Class Notes For September 12th.

Today in class we learned about the grounds(data) section of the Toulmin Model of Arguement.

The grounds is the basis of a real persuasion.
It is the evidence, reasons, opinions, examples, and facts you've gather to bolster your claim.

Common Types of Argument Support

Facts.
Vivid, real, indeffiable and verfiable information of more or less objective nature.

Opinions
Interpertations/reasoning (yours/ot that of experts) of relevant factual information.

Examples
For the purpose of clarification and illustration of facts and opinions.

Facts
Factual data is a powerful argumentative weapon.
Detailed reports of specfic events
Experimental reports
Physical evidence
Statistics

Ex.
Claim: It looks like it's going to rain.
Grounds: The barometer is falling.

Opinions
Statements involving opinion do have a role in argumentative.
It depends upon the argumentative situation.
Opinions can't exist without facts from which they stem.
Opinions are interpertations of facts.
Overwhelming majority of claims involve an expression of interpretation rather than on of pure fact.
Carefully select meaningful opinions audeiences ability for recongnize and distinguish them from ill-found hearsay and gossip.

Credibility
Who's opinions do we trust?

Renowned authorities?
Credentialed experts experts?
Celebrity endorsers?
Family/Best friends?
Ourseleves?

Different arguments call for different sources for opinions.

Claim: It looks like it's going to rain.
Grounds: The Accu-weather report said it would.

Examples
Examples help clarify points and makes material more memorable.

Hypothetical examples can demonstrate posibilities.

Real examples may be more convincing because it's reality.

"This one time at band camp, I was..."
Personal example drawn from persnoal experiences require a bridge.

"Let's say you were at band camp..."
A hypothetical is useful if the audience can place themselves in a situation.

"During band camp last year..."
Less personal more factual.

General
Calling something fata or fact doesn't make it "true", since all such evidence is based on preception/assumption.

Facts do not always have to me 100% true

Your grounds must stand strongly.
Grounds may be challenged so strongly that they become claims themselves, which would require the arguer to come up with more grounds for support.

Hardfactual data works very well for logical and rational people not with people who are emotional.

By Richard Basiaga