Claim-Evidence Writing
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Constructing effective arguments about government policy and economic issues requires clear claims supported by credible evidence and logical reasoning. This lesson teaches the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) framework for civic writing and prepares you for document-based questions on standardized tests.
The CER Framework
- Claim: A clear, arguable statement that answers the question or takes a position
- Evidence: Specific facts, data, quotes, or examples that support the claim
- Reasoning: Explanation of how and why the evidence supports the claim
Writing Strong Claims
An effective claim in government and economics writing should:
- Take a clear position that can be argued
- Be specific enough to support with evidence
- Avoid absolute statements ("always," "never") unless truly warranted
- Address the complexity of the issue when appropriate
Weak Claim: "The economy is important."
Strong Claim: "Federal monetary policy has a greater immediate impact on employment rates than fiscal policy because interest rate changes affect business investment decisions within weeks rather than months."
Types of Evidence in Civic Writing
- Statistical Data: Numbers from reliable sources (BLS, Census, CBO)
- Historical Examples: Past events that illustrate patterns or outcomes
- Expert Testimony: Quotes or findings from credible authorities
- Primary Documents: Constitutional provisions, laws, court decisions
- Case Studies: Specific examples that demonstrate broader principles
Evaluating Evidence Quality
Not all evidence is equally persuasive. Strong evidence is:
- Relevant: Directly connected to the claim being made
- Credible: From authoritative, unbiased sources
- Current: Up-to-date unless historical context is the point
- Specific: Concrete rather than vague or general
- Sufficient: Enough to establish the point convincingly
Connecting Evidence to Claims Through Reasoning
Reasoning bridges the gap between evidence and claim by:
- Explaining WHY the evidence matters
- Showing HOW the evidence connects to the claim
- Addressing potential counterarguments or limitations
- Drawing logical conclusions from the data
Addressing Counterarguments
Strong civic writing acknowledges opposing viewpoints:
- Identify the strongest counterargument to your position
- Present it fairly and accurately
- Explain why your claim is still valid despite the counterpoint
- Use evidence to refute or limit the counterargument
Document-Based Question (DBQ) Strategy
For SAT and ACT passages that require evidence-based responses:
- Read the question carefully to understand what claim you need to support
- Identify relevant evidence in the passage or documents
- Select the BEST evidence - most direct and specific
- Explain the connection between evidence and answer
Examples
Example 1: Weak vs. Strong Argument
Weak Argument:
"Minimum wage should be raised because people need more money. The economy would be better if workers earned more."
Problem: Vague claim, no specific evidence, reasoning is circular.
Strong Argument:
"A gradual increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour would reduce poverty rates among working families. According to the Congressional Budget Office, such an increase would lift 900,000 workers above the poverty line. While some businesses argue this would lead to job losses, the CBO estimates employment effects would be modest, with approximately 1.4 million workers potentially affected. The net benefit to low-income families outweighs the employment risk because poverty reduction programs would see decreased enrollment, and consumer spending from higher wages would stimulate local economies."
Strengths: Specific claim, cited evidence from credible source, acknowledges counterargument, provides reasoning.
Example 2: Analyzing Evidence Quality
Prompt: Which evidence best supports the claim that voter ID laws reduce voter turnout among minority populations?
Evidence Options:
- A) "Many people believe voter ID laws are unfair."
- B) "A 2017 study in the Journal of Politics found that strict voter ID laws reduced turnout by 2-3% among Hispanic and African American voters in states that implemented them."
- C) "Some states have voter ID laws."
- D) "Voter turnout has changed over time."
Analysis: Option B is the strongest evidence because it is specific (2-3%), from a credible source (academic journal), directly relevant to the claim, and provides measurable data about the populations mentioned in the claim.
Example 3: Building Reasoning
Claim: The Federal Reserve's independence from direct political control benefits the U.S. economy.
Evidence: Countries with independent central banks have historically experienced lower average inflation rates. For example, the U.S. maintained average inflation below 3% from 1990-2020, compared to higher rates in countries with politically controlled monetary policy.
Reasoning: This evidence supports the claim because an independent Fed can make unpopular but necessary decisions, like raising interest rates to control inflation, without fear of political retaliation. Elected officials facing re-election might pressure for lower rates to stimulate short-term growth, even at the cost of long-term inflation. The Fed's independence allows for consistent, data-driven policy that prioritizes economic stability over political cycles.
Practice
Apply your understanding of claim-evidence writing to these questions.
1. Which of the following is the strongest claim for an argumentative essay about tax policy?
2. In the CER framework, "reasoning" serves to:
3. Which source would provide the MOST credible evidence for an argument about unemployment trends?
4. "According to the 2020 Census, the U.S. population grew by 7.4% over the previous decade." This statement functions as:
5. Which revision would strengthen this weak claim: "The government should do something about healthcare"?
6. Why is it important to address counterarguments in civic writing?
7. A student writes: "The Supreme Court's decision was important because it changed things." This reasoning is weak because it:
8. Which of the following demonstrates effective use of a primary source as evidence?
9. When selecting evidence to support a claim about economic policy, the MOST important criterion is that the evidence:
10. Read the following: "While critics argue that increased government spending leads to higher deficits, historical data shows that targeted infrastructure investment generates economic returns that exceed initial costs." This sentence primarily serves to:
11. Which transition would BEST introduce reasoning that explains why evidence supports a claim?
12. A student's argument includes this sentence: "Everyone knows that taxes are too high." This statement is problematic because it:
Check Your Understanding
Answers:
- B - This claim is specific, arguable, and provides reasoning
- C - Reasoning explains the connection between evidence and claim
- B - Bureau of Labor Statistics is an authoritative government source for employment data
- B - This is a specific fact with a cited source, which functions as evidence
- B - This revision is specific, actionable, and arguable
- B - Addressing counterarguments demonstrates thorough analysis and strengthens credibility
- B - "Changed things" is vague and does not explain specific impacts or significance
- B - This directly quotes the Constitution and explains its significance
- B - Relevance to the claim is the most important factor for effective evidence
- B - The sentence acknowledges a counterargument ("critics argue") and responds with evidence
- B - "This demonstrates that" introduces an explanation of significance
- B - "Everyone knows" is an appeal to popularity, not evidence-based reasoning
Next Steps
- Practice writing CER paragraphs on current policy issues
- Analyze opinion editorials to identify claims, evidence, and reasoning
- Continue to the next lesson: Unit Checkpoint