What?
How To Do QCER
Questions-Claims-Evidence-Reasoning, or QCER, was originally developed as a strategy for
science courses where students gather evidence in order to prove scientific principles. It has been
adapted to the investigation into primary and secondary documents in order to answer historical
questions.
Adapted from: Norton-Meier, L., Hand, B., Hockenberry, L., & Wise, K. (2008). Questions, Claims, and Evidence: The Important Place of Argument in Children's
Science Writing. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
How?
Why?
QCER is a form of Problem-Based learning that invokes curiosity in students and allows them to
draw conclusions based on social studies information and evidence.
Before the strategy begins, gather several primary and secondary sources surrounding a
social studies event or concept.
Generate a focus or essential question that students are going to conduct their research on.
Divide students into small groups (2-4).
Explain to students they are about to conduct an investigation on (topic) .
Present students the the Question. (Your Focus/Essential Question)
Distribute the primary and secondary sources to each group. (The Evidence)
Have students examine the Evidence and create/write a Claim that answers the original
Question. (I/We claim that…)
Have students write about/discuss what Evidence they are using to make their claim.
Have students then write about/discuss their Reasoning (How the historical Evidence they
examined supports their claim)
*See provided examples
When?
You can use QCE during the guided or independent portions of a lesson cycle.
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How To Do QCER
QCER Sample Rubric
Level
Component
Claim –
How well did you
state your
conclusion that
answers the
original question/
problem?
1
2
3
Does not make a
claim, or makes an
inaccurate claim.
Makes an accurate
but incomplete
claim.
Makes an accurate
and complete
claim.
Evidence –
How well did you
use primary and
secondary sources
that supports the
claim?
The evidence
needs to be
appropriate and
sufficient to
support the claim.
Does not provide
Provides appropriate,
evidence, or only
but insufficient
Provides appropriate
provides
evidence to support
and sufficient
inappropriate
claim. May include
evidence to support
evidence (Evidence
some inappropriate
claim.
that does not support
evidence.
the claim.).
Reasoning –
How well did you
provide a
justification that
links the claim
and evidence and
includes
appropriate and
sufficient
historical
processes to
defend the claim
and evidence.
Provides accurate
and complete
reasoning that links
evidence to claim.
Includes appropriate
and sufficient social
studies processes.
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Does not provide
reasoning, or only
provides recording
that does not link
evidence to claim.
Repeats evidence
and links it to some
social studies
processes, but not
sufficient.
Adapted from: http://www.indps.k12.wi.us/cms_files/resources/Notebooking%20ideas_including%20claim%20evidence%20reasoning.pdf
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How To Do QCER
Question:
Claim (What conclusion can you make based on the
evidence?)
Was the United
States provoked into
a war by Spain or by
the Yellow Press?
Evidence (What evidence are you using to answer the
question?)
Reasoning (Based on the evidence, how are you
supporting your claim?)
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Document 1
“Reconcentration Camps”
SIR: . . .[W]e will relate to you what we saw with our own eyes:
Four hundred and sixty women and children thrown on the ground, heaped pellmell as animals, some in a dying condition, others sick and others dead, without
the slightest cleanliness, nor the least
help. . .
. . . Among the many deaths we witnessed there was one scene impossible to
forget. There is still alive the only living witness, a young girl of 18 years, whom we
found seemingly lifeless on the ground; on her right-hand side was the body of a
young mother, cold and rigid, but with her young child still alive clinging to her dead
breast; on her left-hand side was also the corpse of a dead woman holding her son
in a dead embrace . . .
The circumstances are the following: complete accumulation of bodies dead and
alive, so that it was impossible to take one step without walking over them; the
greatest want of cleanliness, want of light, air, and water; the food lacking in quality
and quantity what was necessary to sustain life . . .
From all this we deduct that the number of deaths among the reconcentrados has
amounted to 77 per cent.
Source: Excerpt from unsigned enclosure included with telegram sent by Fitzhugh
Lee, U.S. Consul- General in Cuba, November 27, 1897. Havana, Cuba.
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Document 2
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Document 3
LEGATION DE ESPANA, WASHINGTON
Eximo Senor DON JOSE CANALEJAS:
The situation here continues unchanged. Everything depends on the political and military
success in Cuba. The prologue of this second method of warfare will end the day that the
Colonial Cabinet shall be appointed , and it relieves us in the eyes of this country of a part of
the responsibility for what happens there, and they must cast the responsibility upon the
Cubans, whom they believe to be so immaculate.
Until then we will not be able to see clearly, and I consider it to be a loss of time and an
advance by the wrong road - the sending of emissaries to the rebel field, the negotiations with
the Autonomists not yet declared to be legally constituted, and the discovery of the intentions
and purpose of this government. The exiles will return one by one, and when they return, will
come walking into the sheepfold, and the chiefs will gradually return. Neither of these had the
courage to leave en masse, and they will not have the courage to return.
The message has undeceived the insurgents who expected something else, and has paralyzed
the action of Congress, but I consider it bad. Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness
with which he repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain has said of Weyler, it
shows once more what McKinley is: weak and catering to the rabble, and, besides, a low
politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his
party.
Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, it will only depend on ourselves whether he proves bad and
adverse to us. I agree entirely with you; without a military success nothing will be
accomplished there, and without military and political success, there is here always danger
that the insurgents will be encouraged, if not by the government, at least bypart of the public
opinion.
I do not believe you pay enough attention to the role of England. Nearly all that newspaper
canaille which swarms in your hotel are English, and at the same time are correspondents of
the Journal, they are also correspondents of the best newspapers and reviews of England. Thus
it has been since the beginning. To my mind the only object of England is that the Americans
should occupy themselves with us and leave her in peace,and if there is a war, so much the
better; that would further remove what is threatening her - although that will never happen.
It would be most important that you should agitate the question of commercial relations, even
though it would be only for effect, and that you should send here a man of importance in
order that I might use him to make a propaganda among the senators and others in opposition
to the Junta and win over exiles.
There goes Amblard. I believe he comes deeply taken up with little political matters, and
there must be something very great or we shall lose.
Always you attentive friend and servant, who kisses your hands.
ENRIQUE DUPUY DE LOME
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Document 4
Telegram - Explosion on the USS Maine
HAVANA, February 15, 1898.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY,
Washington, D. C.:
Maine blown up in Havana Harbor at 9.40 tonight, and destroyed. Many wounded and doubtless
more killed or drowned. Wounded and others on board Spanish man-of-war and Ward Line
steamer. Send light-house tenders from Key West for crew and the few pieces of equipment
above. No one has clothing other than that upon him. Public opinion should be suspended until
further report. All officials believed to be saved. Jenkins and Merritt not yet accounted for.
Many Spanish officers, including representatives of General Blanco, now with me to express
sympathy.
Sigsbee.
Document 5
Of the sympathies of the American people, generous, liberty-loving, I
have no question. They are with the Cubans in their struggle for
freedom. I believe our people would welcome any action on the part
of the United States to put an end to the terrible state of things
existing there. We can stop it. We can stop it peacefully. We can stop
it, in my judgment, by pursuing a proper diplomacy and offering our
good offices. Let it once be understood that we mean to stop the
horrible state of things in Cuba and it will be stopped. The great
power of the United States, if it is once invoked and uplifted, is
capable of greater things than that.
-Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
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Document 6
The
San
Francisco
Call
SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1898.
KG. 116.
VOLUME LXXXIII.—
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
WAR MAY BE DECLARED
WITHIN THE NEXT TEN DAYS
SPAIN WILL SEND
A HOSTILE ANSWER
TO THIS COUNTRY
Still President McKinley Is Working
Hard to Avoid an Outbreak
of Hostilities.
In the Face of the Maine Report and the Coming*
of the Spanish Torpedo Flotilla Congress
Shows Signs of Acting on Its
Own Responsibility.
NEW YORK, March 25.
The Herald's European Edition publishes the following
from its correspondent: Madrid, Saturday
At a late
hour Ifind that the Spanish
reply to the United States
will not be anything like
what the sanguine optimists
expected, and the outlook
consequently is decidedly
serious.
SPAIN AND AMERICA
HAVE REACHED THE
PARTING OF THE WAYS.
—
UNITED STATES CRUISER BROOKLYN, THE FLAGSHIP OF THE FLYING SQUADRON.
WASHINGTON, March 25.—The Court of Inquiry appointed to Investigate the cause of the Maine disaster has reported that the loss
battleship was due to an outside explosion. The State Departdirection of the President, has cabled United States Minister
Woodford, at Madrid, to notify the Spanish Government of this conclu-
of the
ment, hy
sion. The President and his Cabinet advisers held two extended sessions to-day, one at 10:30 a. m. and another at 3:30 p. m., at which the
report was considered in detail. Members of the Cabinet stated that after the meeting the discussion was of a grave character, and that never
since the wrecking of the Maine has the situation seemed so critical.
The Spanish Government has cabled officially to Washington that
the Spanish Naval Commission holds the disaster to the Maine to be of
Internal origin. The Government of Spain, it can be stated positively,
Is not disposed to turn back the torpedo fleet now proceeding from the
Canaries, and would be disinclined to consider a suggestion from this
Government tending to interfere with the disposition by Spain of her
own naval forces.
War preparations on an unprecedented scale are being hurried to
completion by the War and Navy Departments, and the country practically is on a war footing.
NEW YORK, March 25—The Her-
TORPEDO FLEET
A MENACE TO
THIS COUNTRY
concentrados,
but he is not willinc war, in the eyes of the civilized world,
would not be justified, for two reato go to war over the Maine because
Better Be^in the War by Destroying It Than Give Spain the Advantage of Its Presence,
NEW YORK, March 25.— The
Herald's Washington correspondent
telegraphs:
In spite of the declarations of members of the Cabinet and the officials of the State
Department that the departure of
the Spanish torpedo flotilla from
the Canary Islands cannot be considered a menace to the United
States under the rules of international law, it is still so construed
by many officers and officials of
the Navy Department.
There is every reason, naval
officers believe, why the torpedo
flotilla should not be permitted to
reach Cuban waters, and the plan
was discussed at a conference today of having the flotilla intercepted by United States naval
vessels in the neighborhood of St
Thomas and either compelled to
turn
'
i
k
back or surrender.
sons.
NEWS OF THE DAY.
forecast for San FranProbably
fair on Saturday;
brisk to high northwest wind.
Maximum temperature for the past
twenty-four hours.
48 degrees
San Francisco
44 degrees
Portland
60 degrees
Los Angeles
58 degrees
San Diego
"Weather
cisco:
PLAY FOR PEACE.
Copyright,
IKOS, by James
don Bennett.
Gor-
MADRID, Mar. 25.— 1n spite of
absolutely pessimistic views
situation, I
am in a
position to state that there is
yet a large margin of possibility
that war may be averted and a
settlement arrived at. Even yesterday the Spanish Government
knew of the verdict of the Maine
Commission, and to-morrow will
know Itofficially. Its official reception will lead to a council at
which a proposition willbe made
regarding the situation
and a
scheme put forth for a peaceful
solution of the question. That
proposition may be startling and
unexpected, but it will voice the
sentiment of the extreme liberals,
including Sagasta
and
Moret. Their views will either
dominate and secure peace,
or
we may expect,
without any
kind of a doubt, a ministerial
crisis. Ihave had a serious talk
with one of Spain's foremost and
most liberal men to-day, which
convinces me that unless the
FIRST PAGE.
Spain's Reply Will Be Hostile.
Torpedo Flotilla a Menace.
the
Europe
Jaken of the
Such action, it is realized, would
be an act of war, but there are
officials in the Navy Department
United States absolutely insists
who think that the United States
on war, Spain has in hand a
would better take the responsibilmeans of avoiding it.
ity of committing the first hostile
to
Spaniards
obact than allow the
tain such a decided advantage as Havana or some other Cuban harthey would have if the torpedo bor the task of the United States
flotilla should succeed in reaching fleet in the event of war would be
Havana.
made much harder. It will add
According to authoritative in- greatly to the danger of attemptformation received from Madrid to- ing to take Havana if the swift
regard
the
there
day, naval officers
torpedo-boats are there to supplesailing of the fleet as a menace and ment the wo k of forts and the
a threat to the United States, and larger Spanish vessels and make
are exulting! y and openly talking sudden dashes upon first one and
of it as being a distinct advantage then the other of the American atgained over this country.
tacking fleet. It will also make
High officials of the Navy De- the task of blockading Havana expartment consider the coming of ceedingly difficult if these vessels
this strong torpedo flotilla to are on hand ready to run out unnaval der cover of darkness and attack
strengthen
the Spanish
in Cuban waters as adding
of the blockading
the vessels
so much to the gravity of the sit- squadron.
uation that they held a special
With Havana as a base of operconference to-day to discuss what ations, the torpedo flotilla might
action should be taken.
the
It is realized that if the torpedo- even threaten the vessels of
boats once get into the harbor of United States at Key West
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ADMIRAL BERMEJO,
>
Spain's Minister of Marine, Who Is Now Considering the Cabled Report of the Spanish Board of
Inquiry Into the Cause of the Maine Explosion(By the courtesy of J. Tauzy & Co., 6 Post street.)
>
SPANISH WILL
GET NO HELP
FROM EUROPE
Not One of the Powers Cares to
Earn the 111 Will of the
United States.
NEW YORK,March 25.—The Her- to put foreign Governments in a poald's Washington correspondent tele- sition where, should they now sell to
graphs: European mediation willnot Spain, they wu be guilty of an unbe offered to the United States and ; friendly act toward the United States.
Spain with a view to securing an ad- j Allthe available snips in the market
justment of the differences existing j have been negotiated for by agents
between them. Even if it were con- j of this Government, and as a result
templated, and the officials have no j the officials express the opinion that
knowledge of such intention, they de- j the Madrid Government has now no
clare that, while the relations be- chance of acquiring formidable vestween the Washington and Madrid | sels.
Italy has been the only power beGovernments are very much strained, \
the trouble has not yet reached a j sides Austria which has been repoint where the mediation of a third | garded with some suspicion, and the
power is absolutely necessary for the J fact that the Rome Government has
announced its willingness to sell
maintenance of peace.
It is confidently believed that ships to this nation indicates clearly
Spain will oe unable to count upon that ithas no intention of joining in
the assistance of a third power in an offensive alliance against the
the event of hostilities. The Presi- United States.
A diplomat of experience, close to
dent has been using the authority
given him to purchase ships abroad
Continued on Second Page.
aid's Washington correspondent telegraphs: The situation here to-night is
more critical than it has been at any
time since the Spanish question reached
Even the most conan acute stage.
servative'believe that unless Spain recedes from her position hostilities maybreak out within the next ten days. The
cry of the war party is now or never.
The Herald's Washington correspondTaut as a bowstring is
ent telegraphs:
the tension, and lights are burning late
in the White House. The Cabinet has
been twice in session considering the rethe
of
Maine
Court of Inquiry,
port
and at midnight the President is in conference with tried friends and confidential advisers. The crisis over the destruction of the battleship approaches,
and popular interest is at white heat.
How great is that interest is shown by
the crowds in Washington. The hotels
are jammed. The city has not had so
many visitors since the inauguration of
President McKinley. They are all attracted by the prospect of exciting times
in Congress when the President transmits to it the report of the Court of
Inquiry.
But just now all eyes are on the President. The determination of the administration not to be hurried into war inopportunely, and for that matter not
to be hurried into war at all over the
destruction of the Maine, shows no
signs of being weakened. The Maine
crisis is not th. only crisis the President
has in mind. Back of the Maine he sees
Cuba. He is willing to go to war over
Cuba, if Spain will not permit the
United States to feed the suffering re-
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Will Not Help Spain.
SECOND PAGE.
Rushing Work at Mare IslandRed Cross Officers Disagree
Holds Spain Responsible.
War Paint for the Navy.
Seamen Wanted at Once.
Spain Fortifying Porto Rico.
Expect to Arbitrate Troubles
Mangrove Goes to Havana.
To Blockade Cuban Ports.
New Torpedo Boat Bought.
Major Pope In Boston.
THIRD PAGE.
Senators Talk for War.
New Gun for San Francisco.
Revenue Cutters for the Navj
The New Flying Squadron.
Situation Grows More Grave
FOURTH PAGE.
Boss Rea Plays for Time.
Hunters Slain by a Moose.
Leonard Dies by the Rope.
Fusionlsts in Oregon Divide.
Murder at Dawson City.
Tons of Gold From Klondike
Held Prisoner In a Hotel.
Railroad Men In Session.
Floods in the Ohio.
FIFTH PAGE.
Hot Session of the House.
Rain Pleases the Farmers.
No Trace of Train Robbers.
Suicide of a Banker.
Attacked by Two Robbers.
Fight for the Kasson Money.
Serious Situation in the Far Eaat.
SIXTH PAGE.
Editorial.
The Water Front Scandal.
Vain Tricks in Hawaii.
The Primary Law Decision.
Warnings to Klondikers.
The Battle of the Books.
A Good Selection.
Personals and Queries.
SEVENTH PAGE.
News of the Water Front.
Says Irene Lynch Was Wayward
Arrest of a Girl for Burglary.
W. J. Blggy, the New Registrar.
Laxity in Admitting Chinese.
EIGHTH PAGE.
The Semi-Centennial Exposition.
NINTHPAGE.
Arrival of Marion Crawford.
Lightening the New York.
Funeral of Lieutenant Burke.
Queer Jobs in the School Board.
TENTH PAGE.
Sports of AllKinds.
ELEVENTH PAGE.
Sold an Estate for a Song.
Preparing for a Masonic Fete.
Frauds in Street Work.
TWELFTH PAGE.
The Commercial World.
THIRTEENTH PAGB.
News From Across the Bay.
Fashions In Easter Hats.
FOURTEENTH PAGE.
Racing at Insrleslde.
Schism In a Mission Army.
FIFTEENTH PAGE.
Births, Marriages and Deaths.
SIXTEENTH PAGE.
Summary of the Ferry Scandal.
—
First We cannot prove that Spain
blew up a United States ship.
Second We cannot trace her responsibility so far even as to justify a blunt
demand for indemnity.
Therefore, it would be readily perceived that all the talk at the Cabinet
meetings and the President's night conferences has been of peace, so far as the
Maine report is concerned. What is in
the Maine report, aside from the information that it was an outside explosion
by a submarine mine, which everybody
knew through the Herald loner ago. has
not been permitted to leak in detail from
the Cabinet.
One of the conferences at the White
House was between the President, Jud^e
George F. Edmunds of Vermont, and
—
Second Assistant Secretary of State
Adee. This conference was about the
to be sent to Spain about the
Maine disaster.
This note is not to be
demand for indemnity. It is rather a
The difference between
a demand and a representation in this
instance, is that a demand would put
the
us in the position of adjudging
Spanish nation guilty of crime, where a
representation, such as is being penned,
will state our view of the case and
leave Spain to treat it in a way that
might avert war. This representation
will be written by Judge Edmunds and
Mr. Adee, and one of the points to be
laid before Spain willbe this clause from
Article VI of the treaty with Spain:
"Each party shall endeavor by all
means in their power to protect and
defend all vessels and other effects
belonging to citizens or subjects of
the other which shall be within the
extent of their jurisdiction by sea
or by land."
When this note goes to Spain the
President will be ready to send the report of the Court of Inquiry to Congress, and this willbe done on Monday.
Then will come the crisis. The programme willbe to have the report quietly referred in the Senate to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and in the
House to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. This will gain time and drift
the poor old Maine into the channels of
diplomacy. If this be accomplished,
well and good. The immediate danger
of hostilities over the Maine will be
passed and the President will be free
to address Congress on his plan to
"feed or fight," in connection with the
general situation. How tremendously
anxious the administration is about the
conduct of Congress is shown by the
tremendous work being done among
The Senthe members of the Senate.
ate is still regarded as a tinder box.
Yet a poll has been made of that body
for the President, and the report is that
note
a
representation.
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