"I think I'm getting it." When I guided a student through Toulmin's Argummentative Pattern, he volunteered that response. I was walking hurriedly away to the other arms that have been raised for the last five minutes. But any observer could tell my gait became lighter and the next student I talked to was spoken to with more gentleness and warmth.
Arguments need clear logical thinking and it's a widely known fact that most people in the school I teach in do not have the full capacity of that faculty of thought. This lesson is therefore dreaded by teachers and students alike.
But in any task I'm assigned, I always dig my heels in and go for it. To me, work assigned equals to no escape. There's no turning back.
Thanks to Toulmin, the students ploughed through Claim, Reason, Grounds, Warrant and Backing with me. These students are poor in English but they are thinking hard. Strange how enchanting Toulmin's argumentative pattern could be.
When the bell rang, all of us were satisfied. A ten-minute exercise has stretched to 50 minutes. But it was worth it!
