Title: Competency Assessment: (CU2 M2) Reading Analysis
Course: SkillsCom WR 122 15.0 > Section: Credit Unit 2 Module 2 - Applying Toulmin

Analyze and evaluate four high-quality written arguments using the Toulmin argument analysis model.

The purpose of this paper is to help you learn to clearly understand the elements of argument, be able to use them to analyze arguments for their issue, claim, support, etc., and be able to effectively evaluate their effectiveness and fairness.

Demonstrate competence in the following skills:

1. Accurately and thoughtfully analyze arguments using the Toulmin analysis method.
2. Thoughtfully analyze the background and motives/interests of both the intended audience and the arguer for each argument.
3. Evaluate both the effectiveness/persuasiveness of each argument (in light of the interests and background of the intended audience) and the fairness of each argument.
4. Articulate what you learned about persuasion, human motives, and power by doing these analyses and evaluations.

Use at least two editorials from major newspapers or magazines, plus two additional sources that you find while completing research for Essay 2.

Copy the sections below (1, 2, and 3) four times into a blank page in your word processor. Then copy the "Overall Conclusion" section and paste it in below the four analysis sections. Turn in one file when complete.

Argument #1 (or 2,3,4): Title of the Argument, Author, Source:

- Introduction: Why I chose this argument. Why did you pick this argument?
- Toulmin Analysis and Analysis of the Rhetorical Situation
- Issue: What is the issue or question being argued? Why is it an interesting or significant issue?
- Arguer/Forum: Who is the author/arguer, when and where was the argument published, and why is he or she a credible person in terms of this issue? What do you think the arguer's motives and interests are? Biased? Unbiased? Why?
- Claim: What is the author's claim, in your words? Is it a claim of fact, value, or policy?
- Support (Reasons and Evidence): What are the main reasons the author/arguer gives for supporting the claim, and what evidence does he or she provide? What kinds of evidence (logos, ethos, pathos) are these reasons and evidence?
- Warrants: What are one or two beliefs, values, or other assumptions that are behind these reasons?
- Audience and Common Ground: Who is the intended audience? What are their relevant interests, concerns, beliefs, desires, level of education, etc? What common ground might they share with the arguer? Not?
- Evaluation: Given the nature of the intended audience, was this argument effective? Fair? Why?

After all 4 analyses, write a conclusion of 'What I learned about persuasion by doing these analyses and evaluations.' Please write no less than one well-organized paragraph discussing what you’ve discovered about your argument or topic from analyzing these pieces.