Dr. Bob's 

Critical Thinking Site
[ Home ] [ About Dr. Bob ] [ Argument Model ] [ Fallacies ]

 

Warrant Page

The Warrant is what connects the evidence with the claim.  It is the reason given for accepting the evidence as support for the stated claim.  Steven Toulmin called the warrant "a bridge that entitles one to draw a conclusion."  To put it another way, the warrant represents the reasoning process the arguer uses.  Warrants are sometimes directly stated in the argument, but often they are assumed.  Consider the following argument: 

Back to Elements

Example #1

John: We should not buy a Ford. (claim)
Mary: Why not?
John: I owned a Ford once and I could not keep it out of the repair shop. (evidence)

John's unstated warrant is that his one-time experience with Ford automobiles is sufficient to draw a conclusion about future experiences with Fords.  Even if John's claim is clear and his evidence true, his argument fails because the warrant is faulty.  John's one-time experience is not sufficient to draw the conclusion he has made.  

If arguers think listeners will not grasp the warrant or will not agree with it, they must state it clearly and, if necessary, provide some backing for the warrant.  Consider the following argument: 

Example #2

John: The best diet for losing excess weight is a low carbohydrate diet, such as the South Beach diet. (claim)
Mary: How do you know that?
John: My friend Lucile has told me so. (evidence)  
Mary: So, why should we believe Lucile? 
John:  Lucile knows what she is talking about (warrant) because she works as a nutritionist and has a Master's Degree in the field.  (backing for warrant) 

Example #3
John: The United States should increase its contribution to the United Nations World Food Program. (claim)
Mary: The United States already gives to that program. Why should we increase our donation?
John: Doing so will save thousands more from death by starvation (support).  
Mary: But, is it America's responsibility?
John: A country as affluent as ours has a responsibility to do everything it can to prevent starvation (warrant).

Click here to learn more about thinking critically about warrants.

back to the top