It can be helpful to use Toulmin’s model (illustrated below) as the basis for building your argument. Toulmin’s model is a style of argumentation that can help you structure individual arguments within your assignment or structure all your arguments to be part of a single overall argument. 

The Toulmin model consists of three fundamental parts: the claim, the grounds and the warrant. These three parts together make up the argument. There are three optional additional elements: the qualifier, backing and the rebuttal. 

It’s usually also a good idea to give the argument some context. It’s important that the reader knows why the argument is relevant, how it contributes, what others have argued in relation to your argument, etc. This applies to your arguments at sentence level, but particularly in relation to the assignment as a whole. 

Reinforce argumentation with particular words 

You can support your argumentation linguistically by using so-called argumentation words: because, that is, therefore, so, namely, in order to, for that reason, as, given that, is the reason, consequently, in consequence, hence, nevertheless, however, on the other hand. 

Click here to read more about academic language

Use the Toulmin model to help structure your assignment around a single argument.

Using the model to structure your argumentation, will help you keep track of your argumentation and spot any gaps in your argumentation. The model can also help give the assignment focus and the infamous common thread. 

Fill out the handout based on the Toulmin model: 

Here you can see some examples of assignments that are structured as one argument. The examples are from linguistics and Science & Technology, and they show how the parts of  the Toulmin model are used in an academic assignment and in a scientific article.

Use the model on other people's texts 

You can also use the Toulmin model to analyse the argumentation in other people's texts, e.g. when you need to compare or evaluate scientific articles and surveys in connection with an assignment or a presentation, or if you need to provide feedback on other students' assignments or presentations. 

The different sub-elements of the argumentation appear in different sections of an academic assignment. Below is a standard outline for academic assignments, showing which parts of the argument belong in which sections.  

Remember that this is a template. In some assignments, it will make more sense to present the elements of the argument differently. For example, the rebuttal and backing can be presented and discussed on an ongoing basis rather than in a single section. Please note that some courses have their own requirements for the structure of assignments. However, the structure alone does not make an assignment academic. The argumentation does.