Claim-Evidence Writing
Learn
This lesson teaches you how to write claim-evidence responses for history topics. This skill is essential for SAT/ACT success and for making persuasive arguments in social studies.
The CER Framework
- C - Claim: A clear statement that answers the question or takes a position
- E - Evidence: Specific facts, examples, or quotes that support your claim
- R - Reasoning: Explanation of how the evidence supports your claim
Writing Strong Claims
A good historical claim should:
- Directly answer the question asked
- Take a clear position (avoid vague statements)
- Be arguable (not simply a fact)
- Be specific enough to prove with evidence
Selecting Evidence
Strong evidence in history writing includes:
- Specific dates, names, and events
- Quotes from primary sources
- Statistics and data
- Examples from multiple perspectives
Connecting Evidence to Claims
Your reasoning should explain:
- WHY this evidence matters
- HOW it proves your point
- WHAT it reveals about the historical question
Examples
Study these examples of claim-evidence writing.
Example 1: Reconstruction
Question: Was Reconstruction successful in achieving its goals?
Weak Response: "Reconstruction had some successes and some failures."
Strong CER Response:
Claim: While Reconstruction achieved important constitutional changes, it ultimately failed to secure lasting equality for African Americans.
Evidence: The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments abolished slavery and guaranteed citizenship and voting rights. However, after federal troops withdrew in 1877, Southern states enacted Jim Crow laws, and by 1900, Black voter registration in Louisiana dropped from 130,000 to just 5,000.
Reasoning: This evidence shows that while Reconstruction created a legal framework for equality, the lack of enforcement allowed Southern states to effectively nullify these protections, demonstrating that constitutional amendments alone were insufficient without ongoing federal commitment.
Example 2: Industrialization
Question: Did industrialization improve life for most Americans?
Strong CER Response:
Claim: Industrialization created both tremendous wealth and widespread suffering, with benefits distributed unequally across social classes.
Evidence: While industrial production increased by 800% between 1865 and 1900, factory workers averaged 60-hour weeks for wages of $1-2 per day. Andrew Carnegie's personal fortune reached $480 million, while the average worker earned less than $500 per year.
Reasoning: These statistics reveal that the economic gains of industrialization were concentrated among a small elite, while working-class Americans faced dangerous conditions and poverty wages, suggesting that industrial progress did not equally benefit all Americans.
Practice
Practice writing claim-evidence responses for these prompts.
Practice 1
Prompt: How did the end of Reconstruction affect African Americans' political power in the South?
Write a CER response using specific evidence about voting rights, Black elected officials, and Jim Crow laws.
Practice 2
Prompt: Were the "Robber Barons" of the Gilded Age harmful or beneficial to American society?
Write a CER response that considers both business practices and philanthropy.
Practice 3
Prompt: To what extent did the 14th Amendment fulfill its promise of equal protection?
Write a CER response addressing both the amendment's text and its actual implementation.
Check Your Understanding
Test yourself with these 10 quiz questions. Click each question to reveal the answer.
1. What are the three components of the CER framework?
Answer: Claim (a clear statement or position), Evidence (specific facts, examples, or quotes), and Reasoning (explanation of how evidence supports the claim).
2. What makes a claim "arguable"?
Answer: An arguable claim is a statement that reasonable people could disagree with. It's not simply a fact, but rather an interpretation or position that needs to be supported with evidence.
3. Why is it important to include specific dates and names in historical evidence?
Answer: Specific details make your evidence concrete and verifiable. They demonstrate your knowledge and make your argument more credible than vague generalizations.
4. What is the difference between evidence and reasoning?
Answer: Evidence consists of the facts, examples, or quotes you present. Reasoning is your explanation of why that evidence matters and how it proves your claim.
5. How can you improve a weak claim like "The Civil War changed America"?
Answer: Make it more specific and arguable, such as: "The Civil War fundamentally transformed the American economy by accelerating industrialization in the North while devastating the agricultural South."
6. Why should you include evidence from multiple perspectives?
Answer: Multiple perspectives show that you understand the complexity of historical events, strengthen your argument by addressing counterarguments, and demonstrate more sophisticated historical thinking.
7. What role do transition words play in claim-evidence writing?
Answer: Transition words (such as "therefore," "because," "as a result," "this demonstrates") help connect your evidence to your claim and guide the reader through your reasoning.
8. How do you know if you have enough evidence to support a claim?
Answer: You need enough evidence to fully convince a skeptical reader. Generally, multiple pieces of evidence from different sources or perspectives make a stronger argument than a single example.
9. What is the purpose of the reasoning portion of a CER response?
Answer: The reasoning explains the connection between evidence and claim. It shows WHY the evidence matters and HOW it proves your point, rather than assuming the reader will make the connection themselves.
10. How does claim-evidence writing connect to SAT and ACT reading skills?
Answer: SAT and ACT reading sections require you to identify claims, evaluate evidence, and understand how authors build arguments. Practicing CER writing helps you recognize these elements in texts you read and choose correct answers about author's purpose and use of evidence.
Next Steps
- Practice writing CER responses for different historical topics
- Review your responses for clear claim-evidence connections
- Complete the Unit Checkpoint to assess your mastery