Tips for writing Reasoning in CERS

Many students struggle with the Reasoning sections of C.E.R.S. writing.  Here is a guide to help:

Overall, Reasoning uses logic to explain, elaborate, interpret, and define the Evidence in order to prove the Claim

THINK OF the writing of Reasoning as being like a lawyer or a detective piecing together the puzzle pieces to prove who did a crime.

- Good Reasoning is NOT about adding more evidence. It’s about focusing on the evidence that you already provided. 

- Good Reasoning is NOT repeating the same information and being redundant. It’s about interpreting and explaining. 

- Good Reasoning is NOT about expressing unfounded opinions or feelings. It’s about using cold rational logic to create cause-and-effect relationships.


- Good Reasoning SPELLS OUT THE RELATIONSHIP between the ideas

- Good Reasoning uses SPECIFIC INFORMATION instead being, unfocused or unclear vague.

Example: Instead of saying “sick” say “heart attack” (if that is correct). Even better: instead of saying “heart attack” say “cardiac arrest.”

- Good Reasoning USES LOGIC to connect the dots in a cause-and-effect pattern to show the connection between your Evidence and your Claim

Sentence Starters: “Because… Therefore… As a result of… Logically, if… then… “This decision then triggers…”

- Good Reasoning may include RESTATING the Evidence in different, more understandable own words

Sentence Starters: “In other words… Or, to put it another way…”

- Good Reasoning is EXPLAINING WHAT MIGHT BE LEFT OUT of the Evidence but needs to be said

Sentence Starters: “In order to understand this, earlier in the novel… What she means by this statement is… This refers back to a scene in the story earlier when…”

- Good Reasoning may include providing a DEFINITION of an important word or term

Sentence Starters: “The definition of… The term [blank] is used here in the context of…”

- Good Reasoning logically explores HYPOTHETIC SITUATIONS, or “what if?” scenarios.

Sentence Starters: “If… then… One can imagine the possibility that…”