Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning

Summary

In this instructional video, Mr. Koz explains how to create strong arguments using the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) framework. A claim is an arguable statement, such as 'The New York Yankees are the best baseball team of all time.' Evidence supports the claim with facts, like the Yankees winning 27 World Series championships. Finally, reasoning connects the evidence to the claim, showing how it proves the argument. By following these steps, students can develop clear and convincing arguments in any topic.

Takeaways

• 📢 A claim is a main argument that can be debated or supported.
• ⚖️ Claims are statements that can be agreed or disagreed with.
• 🗣️ Example claim: 'The New York Yankees are the best baseball team of all time.'
• 🔍 Evidence is used to support your claim and must be relevant.
• 📊 Evidence can include facts, statistics, examples, quotes, and more.
• 🏆 Example evidence: 'The New York Yankees have won 27 World Series championships.'
• 🧠 Reasoning is your analysis of the evidence and how it connects to the claim.
• 💡 Example reasoning: 'Having 27 World Series titles proves the Yankees' superiority.'
• 📈 Reasoning explains how the evidence supports the claim and strengthens your argument.
• 🔗 Putting it all together: claim (argument), evidence (proof), and reasoning (analysis) form a strong, coherent argument.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a claim in an argument?

A claim is your main argument or statement that can be argued for or against. It expresses your position on a topic.

Can you provide an example of a claim from the video?

An example of a claim from the video is 'The New York Yankees are the best baseball team of all time.'

What is evidence in the context of argumentation?

Evidence is proof that supports your claim. It comes from reliable sources such as facts, statistics, examples, or quotes.

What type of evidence is used to support the claim about the New York Yankees?

The evidence provided is that the New York Yankees have won 27 World Series championships.

Why is the number of World Series wins important in supporting the claim about the Yankees?

It is important because it proves that the Yankees have been consistently successful, making them arguably the best team, as no other team has won as many championships.

What are some common types of evidence that can be used in an argument?

Common types of evidence include facts, examples, statistics, quotes, and even information from images, music, or movies.

How does reasoning differ from evidence in an argument?

Reasoning is the explanation or analysis of how the evidence supports the claim, connecting the two and making the argument logical.

What reasoning is provided to support the claim about the New York Yankees?

The reasoning is that winning 27 World Series titles proves the Yankees are the best because winning the World Series means they were the best team in baseball for that year, and they have more than double the titles of any other team.

Why is reasoning considered the most important part of an argument?

Reasoning is crucial because it shows how the evidence is directly tied to the claim, making the argument cohesive and logical.

How does the video suggest structuring an argument?

The video suggests structuring an argument by presenting a claim (the main argument), supporting it with evidence (proof), and then explaining the reasoning (how the evidence supports the claim).