Warrant — English definition

Defined in 4 courses:

The often-unstated assumption that has to be true for a piece of evidence to support a claim. (English 10: Choices, Conscience & Consequences)
The underlying assumption that connects a piece of evidence to the claim it is meant to support. (English 11: American Voices, Identity & Public Memory)
The reasoning that connects a piece of evidence to the claim it is meant to support. (English 11: American Voices, Identity & Public Memory)
The often-unstated assumption that licenses moving from a piece of evidence to the claim it is meant to support. (English 12: Complex Texts, Independent Inquiry & Public Voice)

Where it is taught

Analyzing Arguments — Argument, Rhetoric & Tragic Choices, English 10: Choices, Conscience & Consequences, Grade 10
Constructing Arguments — Public Argument, Rhetoric & Competing Accounts, English 11: American Voices, Identity & Public Memory, Grade 11
Argumentative Research Writing — Research & Source-Based Writing, English 11: American Voices, Identity & Public Memory, Grade 11
Evaluating Complex Reasoning — Argument & Rhetoric, English 12: Complex Texts, Independent Inquiry & Public Voice, Grade 12

In use

Now turn to the reasoning, and specifically to the hidden hinge every argument swings on: the warrant.
Analyzing Arguments

Each body paragraph should then do one job: advance a single reason, support it with relevant and sufficient evidence, and — this is the step most writers skip — make the warrant visible.
Constructing Arguments

Skilled writers embed evidence inside their own sentences and then supply the warrant: the reasoning that explains why this evidence supports the claim.
Argumentative Research Writing

Questions using warrant

Problem 1

'The new study lounge opened in September, and the school's average GPA rose in October, so the lounge must be raising grades.' What UNSTATED assumption (warrant) does this argument depend on?

That the school has more than one lounge.
That GPA is a number.
That nothing else that could affect grades changed between September and October.
That study lounges are usually quiet.

Answer and explanation

That nothing else that could affect grades changed between September and October.

The leap from 'scores rose after the lounge opened' to 'the lounge caused it' silently assumes no other factor changed — a warrant that would have to be checked before the reasoning is valid.

Problem 2

A 'warrant' in an argument is…

a statistic cited as proof
the concluding call to action
the opposing viewpoint
the underlying assumption that connects evidence to the claim

Answer and explanation

the underlying assumption that connects evidence to the claim

A warrant is the assumption that has to be true for a piece of evidence to actually support the claim.

Taught alongside

Elsewhere

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