After taking an early lead when Gary Doherty put through his own net - the third time in two games that an opposition defender has conceded an own goal - Dutchman Marcel Seip crowned an impressive home debut with a headed second.
Energetic Pilgrims midfielder David Norris, the subject of transfer speculation linking him with Norwich City during the summer, added a third towards the end, before Norwich's Welsh international striker Robert Earnshaw was rewarded for a fine individual display with a consolation goal deep into stoppage-time.
Argyle took the lead from Tony Capaldi's curling, pacy corner in the 14th minute which hit Norwich's captain for the day Doherty and rebounded into the net.
Doherty's contribution to the Argyle cause came a game after Cardiff City defenders Kevin McNaughton and Darren Purse had netted for the Pilgrims in a 3-3 draw.
Norwich's only real threat was the impressive Earnshaw, who forced Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick into an athletic save after hooking the ball goalwards over the head of marker Mathias Doumbe, and then had him at full stretch after cleverly creating space in the box.
Seip, playing only because of an injury to regular centre-back Hasney Aljofree, doubled the home side's lead in the opening moments of the second half.
Another right-wing corner from Capaldi saw Norwich markers fail to pick up the former Heerenveen defender, who leapt unchallenged to head home.
Veteran striker Dion Dublin was sent on for his Canaries debut in place of midfielder Youssef Safri as Norwich chased the game, but it was Argyle that netted again when Norris took Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's cushioned pass, and ran in on goal before sweeping the ball past City goalkeeper Paul Gallacher.
Earnshaw did not stop chasing the lost cause and no-one could begrudge him his late goal, which will have surely impressed watching Welsh team manager John Toshack.