Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (C-E-R)
Student Graphic Organizer
Question:
C
(Claim = what you know) 4pts.
Write a statement or conclusion
that responds to the original
question or problem.
This has to be a complete
sentence.
E
(Evidence = how you know) 8 pts.
Provide as many pieces of
evidence you can that supports
your claim. Your evidence can
include observations, data, or
experimental evidence.
Evidence should be written as a
list (at least 3 pieces).
R
(Reasoning = why you know) 8pts.
Your reasoning should be a
detailed explanation of why
your evidence led you to make
your claim.
Use scientific background
knowledge to explain why your
claim is the best answer.
Need help writing your REASONING?
Follow this path….
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
• Re-state your claim.
• Provide some scientific principles/knowledge
that you already have about a topic.
• Provide data from the activity (lab, gizmo, etc.)
that connects to the scientific
principles/knowledge you mentioned in Step 2.
Show that your data can be used to prove your
claim.
• Wrap up your reasoning with a conclusion
sentence that begins with a word such as
"Therefore," "Hence," "Thus," "So," and re-state
the claim.