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Table 4 Examples of claims with inconsistent markings

From: An empirical study of claims and qualifiers in ESL students’ argumentative writing based on Toulmin model

N

First Marking

Second Marking

Description

21

Although the Marine parks giving us amazing enjoyment, it also giving damage to the ecology. We shouldn’t let our happiness build on the tears of the natural animals (QS). So I think Marine parks should not be open (C)

Although the Marine parks giving us amazing enjoyment, it also giving damage to the ecology (QS). We shouldn't let our happiness build on the tears of the natural animals (QS). So I think Marine parks should not be open (C)

The two sentences preceding the claim form a concessional and causal relationship with the claim respectively. So the first concession clause is also marked as QS

43

In my opinion (QW), it is right for marine parks to stay open (C). (There are lots of benefits they can bring to us.)

In my opinion (QW), it is right for marine parks to stay open (C). There are lots of benefits they can bring to us (QS)

Considering that this sentence is causally related to the claim and is equivalent to an invisible causative clause, it is marked as QS in the second marking

44

(The marine parks are becoming more and more popular in recent years for its amazing scenes and enjoyable experience.) However, in my opinion (QW), the marine parks shouldn’t stay open (C)

The marine parks are becoming more and more popular in recent years for its amazing scenes and enjoyable experience (QS). However, in my opinion (QW), the marine parks shouldn’t stay open (C)

The first sentence can be taken as a concession clause that modifies the core claim. The author marks it QS in the second marking

62

(From my perspective, marine parks are ideal places for humans to have a visit to but not the same for animals like whales and dolphins which may well suffer a lot and even die there.) As a result, Marine parks shouldn’t stay the same (C)

From my perspective (QW), marine parks are ideal places for humans to have a visit to but not the same for animals like whales and dolphins which may well suffer a lot and even die there (QS). As a result, Marine parks shouldn’t stay the same (C)

The first sentence is taken as background information and it isn’t annotated at first. Considering the causal relationship between this sentence and the claim, a QW and a QS are added in the second marking

105

(With many whales and dolphins suffering a lot and even die in Marine parks, Marine parks become controversial existence.) In my opinion (QW), it is wrong for marine parks to stay open (C)

With many whales and dolphins suffering a lot and even die in Marine parks, Marine parks become controversial existence (QS). In my opinion (QW), it is wrong for marine parks to stay open (C)

The first sentence is taken as background information in the first marking. Considering the causal relationship with the claim, so it is marked as QS in the second marking

111

Although lots of people believe marine parks are the places where marine life suffers a lot (QS), in my opinion (QW), marine parks stay meaningly (C1), and even these advantages are in a higher level (C2)

Although lots of people believe marine parks are the places where marine life suffers a lot (QS), in my opinion (QW), marine parks stay meaningly, and even these advantages are in a higher level (C)

Two parallel sentences are considered to be separate claims in the first marking, the writer believes that the semantics of the two sentences means one standpoint, so only one claim is counted in the second marking

116

(It is cruel of marine parks to make many whales and dolphins suffer a lot to earn money, though they bring us amazing enjoyment and happy experience.)Marine parks are to blame and should be shut (C)

It is cruel of marine parks to make many whales and dolphins suffer a lot to earn money, though they bring us amazing enjoyment and happy experience (QS).Marine parks are to blame and should be shut (C)

Considering that the first sentence forms a causal relationship with the core claim, this sentence is marked as QS in the second marking