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 readingsMath: the work you do when solving a

problemScience: measurements from a lab

experimentSocial 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 claimExplain 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

THE POOL PLAYERS.

SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL.

We real cool. WeLeft school. We

Lurk late. WeStrike straight. We

Sing sin. WeThin gin. We

Jazz June. WeDie 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… You read “The Necklace” today in class. Use “The Necklace” to answer the

following question: How and why does the author use irony in

“The Necklace”? Use CSET to answer this question.