Transcript CEE Paragraph

CEE Paragraph
Claims, Evidence, Explanation
Claims
• Any statement that you are asking
someone to accept as true
• Claims are opinions
• In a loner paragraph, the claim supports a
topic sentence
Claims
• Loner Paragraph: Topic sentence, claim,
evidence, explanation, repeat CEE as
necessary.
• Essay Paragraph: Thesis; Claim,
evidence, explanation, repeat CEE as
necessary
Topic Sentences
• Topic sentences are the conclusion that
you want your audience to accept.
• A topic sentence must directly answer the
prompt!
Claims
• Claims provide the audience with a reason
why the audience should accept the topic
sentence
• Remember, paragraphs are units
surrounding one idea or closely related
ideas, so if they contain multiple claims,
those claims should be related.
Evidence
• We like you, but we don’t trust you. 
• You’ll need to provide some relevant and
specific evidence to prove that your claim
is true.
• Referred to as evidence, examples, facts,
grounds, data, etc.
Evidence
• Must be relevant, specific, and concrete.
• Don’t give conditional statements as
evidence. They’ll become claims.
Explanation
• To reach your claim or topic sentence
(conclusion) based on your evidence
(observations), you had to make an
inductive leap.
• You need to make sure the audience sees
the relationship between your evidence
and claim or claim and topic sentence the
way that you see it.
Examples
• Sue should use a hearing aid because it
would help her hear better than she hears
now. Over 70% of all people over 65 years
old with hearing difficulties report
improvement in their hearing while using a
hearing aid. Clearly since hearing aids
help out the majority of the people who
use them, it stands to reason that Sue
would also benefit.
Counter Argument
• All arguments have multiple sides.
Acknowledge that your perspective isn’t
the only viable perspective.
• Must be a NATURAL counter argument to
the author’s conclusion
• Comes in two forms: concession and
concession/rebuttal.
Conclusion
• Drive the topic sentence home, but don’t
restate it.
Another example
• The Lions will win the Superbowl this year because they
have the best defense in the league. In fact, they are
currently on pace to set the record for the fewest points
allowed in a season. Additionally, they lead the league
in tackles for loss and interceptions. Sure, some teams
that have won the Superbowl have had sub-par
defenses. However, in the history of the N.F.L., the team
with the league’s best defense has won the Superbowl
over 90% of the time. This bodes well for the Lion’s and
the long suffering Lion’s fans who will soon be
celebrating a Lion’s championship.
Breakdown
• 1. What is the topic sentence (the conclusion that the
writer wants you to accept as true)
• -The Lions will win the Superbowl this year
• 2. Claim: What are you basing your conclusion (topic
sentence) on?
• -they have the best defense in the league
• 3. Evidence: What proof can you give me to show that
you’re claim is true?
• - they are currently on pace to set the record for the
fewest points allowed in a season
• - they lead the league in tackles for loss and
interceptions
Breakdown
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4. Explanation: How does the evidence that you’ve just given me really
prove that your claim and topic sentence are true? In other words, how do
those statistics and facts ultimately lead the reader to believe that because
the Lions have the best defense they will win the Superbowl?
- the team with the league’s best defense has won the Superbowl over 90%
of the time
5. Counter argument (located somewhere within the paragraph or essay):
What natural argument to your conclusion (topic sentence) or claim would
the opposition present? (Don’t forget to defeat it)
- Sure, some teams that have won the Superbowl have had sub-par
defenses
(here’s the defeat) - however, in the history of the N.F.L., the team with the
league’s best defense has won the Superbowl over 90% of the time
6. Conclusion: Drive the topic sentence home. Remind the audience about
what you’re attempting to prove.
- This bodes well for the Lion’s and the long suffering Lion’s fans who will
soon be celebrating a Lion’s championship.