CERCA
Argumentative Essays
Expository Essays
Structure
Citing Text Evidence
100

The 'C' in CERCA stands for this. 

What is a Claim?

100

This part of an essay addresses the opposing side's viewpoint. 

What is a counterclaim?

100

This is the main purpose of an expository essay. 

What is to explain and inform?

100

This tool is used to grab the reader's attention.

What is a hook?

100

This is ALWAYS included to show where the evidence used in an essay came from. 

What is a citation?

200

The 'E' in CERCA refers to this key part of an argument. 

What is evidence?

200

In this part of an argumentative essay, the author explains why the counterclaim is wrong. 

What is a rebuttal?

200

This is the first sentence in every body paragraph.  It tells the reader what that paragraph will be specifically about.

What is the claim?

200

"Therefore," "In addition to," and "as a result," are an example these tools used in a strong essay. 

What are transition words and phrases?

200

This punctuation mark is used around a direct quote from a source. 

What is a quotation mark?

300

This part of CERCA explains how the evidence supports the claim. You should have 2-3 sentences of this in each body paragraph.

What is reasoning?

300

This is how many body paragraphs should use counterclaims and rebuttals. 

What is all of your body paragraphs.

300

This is the amount of paragraphs that your entire essay should have.  

What is 4-5.

300

This is the first paragraph of an essay, where the claim is introduced.

What is an introduction?

300

Including this in a parenthetical citation tells the reader exactly where you found evidence. 

What is the page number or source number?

400

The second 'C' in CERCA stands for this. 

What is counterclaim?

400

This is included in every argumentative essay and is based on facts, statistics, and expert quotes from the sources. 

What is evidence?

400

An expository essay that shows the similarities and differences between two things will use this structure. 

What is compare and contrast?

400

This technique uses credible sources to appeal to the reader. 

What is ethos?

400

This is the highest score you can get for DEVELOPMENT on your BEST writing test if you do not cite your evidence.

What is a 2?

500

This wraps up a paragraph of essay and is the final 'A' in CERCA.

What is audience closer?

500

The part of an essay summarizes the main points and restates the claim. It is the last paragraph. 

What is a conclusion?

500

This is the overall main idea of an essay in one sentence. It is usually the last sentence in the introduction.

What is a thesis statement?

500

This technique uses logic that is supported by facts to appeal to the audience. 

What is logos?

500

This is when you put a piece of evidence in your own words.  

What is a paraphrase?  (*Remember, you still need to cite it!)