C. E. R. S.

A R G U M E N T P R O T O C O L

1 Modified from Lucy Calkins’ Writers Workshop Argumentation Institute at Columbia University, New York, 2013.

Step 1. Learn the Argument

• Understand the Prompt

• Identify both Claims on either side of the argument

Step 2. Gather Evidence from the Source

• Read or Listen to the source material.

• Suspend judgment. Don’t take a side just yet.

• Take notes on both sides, gathering Evidence (important quotes, facts or statistics.)

* T-Charts are highly recommended!

Step 3. Be Assigned to a Team

Step 4. Caucus with Your Team

Gather, sort, and rank the best Evidence to support your Claim.

• Make sure everyone has an opportunity to be heard!

• Using the graphic organizer, rehearse your argument in the CERS format.

(4 minutes)

Step 5. Face Off!

• Meet with your opponent.

• Decide who will go first.

• One person states their Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning using the graphic organizer.

• The other person listens and takes notes on their opponent’s argument.

• When the timer runs out, switch roles and repeat the process.

(2 minutes)

Step 6. Tell Back

• One person repeats back to their opponent his or her best Evidence and Reasoning.

“You told me your Claim was… Your best Evidence was… Your Reasoning for the Evidence was that…”

• When the timer runs out, switch roles.

(1 minutes each)

Step 7. Caucus Again!

• Regroup with your team.

• Share the best Evidence and Reasoning that you heard from the other team.

• Plan a rebuttal (or a challenge) to your opponent’s Evidence and Reasoning using the graphic organizer.

* Ultimate debate move! If you can, turn your opponent’s own Reasoning against them.

(3 minutes)

Step 8. Face Off Again!

• Meet with your opponent again and decide who will go first.

• One student gives their rebuttal to their opponent’s Evidence and Reasoning. “The Evidence & Reasoning for your Claim was… But the problem with that line of logic is that…”

• When the timer runs out, switch roles.(1 minutes each)

Step 9. Next Steps…

• Outline or draft your strongest Claim, Evidence and Reasoning right now! Switch sides if you want to. • Or… develop a Counter-Argument• Or… discuss as a class how the

process went. Did you switch sides? Who won?•Or… create a new Claim that both

sides can agree upon.