Claim, Cite, Clarify

Which Answer Sounds More Thought Out?

Answer #1

• I think that it’s important to recycle because it’s good for the environment.

Answer #2

• Recycling is important. According to research, recycling is good for the environment because it decreases pollution. Therefore, recycling is essential.

Why is it important to recycle?

What Do The 3 Cs Mean to Me?

• Claim/Cite/Clarify is a way of answering questions or summarizing text.

• Claim it—claim the big ideas.

• Cite it—cite the information for those ideas.

• Clarify it—explain how it all works together to present a message.

When Do You Use C/C/C?

• Responding to short answer questions.

• Writing research papers.

• During persuasive speeches.

• Summarizing paragraphs.

Your Claim

• Usually restates the question being asked, does NOT answer it.• Think about how you answer questions in a complete sentence!

• No use of the word “because.”

• Example:• Question: Why does Scrooge change by the end of A Christmas Carol?

• Answer: Scrooge changes at the end of A Christmas Carol.

• NOT: Scrooge changes at the end of A Christmas Carol because he realizes how greedy he is.

Practice a Claim

• “In most cases, you can transplant a tree successfully, at any time, if you follow the instructions for planting a tree. The most important thing is to dig out enough roots, but this process is difficult with a large tree. When you dig out the tree, leave a ball of earth around its roots. This ball of earth should measure about a foot wide for every inch of tree trunk's diameter. Dig deep enough to avoid cutting off too many taproots. It is wise to call in a professional tree expert to transplant a tree more than a few inches in trunk diameter.”

• Answer this question: Is it difficult to transplant a large tree? Why?

• What would be a good claim to answer this question?

Your Citation

• Whenever you make a claim, you MUST back it up with evidence.

• This evidence is called a citation.

• Citations are a direct quote, or a general summary from the text.

• Ways to introduce your citation:• “According to the text…”

• “The text states…”

• “The author describes…”

• “In the article…”

Practice a Citation

• “In most cases, you can transplant a tree successfully, at any time, if you follow the instructions for planting a tree. The most important thing is to dig out enough roots, but this process is difficult with a large tree. When you dig out the tree, leave a ball of earth around its roots. This ball of earth should measure about a foot wide for every inch of tree trunk's diameter. Dig deep enough to avoid cutting off too many taproots. It is wise to call in a professional tree expert to transplant a tree more than a few inches in trunk diameter.”

• Answer this question: Is it difficult to transplant a large tree? Why?

• What evidence from the text would you use to back up your claim?

Your Clarification

• Ties back to your claim.

• Explains how your citation supports your claim.

• Ways to introduce your clarification:• “Knowing this…”

• “Therefore…”

• “As you can see…”

• “Because of this…”

• “Given the evidence…”

Practice Clarification

• “In most cases, you can transplant a tree successfully, at any time, if you follow the instructions for planting a tree. The most important thing is to dig out enough roots, but this process is difficult with a large tree. When you dig out the tree, leave a ball of earth around its roots. This ball of earth should measure about a foot wide for every inch of tree trunk's diameter. Dig deep enough to avoid cutting off too many taproots. It is wise to call in a professional tree expert to transplant a tree more than a few inches in trunk diameter.

• Answer this question: Is it difficult to transplant a large tree? Why?

• What would you say to connect your evidence to your claim?

Let’s Pull It All Together! What a C/C/C Paragraph Looks Like:

• ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Let’s Practice!

• Is this a C/C/C response?

• Peter thinks Anne is courageous. According to the text, Anne saved a cat from oncoming traffic when Peter was too scared to. Because of this, Peter believes Anne to be very brave.

• Yes! Why is this a C/C/C response?

Let’s Practice!

• Is this a C/C/C response?

• Playing outside is good for you. Playing outside is good for you because some doctors say the fresh air is necessary for your lungs. So, playing outside is good for you.

• No! How can we make this a C/C/C response?

Let’s Practice!

• Is this a C/C/C response?

• My big brother is the silliest person I know! He always jokes around at the dinner table and isn’t afraid to make a fool of himself. I don’t know anyone as silly as my brother.

• Yes! Why is this a C/C/C response?

Let’s Practice!“Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor's dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.”

• ___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

_____________________

Would you want to go see an opera? Why or why not? (Answer using C/C/C!)

Let’s Practice!“Erosion of America's farmland by wind and water has been a problem since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands under the plow in the nineteenth century. By the 1930s, more than 282 million acres of farmland were damaged by erosion. After 40 years of conservation efforts, soil erosion has accelerated due to new demands placed on the land by heavy crop production. In the years ahead, soil erosion and the pollution problems it causes are likely to replace petroleum scarcity as the nation's most critical natural resource problem.”

• ___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

_____________________

How is erosion a problem for America’s farmland (Answer using C/C/C!)

On Your Own…

• Read the following passage on your own and answer the question:

“Oatmeal has many health benefits. You may have heard the saying that a hearty bowl of oatmeal at breakfast “sticks to your ribs”. This is not too far off from the truth. Oatmeal contains fiber which stays in the stomach longer and helps you feel fuller for longer. This can prevent overeating later on in the day, which may help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid the health problems associated with overweight.”

• Why is oatmeal healthy? Explain.