Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning Paragraph Practice for “The Tell-Tale Heart”
C: Answer the question/make a claim.
E: Cite one or more pieces of evidence
from the text or online research as support or as an example. If you choose to
cite from an outside source, make sure that you cite it.
R: Explain why the evidence you gave supports your answer or claim; this is called reasoning.
Essay Question (6+ sentence response)
In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale
Heart,” the narrator provides what he thinks is convincing testimony. He
suggests that he is not insane, but rather he suffers from sharp, or
“over-acuteness” of the senses. Is his account reliable? Or are there contradictory clues in the narrator’s testimony that demonstrate he is, in fact, insane? Consider his words, state of mind, and actions, then write an argumentative paragraph about whether or not the narrator is insane.
Step One: State Your Claim:
Example Claim: “The Tell-Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, presents the perfect argument of whether or not the narrator is aware of his actions and the attempt to prove that he is fully in his right mind.
Step Two: Gather Evidence &
Reasonings:
Evidence: Quote or Paraphrase
(with citation) (author’s name, page # - Poe,
1) |
Reasoning: What does this evidence
reveal about the character? |
E1: |
R1: |
E2: |
R2: |
E3: |
R3: |
Step Three CER Paragraph Response: Start with your claim, and then cite each piece of evidence with its reasoning. Don’t forget to add relevant transitions to introduce evidence and reasoning sentences. Finally, end your paragraph with a strong concluding sentence