CSET FAQS

Why do I need to use CSET? CSET is a technique to organize your writing. Your writing needs to be clear so that the reader can follow your train of thought. If your reader cannot follow your train of thought, your ideas will not be heard. All teachers, regardless of content area, use CSET. It was developed by a UD professor.

T HINK OF YOUR CSET LIKE A HAMBURGER … Claim (Answer Question) Set-Up (Prepare for Evidence) Evidence (Proves Claim) Tie-In (Relates Claim to Evidence)

C SET FAQS I understand the parts of a CSET. Now, how do I make it awesome? Start by reading the question/prompt carefully: Example: How does the author of “Most Dangerous Game” use details to help readers visualize the setting. Use at least one specific example for support. - Visualize = picture in my mind - Details = specific words/phrases from the text - Setting = where/when the story occurs

C= C LAIM Y OUR A NSWER TO THE QUESTION / PROMPT Clear Claim Checklist: Answer the question using a complete sentence. Avoid using “Yes” or “No” at the beginning of the sentence. Avoid using “I think” or “I believe”. Example: The author uses creepy-sounding adjectives to make the island sound mysterious.

H OW TO FIX MY CLAIM :

S= SET - UP I NTRODUCES THE EVIDENCE Think of the set-up as an introduction to your evidence…like the soup before the main course. Set-up includes: Title of text Author of text Explains where the quote appears in the story Possible Formats: In the story ____________, the author ___________ tells about ___________ in Paragraph___________. ___________, the author of ___________ explains ____________ on the last page of the story.

H OW TO FIX MY SET - UP :

E= EVIDENCE YOUR PROOF Copy information word-for-word from the text. Choose evidence that will effectively support your claim. Include a speaker’s tag, quotation marks, and page number! Example: The author writes, “….” (Connell 60).

H OW TO FIX MY EVIDENCE :

T=T IE - IN Y OUR ANALYSIS AND EXPLANATION Explain why you chose this quotation and how the quotation relates to your claim. Use at least two sentences to do so. When writing the tie-in, first try to explain why the quotation is useful in your own words. If you can’t, you may have a weak quotation.

H OW TO FIX MY TIE - IN : Common IssuesHow do we fix it? Summary of evidence Repetition of Set up or some other part of the paragraph Use of 1 st or 2 nd person Make sure you are extending or explaining the quote. Think about what the evidence means BEYOND what it literally says. Think of it as almost a conclusion statement…what final thought do you want to leave the reader with?

I’ M A CSET C HAMPION ! T IME FOR A CHALLENGE. How do I use CSET if I have more than one piece of evidence? Write your CSET paragraph as usual. After your tie-in, set up a new piece of evidence. Include the new evidence. Tie-in your new evidence. Repeat your SET as needed. Your CS E T becomes a CS E TS E T. Try it now! Add another piece of evidence to your CSET about Zaroff.