The Toulmin system.

1. Make your claim (arguable statement).

   The federal government should ban smoking.

2. Qualify your claim if necessary.

   The ban would be limited to public places.

3. Present good reasons to support your claim.

   Smoking causes serious diseases in smokers.

   Nonsmokers are endangered by others’ smoke.

4. Explain the assumptions that underlie your claim and your reasons. Provide additional explanations for any controversial assumptions.

   assumption	The Constitution was established to “promote the general welfare.”
   assumption	Citizens are entitled to protection from harmful actions by others.
   additional explanation	The United States is based on a political system that is supposed to serve the basic needs of its people, including their health.

5. Provide additional evidence to support your claim (statistics, facts, testimony, and other logical, ethical, or emotional appeals).

   statistics	Cite the incidence of deaths attributed to secondhand smoke.
   facts	Cite lawsuits won against large tobacco companies, including one that awarded billions of dollars to states in reparation for smoking-related health care costs.
   facts	Cite bans on smoking already imposed on indoor public spaces in many cities.
   authority	Cite the surgeon general.

6. Acknowledge and respond to possible counterarguments.

   counter-argument	Smokers have rights, too.
   response	The suggested ban applies only to public places; smokers are free to smoke in private.

7. Finally, state your conclusion in the strongest way possible.