This article analyses the structure and validity of the arguments proposed by academics of Biological Sciences motivated to defend their point of view toward the themes "Carbon Market" and "Animal Experiment". Basing the analysis on Toulmin's Model, there was a preponderance of arguments structured on conclusion justification and conclusion-data-justification in both debates, indicating that the method of argumentation of the students were mainly based on their own opinions about the subject or on a point of view established through the acquisition of random facts. On the whole, the debates were very significant and, although the arguments were not formulated at the light of scientific data, one should value the importance of this type of activity for the intellectual excellence.
carbon market; animal experiment; argument structure