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Questions and Answers
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?
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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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Why should you be cautious about using outdated sources for current information?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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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.
