CSET FAQS
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.

THINK OF YOUR CSET LIKE A HAMBURGER…
Claim
(Answer
Question)
Set-Up
(Prepare
for
Evidence)
Evidence
(Proves
Claim)
Tie-In
(Relates
Claim to
Evidence)
CSET 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= CLAIM
YOUR ANSWER 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.
HOW TO FIX MY CLAIM:
S= SET-UP
INTRODUCES 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.
HOW 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:
60).
The author writes, “….” (Connell
HOW TO FIX MY EVIDENCE:
T=TIE-IN
YOUR 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.
HOW TO FIX MY TIE-IN:
Common Issues
How do we fix it?
• Summary of evidence
• Repetition of Set up or some
other part of the paragraph
• Use of 1st or 2nd 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 CHAMPION! TIME 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 CSET becomes a CSETSET.
Try it now!
Add another piece of evidence to your CSET about Zaroff.