The way to make your writing in class much betterer. C.S.E.T. The way to make your writing in class much betterer.

Ever had an unhelpful friend? You: I just found out that the director of The Dark Knight has another film called Inception. Should I see it? Your friend: Yep. You: Well, why? What is it about? Your friend: Dreams. You:…that’s it. That wasn’t very helpful. You are a terrible friend.

A better response… Provides the information you’re looking for: The recommendation An explanation of the recommendation A specific example of a good or bad part (depending on your recommendation) to back up the recommendation An explanation of how the example helps prove the recommendation/summary statement.

I don’t know much about Inception. What is it about? Should I see it? Inception is a movie you need to see right now. The film is about people who can enter the minds of others to steal information. There is a crazy scene where they enter one dream that is collapsing and the hallway is spinning during a fight scene. I’ve never seen anything like that fight scene and think you might like it and the rest of the film.

This new and better answer is brought to you by… C.S.E.T.

C.S.E.T. Claim Support Evidence Tie Up

Claim-to say something as true This is the opening sentence of your answer. It is the simple answer to the question. Must be a complete sentence. It usually provides a rephrasing of the question. Question: Who is the best running back of all time? Claim: Barry Sanders is the best running back of all time.

Support: explain why your claim is true! This is the part that explains the thinking behind your answer. It must be a logical reason behind your claim. Question: Who is the best running back of all time? Claim: Barry Sanders is the best running back of all time. Support: Although he doesn’t hold any records, his stats are amazing because he had a terrible defensive line.

Evidence: this is specific information that backs-up your support. It looks different in different subjects: English: usually quotes from the readings Math: the work you do when solving a problem Science: measurements from a lab experiment Social studies: quotes from documents, or data from tables or surveys

Evidence: specific information that backs-up your support. The more specific this information is, the harder it is to “refute your claim.” Evidence: Barry was the first running back to ever have over 1,000 yards in ten straight seasons. Emmitt Smith has 3086 more rushing yards, but Emmitt Smith played an additional five years and for much better teams.

Tie Up: Connect your quote back to your main claim Explain how your quote helps make your point. Tie up: Just looking at total yards isn’t enough. When looking at all the facts together, Barry Sanders is the only choice.

Put it all together. Barry Sanders is the best running back of all time. Although he doesn’t hold any records, his stats are amazing because he had a terrible offensive line and retired early. Barry was the first running back to ever have over 1,000 yards in ten straight seasons. Emmitt Smith has 3086 more rushing yards, but Emmitt Smith played an additional five years and for teams who had a superior offensive line. Just looking at total yards isn’t enough. Emmitt Smith may have more yards, but, when looking at all of the facts together, Barry Sanders is the only choice.

Some examples from last year Many students in William Penn have already been using CSET.

Ideal Answer (cleaned up grammatically) Claim: States should require all students to take civics Support: because the United states is a democracy which requires citizens to participate in the operation of the government. If they do not know how it works they will not be able to participate.

Ideal Answer Part 2 Evidence: As stated in the book, one of the qualities of a good citizen is to be “well informed on important issues and [be willing] to take a stand on these issues when conscience demands it.” Tie-Up: If a person is not informed on the issues and workings of government they will not be able to take care of their responsibilities as a citizen; therefore, it is important that states make it necessary to teach Civics.

Science CSET Claim: The solid golf ball had more energy. Support: We could tell that the solid golf ball had more energy because it had a greater impact crater. Evidence: The solid golf ball created a 5cm crater when dropped from 25cm. The hollow only created a crater of 4.5 when dropped from 100cm. Tie-Up: The solid ball, when dropped from the smallest height made a larger impact crater than the hollow ball at four times the height. Therefore, the solid golf ball created the most change and had the most energy.

“That looks like a lot of writing…” It is a bit more than you are used to writing, but it will help you in several ways: Your answers will be clearer and stronger, which means better grades. You will be used to answering in a way that prevents others from being frustrated. Eventually, you will see how CSET can be modified for different types of writing.

We are going to try it… Please answer a CSET for the following poem: We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks

SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL. THE POOL PLAYERS. SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL. We real cool. We Left school. We Lurk late. We Strike straight. We Sing sin. We Thin gin. We Jazz June. We Die soon.

Now the CSET… Take a moment to answer the following question using a CSET. What message is Gwendolyn Brooks giving us about men like the ones the poem?

A model answer… Claim: Brooks is criticizing the type of men she depicts in the poem. Support: She uses deliberately incorrect grammar and a poor outcome for the men to show that they are not as cool as they think they are.

Cont. Evidence: For example, in the first line, the men declare “We real cool”, but in the final line they state “we die soon”. Tie-Up: It is hard to argue that dying soon is a good—or cool—outcome, so it is clear that she believes that men who leave school to pursue partying are foolish.

Try it again on your own… Use, “I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud” by William Wordsworth. After reading the poem answer the following question: The word wealth can mean many things. What does the word wealth mean to the speaker? Use CSET to answer this question.