Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

​Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

By Elizabeth Rauscher

CER stands for Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. It's a framework used to construct strong arguments and explanations in literary analysis and other academic writing.

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​What is CER?

CLAIM: A statement that answers a question or solves a problem

- Should be clear and specific

- Answers "What is your conclusion?"

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​Claim

EVIDENCE: Data, observations, or facts that support your claim

- Must be relevant and accurate

- Answers "What proof do you have?"

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​Evidence

REASONING: The logical connection between your evidence and claim

- Explains WHY the evidence supports the claim

- Answers "How does your evidence prove your claim?"

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​Reasoning

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is the CLAIM?

• Water boils at 100°C at sea level because that's when water molecules have enough energy to escape as gas.

• Heating water to 100°C causes it to change from liquid to gas.

• When we heated water in the lab, bubbles formed and steam was produced at exactly 100°C

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is the REASONING?

• The plant grew 15 cm in two weeks when watered daily.

• Water is essential for photosynthesis and transporting nutrients throughout the plant.

• Plants need adequate water to grow properly.

Claim: Gummy worms are the superior candy choice due to their unique combination of texture, flavor variety, and interactive eating experience.

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​Sample Claim

Evidence: Unlike hard candies that can break teeth or chocolate that melts messily, gummy worms provide a satisfying chewy texture that lasts longer than most other candies. They come in multiple flavor combinations within a single piece - typically featuring two different fruit flavors like cherry-orange or lime-strawberry. Additionally, gummy worms encourage playful interaction, as people often bite off segments, stretch them, or use them in creative ways before eating

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​Sample Evidence

Reasoning: This evidence demonstrates gummy worms' superiority because the chewy texture provides extended enjoyment and reduces the risk of dental damage compared to harder alternatives. The dual-flavor design offers more taste complexity than single-flavor candies, giving consumers better value and sensory experience. Most importantly, the interactive nature of gummy worms engages multiple senses and creates a more memorable, entertaining candy experience that goes beyond simple taste satisfaction. This combination of safety, flavor complexity, and entertainment value makes gummy worms objectively better than other candy options.

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​Sample Reasoning

This CER paragraph demonstrates:

- Specific, debatable claim (not just "gummy worms are good")

- Multiple pieces of concrete evidence (texture, flavor, interactivity)

- Clear reasoning that explains HOW each piece of evidence supports the claim

- Logical connections between evidence and the main argument

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Multiple Choice

Question: Why does Romeo make impulsive decisions throughout the play?

Student Response:

"Romeo makes impulsive decisions because I noticed that when he meets Juliet at the party, he immediately falls in love and forgets about Rosaline. This proves that Romeo is impulsive because he acts quickly without thinking things through."

What is the main problem with this CER paragraph?

• There is no evidence provided to support the claim

• The claim is unclear and doesn't answer the question

• The evidence is based on only one example and lacks specific textual support

• The reasoning just restates the claim without explaining HOW his actions demonstrate impulsiveness

Multiple Choice

Question: How does the setting affect the mood in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

Student Response:

"The setting creates a dark and suspenseful mood. The story takes place in an old house at night, and the narrator describes the darkness and silence. Also, the action happens in the old man's bedroom where the murder occurs. This proves that the setting affects the mood."

What makes this reasoning weak?

• The student says "this proves" but doesn't explain WHY or HOW the setting creates that specific mood

• The claim is unclear and doesn't answer the question

• There isn't enough evidence provided that matches the claim.

• The claim is too vague and not distinct enough to prove.

Multiple Choice

Question: Why does Atticus defend Tom Robinson despite social pressure in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Student Response:

"Atticus believes in doing what's right. In the novel, Atticus tells Scout that he couldn't hold his head up in town if he didn't defend Tom, and he says you never really understand a person until you see things from their point of view. Atticus defends Tom because he believes in justice and couldn't live with himself if he didn't."

What is wrong with the reasoning in this paragraph?

• The claim doesn't answer the question about social pressure specifically

• The reasoning is just restating the evidence.

• There is no evidence provided

•  The evidence is not relevant to the claim

Multiple Choice

Question: Does Macbeth's ambition lead to his downfall?

Student Response:

"Macbeth's ambition helps him succeed. In the play, Macbeth kills Duncan to become king, then kills Banquo to protect his throne, and finally attacks Macduff's family to eliminate threats. By the end, Macbeth loses everything and dies in battle. His ambition drove him to commit murders that eventually destroyed him."

What is the major flaw in this argument?

• The evidence is not specific enough

• The reasoning doesn't explain the literary theme correctly

• The evidence actually contradicts the claim

• There is no clear claim stated

Multiple Choice

Question: Why does the green light symbolize Gatsby's impossible dream in "The Great Gatsby"?

Student Response:

"The green light represents Gatsby's unattainable dream of winning back Daisy. Throughout the novel, Gatsby stares at the green light across the bay from Daisy's dock, and Nick observes that Gatsby reaches toward it with longing. The green light symbolizes his impossible dream because it's always distant and unreachable, just like his idealized vision of Daisy and their past relationship, which can never truly be recaptured despite his wealth and efforts."

What makes this the STRONGEST CER paragraph compared to the others?

• It has the most evidence

• The reasoning clearly explains the claim.

• The claim is the most detailed

• It uses the most advanced vocabulary

A strong literary analysis argument uses the CER framework effectively to make convincing points about literature

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​Strong Arguments

STRONG CLAIMS:

- Make specific, debatable statements about the text

- Focus on themes, character development, or literary techniques

- Can be supported with textual evidence

- Example: "In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses light and dark imagery to show the contrast between love and hate."

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STRONG EVIDENCE:

- Uses direct quotes from the text

- Includes specific examples and details

- References page numbers or line numbers

- Example: "When Romeo first sees Juliet, he says, 'She doth teach the torches to burn bright' (Act 1, Scene 5), comparing her to light."

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STRONG REASONING:

- Clearly explains HOW the evidence proves the claim

- Makes logical connections between evidence and claim

- Shows understanding of literary techniques

- Example: "This metaphor shows that Romeo sees Juliet as pure and beautiful, contrasting with the darkness of the family feud around them."

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WEAK CLAIMS:

- Too vague or general

- State obvious facts instead of making arguments

- Cannot be debated

- Example: "Romeo and Juliet is a play about two teenagers who fall in love."

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WEAK REASONING:

- Simply restates the evidence without explanation

- Fails to connect evidence to the claim

- Uses phrases like "This shows..." without explaining HOW

- Example: "This shows they are in love because they dance."

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WEAK EVIDENCE:

- Uses plot summary instead of specific quotes

- Provides irrelevant details

- Lacks specific textual support

- Example: "Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and dance together."

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STRONG ARGUMENT:

- Claim: "Macbeth's ambition ultimately destroys his moral compass."

- Evidence: "After killing Duncan, Macbeth says, 'I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er' (Act 3, Scene 4)."

- Reasoning: "This metaphor of wading through blood shows that Macbeth believes he has committed so many evil acts that he cannot turn back to being good, revealing how his ambition has corrupted his sense of right and wrong."

WEAK ARGUMENT:

- Claim: "Macbeth is the main character."

- Evidence: "He appears in most scenes."

- Reasoning: "This shows he is important."

Weak vs Strong Arguments

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the STRONGEST claim for a literary analysis essay about The Great Gatsby?

• The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920s during the Jazz Age.

• Jay Gatsby is the main character in the novel.

• Fitzgerald uses the green light symbol to represent Gatsby's impossible dream of recapturing the past.

• The Great Gatsby has many interesting characters.

Multiple Choice

Which piece of evidence would BEST support the claim "Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into committing murder"?

• Lady Macbeth appears in several scenes with Macbeth.

• Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth's manhood, saying "Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?"

• Macbeth states "Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?"

• Lady Macbeth lives in a castle in Scotland.

Multiple Choice

A student writes: "Holden Caulfield calls people 'phony' throughout the novel." Which reasoning would BEST explain how this evidence supports the claim "Holden struggles with authenticity in the adult world"?

• This shows that Holden sees dishonesty and superficiality everywhere.

• This proves that Holden is mean to others.

• This shows that Holden uses the word "phony" a lot.

• This demonstrates that Holden sees dishonesty and superficiality everywhere, reflecting his fear of becoming fake himself as he grows up.

Multiple Choice

Which argument structure represents a WEAK literary analysis?

• Claim: "The storm in King Lear reflects the chaos in the characters' lives."

     Evidence: "The storm occurs during Act 3 when Lear is cast out."

     Reasoning: "The external storm mirrors Lear's internal turmoil and the breakdown of natural order."

• Claim: "*To Kill a Mockingbird* is about racism."

     Evidence: "Tom Robinson is accused of a crime."

     Reasoning: "This shows there is racism in the book."

•  Claim: "Steinbeck uses animal imagery to dehumanize migrant workers in Of Mice and Men."

     Evidence: "Lennie is compared to a bear: 'he dabbled his big paw in the water.'"

     Reasoning: "This comparison suggests that society views these workers as less than human."

• Claim: "The mockingbird symbolizes innocence in Harper Lee's novel."

     Evidence: "Atticus tells his children, 'it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'"

     Reasoning: "This metaphor suggests that destroying innocence is morally wrong."

Open Ended

So now, try it out. Write a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning paragraph about your favorite piece of candy. Remember:

This CER paragraph demonstrates:

- Specific, debatable claim (not just "gummy worms are good")

- Multiple pieces of concrete evidence (texture, flavor, interactivity)

- Clear reasoning that explains HOW each piece of evidence supports the claim

- Logical connections between evidence and the main argument