1. Writing a CER
Science teachers

2. Claims Claims are the statements that answer your original question.
The claim must be accurate, specific, and answer the question.
The claim is usually one sentence in length.
Helping students succeed—Before they write
Talk about why you’re using the CER framework:
This is how you make an argument or explanation convincing.
This is what scientists do. Explain each part.

3. Evidence
The evidence is all the scientific data that supports your claim.
It can come from a variety of sources such as:
textbook, reading selections, videos, lab
investigations, class notes, etc.
It should include both qualitative and quantitative data.
It is important to have numerous pieces of evidence in order to prove your claim.
Explain each part…
The evidence includes the clues: the observations made and the data collected.

4. Reasoning
Reasoning is the explanation that connects your claim to the evidence that supports it or why you think your claim (answer to the question) is correct .
It shows why the data you chose counts as evidence.
It shows a detailed understanding of the scientific principles involved and uses correct science vocabulary.
This explanation acts as a conclusion.
If evidence is from an experiment, it can be the “conclusion” of the lab.
It is usually several sentences in length.
Explain each part…
Reasoning is why the scientists think their answer is correct. Scientists explain how the evidence helps answer the question.

5. Show Your Evidence Sentence Starters
According to the text…
On page ___, it said …
The author wrote…
For instance…
From the reading, I know that…
Based on what I read…
The graphic showed…
For example…
Help students with writing words they might include

6. Writing Words
“Uncertainty” words: usually, generally, suggests, indicates
Sequencing words: first, second, third
Therefore
Because
If… Then…
However
Additional writing words students might want to include.

7. Sample CER C: I claim that the rock is not alive
E: Rock is not made of cells
Rock does not reproduce
Rock does not maintain homeostasis
Rock does not respond to stimuli
R: Rocks are made of minerals, not cells. Minerals are not organic. Rocks undergo weathering and erosion and can break apart, but that is not the same thing as sexual or asexual reproduction. A rock does not have “parents”. Rocks do not need to maintain homeostasis because there is not internal environment to maintain. Rocks don’t respond to stimuli.

8. Another Sample CER
The shark population will die out.(Claim) The shark eats other fish such as the ocean fish and the lantern fish. The ocean fish and the lantern fish eat other organisms such as shrimp and copepods. The shrimp and copepods eat the phytoplankton. (Evidence) Phytoplankton are producers and they make their own food from the sun. All of the other organisms in the food web depend on the phytoplankton, even if they do not directly eat them. If the phytoplankton die, primary consumers (shrimp and copepods) will die because they will have no food which will cause the secondary consumers (ocean fish and lantern fish) to die, which will cause the shark to die. (Reasoning)

9. THE END!

10. Providing Feedback on a Student’s CER
What to Comment on:
How to Comment:
Components of the explanation:
- claim
- evidence
- reasoning
Science content of explanation
Holistic quality of explanation
Explicit and clear feedback
Point out strengths and weaknesses
Provide suggestions on how to improve
Ask questions to promote deeper thinking
Department of Mathematics and Science

11. When can a CER be used?
Use it to engage in structured, argumentation to explain a scientific concept.
Use it after an experiment to explain why a hypothesis was proven correct or not.
Use it to justify an answer choice for a multiple (FCAT type) test question is correct.
Use it to discuss claims made in videos or documentaries.

12. After an Experiment

13. Multiple Choice Question
Claim
– The correct answer choice is …
Evidence
- Facts from background information
- Data from the table or graph if applicable
Reasoning
- Reasons for excluding other answer choices
- Scientific background knowledge that explains
why the answer is correct beyond what is given in
the graph, table or background information.

14. Claim, Evidence, Reasoning after Viewing a Video or a Documentary
What is the claim the reporter is making?
What evidence does he or she cite in the report that supports that claim?
What is the scientific explanation?

15. CER Resources
McNeill, K. L. & Krajcik, J Supporting grade 5-8 students in constructing explanations in science: The claim, evidence and reasoning framework for talk and writing. New York, NY: Pearson & Bacon.
McNeill, K. and Martin, D Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning: Demystifying data during a unit on simple machines. Science and Children, 48(8).
cosmos.bgsu.edu/nwoSymposium/2013%20stuff/PresenterMaterial/Claim%20Evidence%20Reasoning%20(Elizabeth%20Buckholtz)%20NWO%20Symposium,% pdf

16. Agenda Review of Key Objectives and Critical Success Factors
How Did We Do?
Organizational Overview
Top Issues Facing Company
Review of and Progress Against Prior Goals
Key Spending Areas
Headcount
Goals for Next Period

17. Review of Key Objectives and Critical Success Factors
What makes company unique
What makes company successful
Shared vision
Review key undertakings of past year

18. How Did We Do?
Brief overview of performance against each objective

19. Organizational Overview
Introduction and broad goals of each organization
Any changes
Name and position

20. Top Issues Facing Company
Address any high profile issues

21. Review of Prior Goals
Financial
Competitive
Progress

22. Progress Against Goals
Summary of key financial results
Revenue
Profit
Key spending areas
Headcount

23. Revenue and Profit Forecast vs. actual Gross margin Important trends
Compare company to rest of market
Use multiple slides to break out meaningful detail

24. Key Spending Areas Research and Development Sales and Marketing
General and Administration
Areas of improvement
Areas needing attention/caution

25. Headcount
Goals
Results

26. Goals for Next Period Strategic undertakings Financial goals
Other key efforts

27. Summary
Summarize key successes/challenges
Reiterate key goals
Thanks