Question

Student-friendly checklist for a CER paragraph about inflation
- Claim (1 clear sentence)
- Answer the prompt directly (e.g., “Inflation reduces consumers’ purchasing power.”)
- Be specific and avoid vague words.
- Evidence (2–3 pieces of relevant, accurate evidence)
- Use facts, data, or specific examples (e.g., current CPI change, historical period of high inflation, price examples).
- Quote or cite a source if asked (e.g., “U.S. CPI rose X% in 20XX”).
- Make sure every piece of evidence supports your claim.
- Reasoning (explain how evidence supports the claim)
- Explain why the evidence matters (use words like because, therefore, this shows that).
- Connect the facts to the claim clearly (don’t just restate evidence).
- Show cause/effect or economic mechanisms (e.g., how rising prices lower purchasing power).
- Writing quality
- Write in complete sentences and keep it organized (claim first, then evidence, then reasoning).
- Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Keep it concise; avoid repeating the same point.
- Scoring guide (quick)
- Claim: 0–4 points — one clear sentence that answers the prompt = 4
- Evidence: 0–6 points — 2–3 specific facts/data/examples = 5–6
- Reasoning: 0–6 points — clear explanation linking evidence to claim = 5–6
- Writing: 0–4 points — clear and few/no errors = 3–4

Model CER paragraph about inflation (example)
Claim: Inflation reduces consumers’ purchasing power. Evidence: From 2021 to 2022, the U.S. Consumer Price Index rose by about 7%, and prices for essentials like groceries and fuel increased even more in many areas. Reasoning: Because prices rose faster than typical wage increases, the same amount of money buys fewer goods and services than before; therefore households must either spend more of their income on necessities or cut back on nonessential purchases, which shows that inflation lowers purchasing power.
answer the question

Answer 1

Claim: Inflation reduces consumers’ purchasing power.

Evidence: U.S. consumer prices rose sharply from 2021 to 2022 (CPI up roughly 7%), and prices for essentials such as groceries and fuel rose by even larger percentages in many areas. At the same time, typical wage increases did not keep pace with those price rises, so real (inflation‑adjusted) incomes fell for many households.

Reasoning: Because prices for goods and services increased faster than wages, the same nominal amount of money buys fewer items than before; therefore households either must spend a larger share of their income on necessities or cut back on other purchases. This cause‑and‑effect relationship shows that inflation directly lowers consumers’ purchasing power.