We’ve discussed the importance of beginning writing instruction at the sentence level–even for secondary students. The next step in scaffolding up is paragraph writing. If students are forming strong sentences, they’re ready to put them together into strong paragraphs. Most students will need a framework for doing this. One of the most effective frameworks for writing solid paragraphs is the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) format. Mastering CER paragraphs is essential for secondary literacy. It provides students with a clear structure for developing their ideas coherently and persuasively. I’ll show you how to help your students do this in two steps.
The Importance of a Framework
Frameworks are key for student success. Wh
ichever one you choose is up to you, but it’s best if it can be adopted at a school level. Consistency in expectations across classrooms can significantly help students internalize the process of writing effective paragraphs.
A framework like CER helps students focus on the essential elements of good writing—making a claim, supporting it with evidence, and reasoning through why the evidence supports the claim. This approach improves the quality of their writing and also enhances their critical thinking skills.
Why the CER Framework is a Smart Strategy for Secondary Literacy
The CER framework is what my school has adopted. When we’re doing a quick writing assignment in any subject, students begin with a template that asks them to make a claim, provide evidence to support that claim, and offer reasoning to explain why their evidence supports the claim.
- Claim
- Evidence
- Reason(s)
This structured approach is a starting point that gives students the tools they need to build more complex arguments. While CER is simple, it’s also versatile and can be adapted for more advanced writing tasks, such as addressing counter arguments or synthesizing multiple pieces of evidence.
I have a template you can download for free in my Free Resource Library.
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The CER framework also has the advantage of being applicable across different subjects. Whether in English, history, or science, students can use this approach to structure their writing. This cross-curricular applicability makes CER a smart strategy for secondary literacy, ensuring that students are practicing and reinforcing these skills in various contexts.
Mastering the CER Paragraph in 2 Steps
Step 1: Understanding the Framework
Mastering CER paragraphs begins with understanding each part of the framework. First, students must be able to make a clear, concise claim. This is the statement or argument they’re making, and it needs to be specific enough to be supported in a single paragraph.
Next, students gather evidence to support their claim. This could be a quotation from a text, a statistic, or a piece of data that directly backs up their argument. The key here is teaching students to choose the most relevant and compelling evidence, rather than just any piece of information that relates to the topic.
The final step, and arguably the most important, is reasoning. Students must explain how their evidence supports their claim. This is where they demonstrate their understanding and make connections between their claim and the evidence. Reasoning is what transforms a list of facts into a coherent argument, showing the reader why the evidence matters and how it proves the point they’re making.
Step 2: Putting It All Together
Once your students have mastered each part of the CER framework, the next step is to put it all together into a cohesive paragraph. Here, transitions are key. Students need to make sure their ideas flow logically from the claim to the evidence and then to the reasoning. Teaching students to use transitional phrases and varied sentence structures can help them achieve this coherence.
Here are some examples you can give them:
To Introduce a Claim:
“To begin,”
“First,”
“It is essential to understand that,”
To Present Evidence:
“For instance,”
“For example,”
“According to [source],”
“As demonstrated by,”
To Introduce Reasoning:
“This evidence shows that,”
“This suggests that,”
“Therefore,”
“As a result,”
“This indicates that,”
“This means that,”
To Add Additional Evidence or Reasoning:
“Additionally,”
“Furthermore,”
“Moreover,”
“Another example of this is,”
“In addition,”
To Conclude or Summarize:
“In conclusion,”
“In summary,”
“Overall,”
“Thus,”
To Show Contrast:
“However,”
“On the other hand,”
“Conversely,”
“Despite this,”
“Nevertheless,”
To Emphasize a Point:
“Indeed,”
“In fact,”
“It is important to note that,”
“Most importantly,”
It’s also important to encourage students to revise their paragraphs. Writing is a process, and the first draft is rarely perfect. By revising, students can refine their ideas, strengthen their arguments, and ensure their writing is as clear and persuasive as possible.
Moving Beyond the Basics
As students become more comfortable with the CER framework, they can begin to take on more complex writing tasks. This might involve adding counterarguments, incorporating multiple pieces of evidence, or connecting their paragraph to a broader argument in an essay. The skills they develop through mastering CER paragraphs will provide a strong foundation for these more advanced writing tasks.
Next week, I’ll address ways to do this as our literacy series concludes with writing at the essay level.
