Kaplan University Writing Center has resources on APA citation formatting.
You can review a sample Discussion post and response to a peer by
clicking on the following link: Unit 4 Sample Discussion Assignment.
You can review the rubric the instructor will use when determining your Discussion grade by clicking on the following link: Discussion Assignment Grading Rubric.
