Cl-Ev-R Responses
(Claim, Evidence and Reasoning)
Purpose: The "Cl-Ev-R Response" (or CER) is a strategy for incorporating quotes, text-based details, or evidence into a piece of writing in a thoughtful, well-developed manner.
Method:
1. Write a CLAIM that states a direct response to a question or prompt. Helpful hints:
2. Establish the CONTEXT of the quote or text based- detail so clarify information for the reader.
3. Include reliable EVIDENCE that clearly and convincingly supports your claim. Cite your source! Suggested sentence starters include:
4. Use logical REASONING to prove how your evidence supports your claim. Go beyond merely summarizing the quote. This portion must offer NEW insight, analysis, acknowledgment of connections between ideas, etc. Suggested sentence starters include:
5. Add a CONCLUDING sentence that connects to the overall significance. Ask yourself, why is this significant and why should my reader care?
Student Example
Does the Use of Animals for Entertainment Constitute Animal Cruelty?
Circuses and other forms of animal entertainment constitute animal abuse because no life form should be forcefully removed from their habitat and confined to a cage for all of their lives just so humans can be entertained by them. In the human world, only people who have committed crimes are put in jail; what crimes have any animals in zoos or circuses committed? In the article “Ban Bullies and Bullhooks” Delcianna Winders states that animals have feelings too and experience pain and fear. The article proclaims “...Baby elephants cry as they are forcibly removed from their frantic mothers to be beaten and have their spirits broken for the circus….” This proves that animals have feelings just like you and me. The manner in which these animals are treated is abusive because Americans are never taken from their mothers at an early age and put in “jail”. Fortunately we have the constitution to protect us from the monsters of entertainment, but sadly these animals do not. Americans must readjust their lens of what is entertaining. Our moments of pleasure visiting a zoo or a circus are not worth the life-long pain and cruelty inflicted on animals.
Method:
1. Write a CLAIM that states a direct response to a question or prompt. Helpful hints:
- Use key words and ideas provided in the question or prompt as you write your claim
- The claim should stand alone without reading the question
- Avoid using opening statements such as "I think" or "I believe."
2. Establish the CONTEXT of the quote or text based- detail so clarify information for the reader.
3. Include reliable EVIDENCE that clearly and convincingly supports your claim. Cite your source! Suggested sentence starters include:
- In the text...
- The text states...
- According to the passage...
- One example from the text...
4. Use logical REASONING to prove how your evidence supports your claim. Go beyond merely summarizing the quote. This portion must offer NEW insight, analysis, acknowledgment of connections between ideas, etc. Suggested sentence starters include:
- Based on this evidence we must conclude (rephrase your claim) because (your analysis)...
- This (illustration/graph/statistic/etc.) is irrefutable evidence that (rephrase claim) because...
5. Add a CONCLUDING sentence that connects to the overall significance. Ask yourself, why is this significant and why should my reader care?
Student Example
Does the Use of Animals for Entertainment Constitute Animal Cruelty?
Circuses and other forms of animal entertainment constitute animal abuse because no life form should be forcefully removed from their habitat and confined to a cage for all of their lives just so humans can be entertained by them. In the human world, only people who have committed crimes are put in jail; what crimes have any animals in zoos or circuses committed? In the article “Ban Bullies and Bullhooks” Delcianna Winders states that animals have feelings too and experience pain and fear. The article proclaims “...Baby elephants cry as they are forcibly removed from their frantic mothers to be beaten and have their spirits broken for the circus….” This proves that animals have feelings just like you and me. The manner in which these animals are treated is abusive because Americans are never taken from their mothers at an early age and put in “jail”. Fortunately we have the constitution to protect us from the monsters of entertainment, but sadly these animals do not. Americans must readjust their lens of what is entertaining. Our moments of pleasure visiting a zoo or a circus are not worth the life-long pain and cruelty inflicted on animals.