CLAIM – The claim is the argument the student is making. It is a one-sentence statement that answers the question.

For example: Burning fossil fuels is harmful to the environment.

EVIDENCE – The evidence is the data that the student uses to support their claim. This can be quantitative or qualitative.

For example: Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, methane, and particles into the air. (This data supports the claim that fossil fuels are harmful to the environment.)

REASONING – The reasoning explains “how” or “why” the evidence supports this claim. This is often the most difficult part for students. They struggle to tie together the claim and evidence scientifically.

One helpful tip that I use is to tell the students that the “R” stands for the “rule” – more specifically the “scientific rule.” 

In the example above, the reasoning would explain why the greenhouse gases are harmful. A reasoning example might look something like this: These greenhouse gases are harmful to the environment. They can cause climate change by trapping heat, and they also contribute to respiratory disease from smog and air pollution.