The Toulmin Method of Argumentation is a complicated yet effective argumentation structure that enables the writer to set up their argument while considering their opponent’s perspectives. However, “Content and Form” was easy to comprehend because of the way it was structured. The text opened up with a thesis which is the first element of the Toulmin method. In this text, the thesis is “Rhetoric requires understanding a fundamental division between what is communicated through language and how this is communicated.” So in this text, the author wants us to accept his claim about understanding rhetoric by knowing the difference between what is being said and how it is being said. In the next few paragraphs, it explained the importance of the logical content of a speech and the style and delivery of a speech. It explained how distinct they are from one another using the Toulmin method. The text used the main elements like claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal. The text was building up to make its claim stronger and acceptable.

Reflection

Using the Toulmin method made it easier for me to accept the claim. This method was useful when I was reading this text. Knowing the elements and the order of when they appear helped me because I knew what was coming next and how they relate to eachother. It helped me determine what each part of the text meant to the main claim. This was my first time using and it went quite well. I hope to use this method more in the future.