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Toulmin Method in an online world

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The model of argument dissection Toulmin developed is fairly straightforward yet powerful as it allows for a simple, repeatable process to break an argument down.   The simple approach is beneficial to sorting through the argument noise encountered every day, both professional and personally.   The ability to argue seems as popular as ever with online platforms facilitating the ability to argue in a much easier fashion, for better or worse.   The caveat to this is it often isn’t about argument, or critical thinking, rather, who can ‘scream’ the loudest – I could also make this case this situation arises professionally as well.   All that aside, identifying the three main elements of an argument (claim, reason, and evidence) as well as the warrant can greatly assist in sorting through the noise that often accompanies an argument. The advent of instantaneous information, valid or not, I believe has helped argumentation.   The challenge, however, is e...
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Someone on the Internet is Wrong

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Clay Shirky, in his article “ We are indeed less willing to agree on what constitutes truth ” highlights his particular point of the power of the Internet and its ability to see what people actually think.   Shirky’s commentary is salient as it exposes the freedom the Internet provides – it is a platform for any and all, the intelligent and ignorant, for all to publish their opinion for all to see and respond to, possible consequences be damned.   This liberty, unrestrained and unfiltered, pervades media outlets as well which should cause the public to question their objectivity.   As Shirky notes, “Each organization will have to try to convince its audience that it is trustworthy, without being able to rely on residual respect for any such entity as ‘the press.’ . . . They can no longer fall back on “experts,” as if every professor or researcher is equally trustworthy.”   Even though this development can be framed as a negative, it should be viewed as a positive –...
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Are We Sharing Too Much Online?

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Social media is a dynamic development that has had an incredible impact in a relatively short amount of time.   Inherently the platform developed has provided a conduit for sharing and some may argue oversharing.   This freedom to share is the main point examined on this blog post and attempts to answer the question of are we sharing too much online? Disclaimer – I use social media on a very limited basis.   I have a Google+ account that I created at some point and never used and a LinkedIn account that I use regularly for professional purposes.   As I mentioned in the first paragraph, a social media platform provides an initially judgement free platform to freely share thoughts, emotions, pictures, etc – notice I said initially.   I tend to believe this freedom is intoxicating which is what spawns the desire to share.   Face to face interactions can generate feelings of rejection and judgement upon the release of information where social media does...
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