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Questions and Answers
What is one way to evaluate evidence according to the text?
What is one way to evaluate evidence according to the text?
When selecting sources for a paper, what should you do if you find an article but don't use any information from it?
When selecting sources for a paper, what should you do if you find an article but don't use any information from it?
Why is it important to always read the methods section in a study?
Why is it important to always read the methods section in a study?
Which format allows for a uniform way of citing sources both in-text and in the works cited/reference page?
Which format allows for a uniform way of citing sources both in-text and in the works cited/reference page?
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Why is it important to cite every source used in writing according to the text?
Why is it important to cite every source used in writing according to the text?
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What should you do when using sources to confirm your initial ideas are correct?
What should you do when using sources to confirm your initial ideas are correct?
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How can you determine if information is up-to-date according to the text?
How can you determine if information is up-to-date according to the text?
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Why are recent sources preferred for supplying current data?
Why are recent sources preferred for supplying current data?
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In which section of a study can you find information about the demographics of research participants?
In which section of a study can you find information about the demographics of research participants?
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What happens when you generalize information beyond the original research population?
What happens when you generalize information beyond the original research population?
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What is the main reason for citing duplicating studies according to the text?
What is the main reason for citing duplicating studies according to the text?
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Why is it important to consider the currentness of information?
Why is it important to consider the currentness of information?
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Why should you be cautious about using outdated sources for current information?
Why should you be cautious about using outdated sources for current information?
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What is the significance of reading the methods section in a study, as mentioned in the text?
What is the significance of reading the methods section in a study, as mentioned in the text?
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What should you do with a source that confirms your initial thoughts are incorrect?
What should you do with a source that confirms your initial thoughts are incorrect?
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Why is it crucial to cite every source used in your writing?
Why is it crucial to cite every source used in your writing?
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Which type of sources are preferred by instructors, as mentioned in the text?
Which type of sources are preferred by instructors, as mentioned in the text?
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What point is made about generalizing information beyond the original research population in the text?
What point is made about generalizing information beyond the original research population in the text?
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What should you do if you find an article and determine that you don't need any information from it?
What should you do if you find an article and determine that you don't need any information from it?
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Why is it important to consider the timeliness of information sources?
Why is it important to consider the timeliness of information sources?
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What is a key reason for citing duplicating studies according to the text?
What is a key reason for citing duplicating studies according to the text?
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When selecting sources for a paper, what should you do if you confirm your initial thoughts are incorrect?
When selecting sources for a paper, what should you do if you confirm your initial thoughts are incorrect?
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What is one way to evaluate evidence regarding statistics and facts?
What is one way to evaluate evidence regarding statistics and facts?
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Why should you always read the methods section in a study?
Why should you always read the methods section in a study?
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What does the text recommend about generalizing information beyond the original research population?
What does the text recommend about generalizing information beyond the original research population?
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Which types of sources do instructors typically prefer, according to the text?
Which types of sources do instructors typically prefer, according to the text?
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What should you do with a source that confirms your initial thoughts are incorrect?
What should you do with a source that confirms your initial thoughts are incorrect?
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Why are recent sources preferred for supplying current data?
Why are recent sources preferred for supplying current data?
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Study Notes
Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) Writing Strategy
- A writing strategy used for argumentative, persuasive, or research essays on various academic subjects.
- Consists of making a claim statement, providing evidence, and explaining the reasoning behind the claim.
Claim Statement
- A statement that makes an assertion about a topic, guiding the content and structure of the essay.
- Should identify what the writer is attempting to argue or prove.
- Typically appears as the topic sentence or first sentence of a paragraph or as the thesis statement in an essay.
Examples of Claims in Writing
- Example 1: "Private school is a better option than public school for students today."
- Example 2: "Playing a team sport like soccer is the most beneficial hobby one can have."
Evidence
- Provides proof or support for the claim being made.
- Can be in the form of research, data, quotes, or textual evidence from a piece of literature.
- Should not be a guess, assumption, or based on the writer's opinion.
- Should mention the source from where the evidence was obtained through a citation.
Examples of Evidence
- Example 1: Statistics on class sizes from publicschoolreview.com and the NCES study in 2008.
- Example 2: Study on women continuing to play soccer after a year from Sciencedaily.com and professors Peter Krustrup and Jens Bangsbo from the University of Copenhagen.
Reasoning
- Explains how and why the evidence supports the claim.
- Should immediately follow the evidence in the paragraph.
- Begins by explaining or summarizing what the evidence says, then explains how or why the evidence supports the claim.
Examples of Reasoning
- Example 1: The statistics on class sizes demonstrate that private school is a better option than public school because smaller classes lead to better student learning.
- Example 2: The study on women continuing to play soccer shows that playing a team sport like soccer is beneficial because it encourages long-term participation.
Difference between Evidence and Reasoning
- Evidence is literal proof that supports the claim statement, while reasoning is the writer's explanation of how the evidence supports the claim.
Claim Paragraph Examples
- Example 1: Atticus Finch in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird exemplifies what it means to be a nonjudgmental, understanding human being.
- Example 2: Atticus Finch in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is naive and a pushover.
Evaluating Evidence from a Source
- Determine which set of information has been duplicated with similar results.
- Consider the currency of the information and how it was gathered.
- Evaluate the source for bias and credibility.
Types of Sources
- Primary sources: original places where information was first produced, such as documents, speeches, or quotes.
- Secondary sources: sources that relate information produced by someone else, such as textbooks or news articles.
Citing Sources
- Use a uniform format, such as MLA or APA, to cite sources in the text and in the works cited or reference page.
- Give credit to the original authors of the information used.Here are the study notes for the provided text:
Evaluating Evidence
- Evaluating evidence involves considering the credibility of sources and the methodology used to gather information
- It is essential to consider the date of publication, as recent data is often more accurate
- It is also important to identify the population being studied to ensure generalizability
Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER)
- CER is a writing strategy used for argumentative, persuasive, or research essays
- It consists of making a claim statement, providing evidence to support the claim, and explaining how the evidence supports the claim (reasoning)
- The claim statement makes an assertion about a topic, rather than just stating the topic
- Evidence can be incorporated into the essay through direct quotes or paraphrasing
- Reasoning explains how and why the evidence supports the claim
Types of Sources
- Primary sources are original sources of information, such as research studies
- Secondary sources relate information produced by others, such as textbook summaries
- In academic writing, it is best to use primary sources whenever possible
Evaluating Sources
- When evaluating sources, consider the credibility of the author and the methodology used
- Check for bias and consider multiple sources to ensure accuracy
- Determine which sources have duplicated results to establish credibility
Claim Statement
- A claim statement makes an assertion about a topic
- It is the central focus of the essay or paragraph and guides the content and structure of the writing
- If a piece of evidence or reasoning cannot be tied directly to the claim statement, it does not belong in the essay or paragraph### Claim Statements
- Claim statements identify what the essay writer is attempting to argue or prove.
- A claim statement should be the topic sentence or first sentence of a paragraph in a claim paragraph.
- In an essay, the claim statement should appear as the thesis statement or last sentence in the introduction.
Examples of Claims
- "Private school is a better option than public school for students today."
- "Playing a team sport like soccer is the most beneficial hobby one can have."
Evidence for Supporting Claims
- Evidence provides proof or support of the claim being made.
- Evidence can be in the form of research, data, quotes, or textual evidence from a piece of literature.
- Evidence should not be a guess, assumption, or based on the writer's opinion.
- Evidence should mention the source from where it was obtained through a citation.
Examples of Evidence
- According to publicschoolreview.com, private schools typically have smaller class sizes than public schools.
- According to Sciencedaily.com, women who play soccer will likely continue playing the sport in the long-term.
How to Write Reasoning
- Reasoning is when the writer explains how and why the evidence supports the claim.
- Reasoning should immediately follow the evidence in the paragraph.
- To incorporate reasoning, begin by explaining or summarizing what the evidence says, then explain how or why the evidence supports the claim.
- Phrases like "this shows that" or "this proves that" can be helpful.
Examples of Reasoning
- These statistics show that private school is a better option than public school because class size has a direct impact on student learning.
- This study shows that women who play a team sport like soccer develop a connection with each other that encourages them to continue playing in the long-term.
Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning: Paragraph Examples
- A claim paragraph should have a claim, evidence, and reasoning.
- The claim is not a fact, but something that can be argued.
- Evidence is factual, but the reasoning will differ from writer to writer because it explains how the evidence proves the claim.
Sifting Through the Information Age
- In academic writing, it is best to use primary sources whenever possible.
- Evaluating evidence from sources involves determining which set of information has been duplicated with similar results.
- The currency of the information is also important, as some statistics are true at a point in time but may not stay constant.
- The methodology used to gather information should also be considered.
Determining Which Source to Use
- Use all sources from which you have taken information.
- If you have confirmed information from multiple sources, list all sources.
- If you have used a source to confirm or deny an idea, cite it as a source.
- Give credit to all sources used in your writing, and cite them in a uniform format (e.g., MLA or APA).
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Description
Learn about the CER (claim, evidence, reasoning) writing strategy used for writing argumentative and research essays. Explore how to structure a CER paragraph with a claim statement, evidence, and reasoning.