The A.E.C.R. Paragraph

The AECR Paragraph Structure A = Assertion E = Evidence C = Commentary R= Restate/ Reflect/Relevance AECR helps you provide paragraph structure for constructed responses and body paragraphs in any subject area. It requires you to make a statement or claim, back it up with evidence, connect the evidence to your claim and explain why it is important, and close the paragraph effectively.

ASSERTION ASSERTION = Topic sentence that addresses the prompt/thesis

EVIDENCE EVIDENCE = Fact, source citation, or detail that supports the topic sentence

COMMENTARY COMMENTARY = Commentary that reveals your thinking, connects the evidence to the topic sentence, and answers the question “so what?” (i.e., Why is the evidence important? What does it show? Why does it matter?)

RESTATE/RELEVANCE/REFLECT RESTATE/RELEVANCE/REFLECT = A closing statement that restates/reflects on the assertion or comments on the relevance of the response as a whole (i.e., How did your evidence and commentary support your assertion/prove your thesis?)

Example: Example: Banneker wants Jefferson to remember his own revolutionary past and the tyranny he experienced while subject to British rule. His diction asks Jefferson to “recall” and “look back” on his revolutionary acts. This reminds Jefferson that he too was once in bondage and that he believed it was his duty to fight to become free, setting up Banneker’s later argument. Banneker also uses repetition of “you” and “sir.” The word “sir” shows respect, but “you” indicates that Banneker addresses Jefferson directly. He wants to show Jefferson respect, but also wishes to show him that he is no pushover and will not grovel at the great man’s feet. Prompt: What does Benjamin Banneker intend to convey in his public letter to Thomas Jefferson following the adoption of the Bill of Rights in 1791? Provide evidence to support your answer. 

Quiz Time We will now take a Quick Plikers Quiz

Lets Practice Annalise the following image for evidence as to why the first day of school can be stressful Is the first day of school stressful?

What evidence do you see to Answer the Question “Is the first day of school stressful?”

ASSERTION ASSERTION = Topic sentence that addresses the prompt/thesis What is a good assertion sentence that would match the prompt Is the first day of school stressful

Turn the question into a One interpretation… statement & answer it An essential idea… Of particular importance is the idea that… In evaluating… Despite… In contrast to… One reason for…is… In comparison … is justified in that… … is demonstrated by... … is explained…

EVIDENCE EVIDENCE = Fact, source citation, or detail that supports the topic sentence What evidence to you have from the image to support your Assertion? Now describe your evidence in a sentence

One study concluded that … For example, In particular, Based on the ideas of … For instance, … claims that … To illustrate, ... suggests… In fact, … disputes that … Specifically, The article confirms that … According to… … points out that … Based on the findings of… ... asserts that ….

COMMENTARY COMMENTARY = Commentary that reveals your thinking, connects the evidence to the topic sentence, and answers the question “so what?” (i.e., Why is the evidence important? What does it show? Why does it matter?) Now tell me how your evidence supports your assertion in a sentence

As a result, After examining ... ... demonstrates ... This shows that… Considering ... it can be concluded that ... ... emphasizes… Therefore, It can be argued… This is because… Consequently… It is apparent that ... Thus, For this reason, The relationship ... Otherwise, ... The connection ... The evidence suggests/shows ... The outcome is ... The result ... These factors contribute to ... ... influences ... The effect is ... ... affects ...

RESTATE/RELEVANCE/REFLECT RESTATE/RELEVANCE/REFLECT = A closing statement that restates/reflects on the assertion or comments on the relevance of the response as a whole (i.e., How did your evidence and commentary support your assertion/prove your thesis?) Now summarize your evidence as it relates to your assertion.

In summary, … In brief, … To summarize, … In conclusion, …

Done You just competed your first A.E.C.R. To make the paragraph longer all you need to do is add more evidence and commentary. Your welcome!