This step should only happen when you feel confident that you have all core elements, implicit or explicit. Each optional Toulmin model element is dependent on one of the core elements. You should still focus on one element at a time, but now apply the element to each remaining sentence in order and independently determine if each fits into the element in question.
| Element | Sentence | Result |
| Backing | c.i. = No = No d = Yes | The myth that video games cause violent behavior is undermined by scientific research and common sense. According to FBI statistics, youth violence has declined in recent years as computer and video game popularity soared…. But the evidence makes a mockery of the suggestion that video games cause violent behavior. Indeed, as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared: "The state has not produced substantial evidence that…violent video games cause psychological or neurological harm to minors." . Indeed, as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared: "The state has not produced substantial evidence that…violent video games cause psychological or neurological harm to minors." |
| Rebuttal | c.i. = yes = yes | The myth that video games cause violent behavior is undermined by scientific research and common sense. According to FBI statistics, youth violence has declined in recent years as computer and video game popularity soared…. We do not claim that the increased popularity of games caused the decline. But the evidence makes a mockery of the suggestion that video games cause violent behavior. Indeed, as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared: "The state has not produced substantial evidence that…violent video games cause psychological or neurological harm to minors." . Indeed, as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared: "The state has not produced substantial evidence that…violent video games cause psychological or neurological harm to minors." |
| Qualifier | a = yes = yes | The myth that video games cause violent behavior is undermined by scientific research and common sense. According to FBI statistics, youth violence has declined in recent years as computer and video game popularity soared…. We do not claim that the increased popularity of games caused the decline. But the evidence makes a mockery of the suggestion that video games cause violent behavior. Indeed, as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared: "The state has not produced substantial evidence that…violent video games cause psychological or neurological harm to minors." . Indeed, as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared: "The state has not produced substantial evidence that…violent video games cause psychological or neurological harm to minors." |