Grade 6 · Writing with Evidence · Paragraph Craft
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning Paragraphs
Write a claim that answers the question.
Learning objectives
- Write a claim that answers the question
- Choose and punctuate a quotation
- Explain how evidence supports the claim
AERO English Language Arts alignment
AERO.ELA.6.W.1
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons, relevant evidence and acknowledgement of alternative positions. Grade 6 / MYP 1 emphasis: work with one text or a clear pairing, with modelled evidence, sentence starters and short structured responses.
AERO.ELA.6.W.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research. Grade 6 / MYP 1 emphasis: work with one text or a clear pairing, with modelled evidence, sentence starters and short structured responses.
AERO.ELA.6.W.10
Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes and audiences. Grade 6 / MYP 1 emphasis: work with one text or a clear pairing, with modelled evidence, sentence starters and short structured responses.
AERO.ELA.6.W.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, drafting, revising, editing and rewriting, with feedback from peers and teachers. Grade 6 / MYP 1 emphasis: work with one text or a clear pairing, with modelled evidence, sentence starters and short structured responses.
AERO.ELA.6.W.7
Conduct short research projects to answer a question or solve a problem, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate. Grade 6 / MYP 1 emphasis: work with one text or a clear pairing, with modelled evidence, sentence starters and short structured responses.
MYP criteria
- Criterion A — Analysing
- Criterion C — Producing text
ENGAGE
Build a Strong Argument
Imagine that your school is deciding whether to organise a coastal clean-up near Qatar’s mangroves. You believe the clean-up is important, but simply saying ‘It is a good idea’ may not persuade your reader. You need a clear claim, relevant evidence and careful reasoning. Together, these parts form a CER paragraph. In this lesson, you will read a short informational text and use it to build a convincing paragraph.
Think about it
- What makes an argument convincing?
- How can a quotation strengthen your point?
EXPLORE
Read: Guardians at the Water’s Edge
Guardians at the Water’s Edge
At dawn, the mangroves along Qatar’s coast may appear quiet. Look more closely, however, and the shallow water is busy with life. Small fish move between the tangled roots, while herons search for food nearby. The roots also slow the movement of water and trap loose sediment. In this way, the trees form a living barrier between the sea and the shore.
Mangroves need protection because rubbish can damage this delicate habitat. Plastic bags may catch on roots, and small pieces of waste can remain in the mud. During one school clean-up, students filled several reusable sacks with litter from a short section of shoreline. Some people might look at the muddy ground and think that the area is empty or unimportant. In fact, it provides food and shelter for many living things. Protecting mangroves does more than improve the appearance of the coast; it helps preserve an entire coastal community.
Reading focus
As you read again, find one sentence that could support the claim that mangroves should be protected.
Think about it
- What claim does the writer make about mangroves?
- Which details show that mangroves support living things?
- Why does the writer mention that some people see muddy ground as unimportant?
EXPLAIN
How to Write a CER Paragraph
CER stands for claim, evidence and reasoning. A strong paragraph uses all three parts in a logical order. The claim answers the question, the evidence comes from the source, and the reasoning explains why the evidence proves the claim.
| Part | Purpose | Helpful starter |
|---|---|---|
| Claim | Answers the question and states your position. | Communities should protect mangroves because... |
| Evidence | Provides a relevant fact or quotation from the text. | The writer explains that... |
| Reasoning | Connects the evidence to the claim. | This shows that... |
1. Write a focused claim
Your claim should answer the exact question and give a reason. For the question ‘Why should communities protect mangroves?’, a focused claim is: ‘Communities should protect mangroves because these habitats support coastal wildlife.’ Avoid a vague claim such as ‘Mangroves are good.’
2. Select and punctuate evidence
Choose evidence that directly supports your claim. Introduce a copied quotation and place quotation marks around the writer’s exact words. For example: The writer explains that mangroves provide ‘food and shelter for many living things’. The full stop comes after the closing quotation mark because the quotation is part of your own sentence.
Do not stop at the quotation
Evidence does not explain itself. Add reasoning that shows how the quoted detail supports your claim. A complete model is: Communities should protect mangroves because these habitats support coastal wildlife. The writer explains that the area provides ‘food and shelter for many living things’. This shows that damage to mangroves could affect the animals that depend on the habitat, so protecting the trees helps protect the wider coastal community.
- Claim: answer the question and give a clear reason.
- Evidence: choose a short, relevant quotation.
- Reasoning: explain how the evidence proves the claim.
- Optional challenge: acknowledge another view with ‘Although some people may think..., the evidence shows...’
MYP_PRACTICE
Write Your CER Paragraph
Answer this question: Why should communities protect mangroves? Write one CER paragraph of four to six sentences. Use one short quotation from the extract and explain its importance. You may use the sentence starters, but make sure that your ideas form one connected paragraph.
- Write a claim that answers the question and gives one clear reason.
- Underline a short sentence or phrase in the extract that supports your claim.
- Introduce the quotation and copy it accurately inside quotation marks.
- Add one or two reasoning sentences beginning with ‘This shows that...’ or ‘This matters because...’.
- Check that your paragraph is logical, punctuated and focused on the question.
EXIT_TICKET
Before you close this lesson
Think about it
- Which part of your paragraph most clearly connects the evidence to your claim?
- What will you check next time you include a quotation?
Watch
How to Argue - Philosophical Reasoning: Crash Course Philosophy #2
CrashCourse · 10 min
Learn how premises, conclusions, validity, and sound reasoning form a strong argument.
Before you watch: How is a reasoned argument different from a quarrel?
- What roles do premises and conclusions play in an argument?
- How can you test whether a conclusion follows logically from its premises?
Watch
Writing Skills: The Paragraph
Adam’s English Lessons · engVid · 15 min
Review how a focused topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion work together in a paragraph.
Before you watch: What job should every sentence in a paragraph perform?
- How does a topic sentence establish a paragraph's focus?
- How can you check whether every supporting sentence is relevant?
Interactive practice · cer paragraph builder
Build and Check a CER Paragraph
Use the extract to create one connected paragraph. Complete each stage, then read your paragraph aloud to check that the reasoning follows logically from the evidence.
Check your answer
Task
Question: Why should communities protect mangroves?
Sentence frames
Prompts
Your answer
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Key vocabulary
- claim
- A clear statement that answers a question or presents your position.
- evidence
- Information from a source that supports your claim.
- reasoning
- Your explanation of how the evidence proves the claim.
- quotation
- The exact words copied from a source and placed in quotation marks.
Practice questions
0/3 correct
Level 1 · Criterion A
Which sentence is the clearest claim for a paragraph about protecting mangroves?
Level 1 · Criterion C
Which sentence punctuates the quotation correctly?
Level 2 · Criterion A
Which quotation best supports the claim that mangroves protect the shoreline?
MYP criterion tasks
Level 2 · Criterion A
Explain how the quotation ‘food and shelter for many living things’ supports the claim that mangroves should be protected.
Level 3 · Criterion C
Write a three-sentence CER response explaining why a coastal clean-up would be valuable. Include one correctly punctuated quotation from the extract.
Reflect & track
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