Earth and Space Science Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning Review

Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning are the three subsets that make up a CER graphic organizer. Each subgroup has a comprehensive breakdown of what that subset entails. So, with a simplistic, broad, complete subset, it is essential to understand the inner workings of each section. Below is a breakdown of each subgroup:

Claim: This is a statement you believe to be accurate based on the question. This statement is meant to solve the question or problem. This is also when the you must ensure that the claim answers the question. It is also time to ensure that your claim is a complete sentence and gives a proper rationale or explanation.

Evidence: This is where you enter all your data and findings. Evidence is the area for research, investigations, numbers, collections, videos, and anything else that has been gathered to either support or deny the given claim. While this area is being investigated, you must ensure that the evidence is relative to the claim.

Reasoning: Does the data support the claim? The reasoning is different from where the data is stated. Correlations are made about whether the claim is right or wrong. Have you started your evidence to support the claim? Did you record your findings in complete sentences?

Example CER

Data Set:

  1. Global average temperature records from the past century showing an increase of approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius.
  2. Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, showing an increase from 280 parts per million (ppm) in pre-industrial times to over 410 ppm in recent decades.
  3. Satellite imagery and ground-based observations documenting the retreat of glaciers and polar ice caps over the last 50 years.
  4. Studies on biodiversity shifts and migration patterns indicating changes in ecosystems correlated with temperature increases.

Claim: Earth's climate is changing due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

Evidence: Scientific data shows a significant increase in global average temperatures over the past century, correlating with rising carbon dioxide levels from human activities.

Reasoning: The greenhouse effect, amplified by human emissions, traps heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise and leading to observable impacts like melting ice caps and shifts in ecosystems.