Encyclopedia Brown Super Sleuth (2009) features a chapter called "The Case of the Patriotic Volunteer" in which a man in a flashy Uncle Sam costume gathers together the children of Encyclopedia's town. He tells them that as a personal acquaintance of the President of the United States, he has been commissioned to collect donations from the children of America for a new charity that will ensure that kid-generated government ideas are proposed to the legislature. Encyclopedia Brown weighs carefully the evidence presented by the costumed man, Mr. Jefferson, then announces that he is a fraud, but we don't get a chance to hear his explanation. The chapter ends simply with a question to the reader: How does Encyclopedia know Mr. Jefferson is lying? Below, three of my students finish Encyclopedia's speech for him. As you read, see if you can recognize the 7 elements of Toulmin's Argumentation Model:
- Claim
- Evidence
- Warrant
- Backing
- Qualifications
- Counter Claims
- Rebuttal
By Edward Wang:
“Save your money, Mr. Jefferson might be from Washington D.C. but he never visited the president. He’s lying. I knew this right away as soon as he tried to avoid specifics. When people lie they tend to avoid specifics. The example that Mr. Jefferson showed was that when Mary asked if Mr. Jefferson wanted to take this to the news he said no. He refused this because he was aware that if he goes to the news station they will probably question his cause and probably figure out that he is lying,” The children watched Mr. Jefferson’s face which was normal pink turn to a sickly pale. Encouraged by this Encyclopedia continued, “Furthermore, when Mr.Jefferson said that he visited the president often. Notice that he said that he lives in the Capitol building? The president doesn’t live there. He lives in the White House. When someone visits people they clearly should know where they live. Therefore , Mr. Jefferson don’t actually visit the president.”
Mr. Jefferson sputtered, “Well what about the postcard of me and the presiden--”
“You can easily photoshop that!” Encyclopedia fired back.
“Well… well….. Yes I did photoshop it. I’m not really friends with the president. This was all a scam,” said Mr. Jefferson. He turned and ran away from the children and took the money with him. A few days later Mr. Jefferson noticed a knock on his door and when he opened it he saw the cops and was arrested for and also scamming.
By Laura Bai:
Save your money. Mr. Jefferson might be from Washington D.C., but he’s never visited the president. He’s lying. Why would Mr.Jefferson not want your parents to know? After all, he is telling you that he will take you to Washington D.C., and he doesn’t want your parents to know at all, he might just leave you all behind and take all of your money away. What would stop him? If you told your parents then he would have to actually take you to Washington D.C.. Also, Mr. Jefferson doesn’t want people to know about his charity. What charity doesn’t want the whole world to know? Real charity’s, would want everyone to know about it so they would get more money. If Mr. Jefferson only wants kids to know, don’t you think that it would be easier to steal your money and leave? Mr.Jefferson’s charity has to be fake.
Yes, I saw the picture that Mr. Jefferson had of him with the president, but that doesn’t mean that it is real. What if it was a cardboard cutout, and he took a picture with that? Or maybe it was impersonator who was impersonating the president, and Mr.Jefferson took a picture with him? Sure, he may have taken a picture with the president, but that doesn’t mean they are best friends. Don’t give your money to him, his charity is fake.
By Sean Ge:
Save your money, Mr. Jefferson might be from Washington, D.C., but he’s never visited the president. He’s lying. First of all he states that the president, himself, sent him to do this; that’s very unlikely, it’s generally a branch of government that would get people to do this for them, a president would assign an organization to do it and the government officials hire people but they still have to prove their identification. Also, he says he told the president to sign him up as a volunteer while most broadcasts are radio stations or news, those broadcasting stations are organizations not solo people… Also to collect the money by himself rather than an organization is suspicious. Addition fact: some of those things like the idea “no more baths” do not need money; children do not have money or jobs, why would they have money to donate? Also, he’s asking for money is a jar... Another fact is that he states “this news is only for children” which does not make sense. Plus pulling out a photo which to president, with him could be photoshopped. A badge or certificate to prove his identity would be more realistic than a photo. He also said, “I visit him and his family all the time in their home in the Capitol building.” with this in mind, you know he’s lying, the president lives in the white house or somewhere else like in the case with Donald Trump, the Capitol Building is where the Senate and the House of Representatives stay. He visited a town, not a city or a county… But photoshopping is very difficult in this time period. Also his outfit is not some regular clothing, he is trustworthy. He has a picture with the president its the 1940s where do you get a photo with the president elsewhere? But, he can get that type of clothing anywhere, he can have it specially made for him to wear if he wanted. Last but not least, a warrant is needed to do this kind of fundraiser or at least some form of identification, like a driver's license or passport. Therefore he is lying and is guilty of a crime. >:) (Mr. Jefferson will be arrested for doing something like this without proper truth, he is lying. This is not a way to do things. He will go through court and go to jail. But it’s still innocent until proven guilty)
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