1
Claim: The unknown liquid is acidic. Evidence: It changed blue litmus paper to red and measured pH 3. Reasoning: Acids have pH values below 7 and turn blue litmus red.
8 Claim Evidence Reasoning Examples
Use these examples to study structure, specificity, tone, and variation. They are demonstrations—not claims about a real person or organization unless the example itself makes that explicit.
Before you copy
What to notice in the examples
A strong CER response uses a claim that answers the question, evidence that is sufficient and relevant, and reasoning that explicitly explains why the evidence supports the claim instead of assuming the connection is obvious.
- Claim: answer the question in a defensible sentence.
- Evidence: select observations, data, quotations, or facts that directly bear on the claim.
- Reasoning: explain the principle or logic connecting the evidence to the claim.
- Qualification: note limitations or competing evidence when the task requires nuance.
2
Claim: The narrator is unreliable. Evidence: Two later scenes contradict details in his opening account. Reasoning: Repeated contradictions weaken confidence that his version of events is complete or accurate.
3
Claim: The insulation reduced heat loss. Evidence: The insulated container cooled 8°C less over 30 minutes. Reasoning: Slower temperature change indicates lower heat transfer under the same conditions.
4
Claim: The policy reduced late arrivals. Evidence: Late check-ins fell from 18% to 9% after implementation. Reasoning: The timing aligns with the policy change, although other schedule changes should be checked before claiming causation.
5
Claim: Plant B grew faster. Evidence: Its mean height increased 4.2 cm compared with 1.7 cm for Plant A. Reasoning: Greater increase over the same interval indicates a higher observed growth rate.
6
Claim: The speech appeals strongly to ethos. Evidence: The speaker repeatedly cites direct professional experience. Reasoning: Establishing relevant credibility is a standard way of strengthening ethos.
7
Claim: The source reflects an institutional perspective. Evidence: It was produced by the agency being evaluated. Reasoning: Authorship can shape which successes, failures, and measures are emphasized.
8
Claim: The revision improved clarity. Evidence: Test readers completed the task with fewer clarification questions. Reasoning: Reduced need for clarification suggests the instructions communicated the required steps more effectively.
Keep the underlying decision or pattern, then replace the subject, evidence, relationship, constraints, and tone with details that belong to your situation. If your final line still works after swapping only one noun, it may be too close to the example.