Academic Literacies 2

Tutorial Week 5:
Argument Analysis
The Toulmin Model of Argument
 The elements of an argument
 Claim
 Grounds
 Warrants
 Backing
 Rebuttal
 Qualification
(Ebest et al. 2005:373)

 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resourc
e/588/03/
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Worksheet 2: Argument analysis
 “Milk and dairy products are rich in vitamin D and
calcium, substances essential for building and
maintaining bones. Many people therefore believe that a
diet rich in dairy products can help prevent osteoporosis,
a disease in which the bones weaken significantly with
age and that is linked to both environmental and genetic
factors. But a long-term study of a large number of
people has found that those who have consistently
consumed dairy products throughout the years of the
study have a higher rate of bone fractures than any
other participants in the study. Since bone fractures are
a symptom of osteoporosis, this study result shows that
a diet rich in dairy products may actually increase,
rather than decrease, the risk of osteoporosis."

Regional Writing Centre 3

Argument analysis
Read and analyse the argument carefully.
Write a critique of the argument.
 What claims, conclusions, and underlying
assumptions does the argument make? Are
these valid?
 What alternative explanations and
counterexamples can you think of?
 What additional evidence might weaken or
strengthen the claims?
 What changes in the argument would make
the reasoning more sound?

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Peer review
Assessment criteria
Elements under consideration during assessment of the
critique of the argument are;
 ability to identify and analyse important features of the
argument;
 ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique
of the argument;
 ability to organise, develop and express your critique of the
argument coherently;
 ability to support your critique with relevant reasons and
examples taken from the article;
 clarity and depth of the critique;
 clarity and precision of expression and presentation;
 clarity of writing including grammar, punctuation, spelling
and sentence construction;
 use of appropriate and consistent referencing and citation
conventions.
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Reminder: Portfolio Stage 1
 Identify the research/writing tasks that you must
complete in your other modules.
 Choose two research/writing assignments that will
become the focus of your portfolio for this module.
 Initiate and develop an academic writing and
research plan, including a detailed timeline for
these two writing assignments. Prepare an outline
of each of theses writing assignments, identifying
the organising principle of each and the method of
development and organisation (300 words per
assignment).
 Submit in Week 6 to your lab tutor.

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Portfolio Stage 1 (10%)
 It should include:
 an overview of the two chosen writing
assignments.
 an academic writing and research plan, including
a detailed timeline for these two writing
assignments.
 an outline of each of theses writing assignments,
identifying the organising principle of each and
the method of development and organisation.
 300 words per assignment
 Submit in Week 6 to your lab tutor.

Regional Writing Centre 7