Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) Framework

Journal articles are commonly formed by claim, evidence, and reasoning. A claim is a statement or proposition that the author is putting forward as true or valid. Evidence refers to any information that supports the claim, such as data, research findings, or examples. Reasoning refers to the logical connection between the claim and the evidence, providing an explanation for why the evidence supports the claim.

Claims, evidence, and reasoning are related in that evidence is used to support a claim, and reasoning is used to explain how the evidence supports the claim. The strength of an argument depends on the quality and relevance of the evidence presented and the soundness of the reasoning used to connect the evidence to the claim.

  • We propose that X (claim) based on Y (evidence), and this is supported by Z (reasoning).
  • Our analysis suggests that X (claim) is true because of Y (evidence) and Z (reasoning).
  • Our research demonstrates that X (claim) is supported by Y (evidence) and is logically sound based on Z (reasoning).
  • The evidence we present supports our claim that X is true because of Y, and this is further reinforced by Z.
  • We posit that X (claim) is true based on the following evidence (Y), and this is logically sound because of Z (reasoning).
  • Our study shows that X (claim) can be supported by Y (evidence), and we arrive at this conclusion based on Z (reasoning).
  • We argue that X (claim) is true based on the weight of evidence (Y), and this is further supported by Z (reasoning).

To best understand this, let us consider the following example1.

  • Claim: Analysing mediated suffering can help determine the ways in which news texts build public ethics, and can help reveal the ways and extent to which one can act on the mediated events of suffering.
  • Evidence: "Media representations of human suffering do not merely consist of a body of texts. They also constitute cultural practices in which audience responses to mediated suffering can shape future versions of narratives (Chouliaraki, 2006). In addition, this analysis can also help reveal the ways, and extent to which, one can – or should – act on the mediated events of suffering; for example, in terms of one’s local or global social structures and power relations (Joye, 2012).""
  • Reasoning: The evidence provided shows that media representations of human suffering are not just textual content but also cultural practices, and that audience responses to mediated suffering can shape future versions of narratives. This can help determine how news texts build public ethics, and it can also reveal the ways and extent to which one can act on mediated events of suffering.

Based on the text, the author argues that analysing mediated suffering can provide insights into how one can act on mediated events of suffering and build public ethics, and that this analysis can be used to address moral and political issues related to distant suffering that cannot be directly affected by spectators. The author also distinguishes between distant suffering and local suffering, with local suffering being a reality for those directly involved or affected by the event.

Therefore, the claim is that analysing mediated suffering can help determine the ways in which news texts build public ethics, and can help reveal the ways and extent to which one can act on the mediated events of suffering. The evidence provided includes the idea that media representations of human suffering are cultural practices, and that audience responses to mediated suffering can shape future versions of narratives. The reasoning links the evidence to the claim by explaining how analysing mediated suffering can help address moral and political issues related to distant suffering and can provide insights into how to act on mediated events of suffering. Additionally, the text provides a distinction between distant and local suffering.


  1. Ong, T.T., Robert M. McKenzie & Amand, M. (2021): The narrative of human suffering: using automated semantic tagging to analyse news articles and public attitudes towards the MH370 air tragedy, Asian Englishes, DOI: 10.1080/13488678.2021.1927564 ↩︎