Claim, Cite, Clarify 

When responding to answers in an assessment of your understanding, it is important to give thorough and 
thoughtful answers. Sometimes, we don’t know exactly what our teacher is asking for when they tell us to 
respond in complete sentences or to be thorough and thoughtful. Use this rubric as a guide for how you 
should respond to answers to make sure your reasoning is clear to your reader. 

3  2  1 

Claim  Introduce the subject,  Refers to the question, but does  Attempt at answering 
probably the author/artist or  not “claim” with specific word  the question is vague 
work in question. It is likely  choice--may refer to “it” or “them”  and needs more 
you can identify this in the  assumes the reader will re-read the  clarification--unclear 
question itself and explain  question to make meaning for the  whether or not the 
how (s)he/it answers the  writer. Still written in a complete  question was 
question; this should be  sentence.  understood, or may not 
expressed in a complete  be a complete sentence. 
sentence.   

Cite  Use a transition word or  Does not transition, but puts in a  No transition, may 
phrase to set up your  quotation or description. The  summarize, but not in a 
quotation or description. This  evidence is provided, but it may  convincing manner. 
is where you are providing  not be the most convincing choice  Little attempt to connect 
evidence from the reading or  to support the claim.  to the evidence. 
viewing that supports your 
claim.  

Clarify  Explain how your quotation or  Very little clarification is given as to  No attempt at 
description supports your  how the quotation or description  clarification. Response 
claim. This is connecting your  supports the claim. In some cases  falls off after the 
answer back to the question  this may be missing altogether if  evidence is attempted. 
and really clarifies that you  the claim and cite are more  Reader left to make their 
understand what is being  convincing-- A ”quote bomb”  own meaning.   
asked so the reader has no  assumes the reader will make 
questions.    meaning. 

Self-Assessment 
 
After completing your responses, highlight the boxes that best describe how you did in answering the 
questions.   
 
Overall, how do you feel you did on the assessment? Explain your reasoning: 
 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
 Claim, Cite, Clarify 

When responding to answers in an assessment of your understanding, it is important to give thorough and thoughtful answers. 
Sometimes, we don’t know exactly what our teacher is asking for when they tell us to respond in complete sentences or to be 
thorough and thoughtful. Use this rubric as a guide for how you should respond to answers to make sure your reasoning is clear to 
your reader. 

3  2  1 

Claim  Introduce the subject, probably the  Refers to the question, but does not  Attempt at answering the 
author/artist or work in question. It  “claim” with specific word choice--may  question is vague and needs 
is likely you can identify this in the  refer to “it” or “them” assumes the reader  more clarification--unclear 
question itself and explain how  will re-read the question to make meaning  whether or not the question 
(s)he/it answers the question; this  for the writer. Still written in a complete  was understood, or may not 
should be expressed in a complete  sentence.  be a complete sentence. 
sentence.   

Cite  Use a transition word or phrase to  Does not transition, but puts in a quotation  No transition, may summarize, 
set up your quotation or description.  or description. The evidence is provided,  but not in a convincing 
This is where you are providing  but it may not be the most convincing  manner. Little attempt to 
evidence from the reading or viewing  choice to support the claim.  connect to the evidence. 
that supports your claim.  

Clarify  Explain how your quotation or  Very little clarification is given as to how  No attempt at clarification. 
description supports your claim.  the quotation or description supports the  Response falls off after the 
This is connecting your answer back  claim. In some cases this may be missing  evidence is attempted. 
to the question and really clarifies  altogether if the claim and cite are more  Reader left to make their own 
that you understand what is being  convincing-- A ”quote bomb” assumes the  meaning.   
asked so the reader has no  reader will make meaning. 
questions.   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
Claim, Cite, Clarify 

When responding to answers in an assessment of your understanding, it is important to give thorough and thoughtful answers. 
Sometimes, we don’t know exactly what our teacher is asking for when they tell us to respond in complete sentences or to be 
thorough and thoughtful. Use this rubric as a guide for how you should respond to answers to make sure your reasoning is clear to 
your reader. 

3  2  1 

Claim  Introduce the subject, probably the  Refers to the question, but does not  Attempt at answering the 
author/artist or work in question. It  “claim” with specific word choice--may  question is vague and needs 
is likely you can identify this in the  refer to “it” or “them” assumes the reader  more clarification--unclear 
question itself and explain how  will re-read the question to make meaning  whether or not the question 
(s)he/it answers the question; this  for the writer. Still written in a complete  was understood, or may not 
should be expressed in a complete  sentence.  be a complete sentence. 
sentence.   

Cite  Use a transition word or phrase to  Does not transition, but puts in a quotation  No transition, may summarize, 
set up your quotation or description.  or description. The evidence is provided,  but not in a convincing 
This is where you are providing  but it may not be the most convincing  manner. Little attempt to 
evidence from the reading or viewing  choice to support the claim.  connect to the evidence. 
that supports your claim.  

Clarify  Explain how your quotation or  Very little clarification is given as to how  No attempt at clarification. 
description supports your claim.  the quotation or description supports the  Response falls off after the 
This is connecting your answer back  claim. In some cases this may be missing  evidence is attempted. 
to the question and really clarifies  altogether if the claim and cite are more  Reader left to make their own 
that you understand what is being  convincing-- A ”quote bomb” assumes the  meaning.   
asked so the reader has no  reader will make meaning. 
questions.