Learning to Write a Strong Argument Nampa High School Argument Curriculum

A blank CER chart looks like this: Thesis statement_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Claim Evidence Reasoning Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

CER Chart Completion Completing this chart requires complete sentences. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Making Claims A claim is a statement that can be argued. Ex Claim: The 2015 NHS Girl’s Basketball players are the most skilled. This claim requires evidence to prove it. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Making Claims You will make at least 3 claims to support your arguments. EX: to prove that The 2015 NHS Girl’s Basketball players are the most skilled. Claim #1 – NHS girl’s basketball players are the most skilled. Claim #2 – NHS girl’s basketball player’s have the best coaches. Claim #3 – NHS girl’s basketball players are successful every season. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Now it is time to find your Evidence What is Evidence? Facts, statistics, or researched findings Quotes from authoritative sources Evidence from your text or notes Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Use Evidence to Support Claims Evidence comes from the information you are basing your argument from The text you studied or notes from class Researched sources Your instructor will determine where your evidence comes from when the paper is assigned. EX: Your Odyssey essay will be written using the epic as your source material. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Evidence Example Ex Claim: The 2015 NHS Girl’s Basketball players are the most skilled. Ex Evidence: NHS had the top 2 rebounders and broke numerous NHS school records. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Good Information... But your argument needs to explain what you think... It is time provide reasoning for your ideas. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

What does Reasoning mean? To reason something means to prove or explain the credibility of the truth of something. When you reason your evidence... You are explaining why the evidence proves the claim. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

An easy way to think about reasoning your evidence... Is to answer the question... SO WHAT? Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Reasoning example Ex Claim: The 2015 NHS Girl’s Basketball players are the most skilled. Ex Evidence: NHS had the top 2 rebounders in the state and broke numerous NHS school records in Ex Reason: Having the two top rebounders in the state and breaking numerous NHS school records shows that the NHS Girl’s Basketball team are the best at what they do. These girls will be the ones to beat at the district tournament because they are the most skilled. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

After you have completed reasoning your evidence... It is time to repeat the process Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

A completed CER chart would look like this: Thesis – the 2015 NHS Girl’s Basketball team is the best in the district. ClaimEvidenceReasoning Claim #1 The 2015 NHS Girl’s Basketball players are the most skilled. Evidence: NHS had the top 2 rebounders and broke numerous NHS school records. 1.Having the two top rebounders in the state and breaking numerous NHS school records shows that the NHS Girl’s Basketball team are the best at what they do. 2.These girls will be the ones to beat at the district tournament because they are the most skilled. Evidence: A basketball fan from Boise states that, “The girls transitioned from 4A to 5A and finished with a good record when some people thought that would be impossible.” 3.The talent level at NHS is apparent to opposing teams and rivals. 4.These teams know that it will be hard to compete with NHS in the future due to our skill. 5.Talent plays an important part in a strong program, but great coaching also plays an important role. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Once you are finished with your chart... You can begin to write your paper! Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

A body paragraph template would look like this: Claim_______________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ Evidence____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ Reasoning___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ Evidence____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ Reasoning___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ Transition___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Your claim, evidence, and reasoning becomes your body paragraphs The 2015 NHS Girl’s Basketball players are the most skilled. NHS had the top 2 rebounders and broke numerous NHS. Having the two top rebounders in the state and breaking numerous NHS school records shows that the NHS Girl’s Basketball team are the best at what they do. These girls will be the ones to beat at the district tournament because they are the most skilled. A basketball fan from Boise states that, “The girls transitioned from 4A to 5A and finished with a good record when some people thought that would be impossible.” The talent level at NHS is apparent to opposing teams and rivals. These teams know that it will be hard to compete with NHS in the future due to our skill. Talent plays an important part in a strong program, but great coaching also plays an important role. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

Why is writing this way helpful? 1.It keeps your argument. 2.It keeps your argument focused. 3.It keeps your argument supported by data. 4.It allows for the writer’s ideas to be the central focus. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School

NHS Language Arts teachers want you to be successful in your endeavors. Learn CER and you should be on your way to great work. Adapted by Jon Buckridge from Gina Davis at Columbia High School