1. The CSET Writing Strategy
Material adapted from Bill Lewis, University of Delaware

2. Warm-Up
Create a KWL chart on CSET. In the K write down everything you know (or remember about CSET), in the W write down everything you want to know (or forgot from last year and need to remember), leave L blank!

3. C.S.Q.T
Claim – Your answer to the question and restating the question. This is typically your opinion; you must be able to support your opinion. (only one sentence! If longer, you will get a 0%).
Set-up – Introduce the quote to be used.
Evidence/Quote – The textual reference from the reading that supports your claim.
Tie-In – Explain how the Quote proves/supports your Claim. This should be a minimum of two sentences. First explain the quote and then it’s connection to the Claim.

4. Making a Claim Your opinion to a question
Need proof to support your claim
It is a topic sentence or thesis sentence
A thesis is what you intend to prove through your essay

5. Setting Up the Quote
The set-up simply provides a transition from your claim to your quote. It often IS NOT a complete sentence, but rather a transitional phrase. It also needs to give a little background of the story
When Bob was on the playground and fell, the article states,
When her father was taken, the novel says,

6. Evidence/Quote The quote does not need to be an
actual quote that someone in the story/article is saying
The quote is something YOU are quoting word for word from the text to support your claim
Be sure to include the quote word for word from the text. Include quotation marks at the beginning and end of the text.
REMEMBER: Your quote MUST support your claim!!! If it doesn’t make sense or doesn’t support your claim, find another quote. If you cannot find a quote, then rewrite your claim!

7. The Tie-In
The tie-in is the most important part of your answer. It provides your reader with the explanation for your claim
Be sure that the quote you pick actually supports your answer, then explain the quote.
Finally, explicitly explain how the quote fits the claim!
Then conclude your paragraph/essay

8. Practice
The cold harsh wind it heaves and blows,
It chills my fingers and my toes.
And falling from the sky of slate,
A dancing whirr of downy flakes.
The flakes that dance, and whirr and fly,
They sometimes hit me in the eye.
Seeing them again I clap with glee,
Ha Ha, Ha Ha, Hee Hee, Hee Hee.
Don’t go to that shopping mall!
It is the season after fall!
And when you get at home in bed,
Thoughts of frost they fill your little mind!
-Anne Uhhuhmelmahey 1978
On your own, use the CSET format to answer the following question:
What season is described in the poem?
With your partner, share your answer

9. Sample Answer
The season that is described in the poem is winter. In the beginning of the poem Uhhuhmelmahey describes a heaving wind that “chills her fingers and her toes,” and later goes on to say that she sees “a dancing whirr of downy flakes.” Since the poet describes a brutally cold wind that flings flakes that most likely is snow, the poem is probably set during the winter when snow and cold are regular occurrences.