Media watch: Building the argument
for the final project
You’ve already developed an idea (argument) for your final
project. This week, we’re beginning to create its structure.
Structure
of your project: Your completed
project will follow the structure of the Toulmin argument, which is described
in detail in Chapter 7: Structuring Arguments and is outlined below. The
purpose behind the steps of Toulmin argument is to create an argument worth
making, and supportable with reasonable and relevant evidence.
Your completed
argument will have the following sections. For this week, please post
the first four parts (claim, qualifier, good reasons for
claim, and warrants) of the formal Toulmin structure we’re using for
this project. Refer to page 156+ in the textbook for more information about
outlining a Toulmin argument.
Here are the
steps of a Toulmin argument:
Claim (argument)
Qualifier (limits to claim)
Good reasons for your claim (why claim matters)
Warrants (assumptions) that show why the claim is important and
should be made
Backing that supports the warrant(s)
Evidence (qualitative evidence and/or quantitative evidence)
Authority (of sources)
Conditions of rebuttal (potential objections to your argument)
Responses to rebuttal (answers to objections)
Conclusion of argument (linking back to claim)
Here’s an applied
example that focuses on the uses and limits of a news source: the newsletter
from a local animal shelter:
Claim (argument): The
shelter’s newsletter is a timely source of information and positive
stories about the work of the animal shelter.
Qualifier (limits of the claim): While the newsletter gives facts about their work, such as animals
adopted and financial information, it limits its scope to the community
directly around the shelter, and to concerns directly affecting the
shelter. It does not include information about any other shelters, and
generally focuses on positive news.
Good reason(s) for the claim: The shelter newsletter uses an appealing mix of hard evidence
and emotional appeal to engage the audience. There are only stories
about the shelter’s progress with getting animals adopted, offering
support to pet owners (such as training), and heartwarming stories about
pets.
Warrants (assumptions) that show why the claim is important and
should be made: People
want to know what local organizations are doing to make a positive impact,
and ongoing communication is an important way to keep people interested –
and more likely to contribute financially, donate goods, or adopt.
Backing: Increases in
all kinds of donations (volunteer time, financial, or material goods)
correlate to effective communications about positive stories or to direct
appeals in cases of acute need.
Evidence: Relevant
articles that provide examples of the newsletter as a source of
information and positive stories about the work of the shelter. (Evidence
relates directly back to claim)
Authority (of the sources): Establish the authority of the sources (articles).
Conditions of rebuttal (anticipate potential objections to the
argument):
An organization’s newsletter usually only has positive stories. so
the newsletter may not be telling the whole story (stacking the deck
fallacy)
They always ask for money and donations
News about the shelter is not as important as other news, such as
local, state, regional, or national news affecting people
Responses to rebuttal (address the potential objections):
We all know that animal shelters deal with very difficult
decisions; the newsletter is reporting on the positive part of the
shelter’s progress in their work (work that no other organization is
doing)
The shelter is upfront about the fact that it is volunteers and
donors that make their work possible
Yes, there is a lot of other news, and people are dealing with many
issues; the shelter is focused on dealing with local issues related to
animals and their well-being, which is often not reported in depth by
media sources
Conclusion (connects back to the claim to conclude): The shelter’s newsletter uniquely fills an important need
to communicate the shelter’s work to a local audience, and in the process
furthers the shelter’s mission.
Guidelines
For this
week, please post the first four parts (claim,
qualifier, good reasons for claim, and warrants):
1.
Post the first four steps of your
proposal for this project (see the list of steps).
·
Your claim should be based on the media source you have been
following. See feedback (last week) about your proposed idea.
Use only a sentence or two for each step – consider this post a rough
draft as you develop the project.
Please use ABC World News Tonight with David Muir for news articles.
Also please submit turnitin and No AI work.
