3 Step Check:
1. Are there any similar answers?
2. Does the answer directly relate to the question at hand? (all parts)
3. Read the question again and your answer to see if it flows
Command of Textual Evidence
Foundations
(identify the piece of evidence that most strongly supports that claim)
- Scientific evidence: interpret researcher’s hypothesis, identify outcome that would
support the hypothesis, select the answer with that outcome
- Literary evidence: make an argument concerning a literary work, then give you
quotations from that work — determine whether the content of those quotations serve as
direct evidence for the argument made
1. Identify the argument (hypothesis or literary claim)
2. Create a test phrase — rephrase argument in a simple way
3. Test the choices — find a choice that makes the same argument as test phrase
- Tips:
- Eliminate choices that broaden or blur the argument, or make the choice seem
relevant but hasn’t even been mentioned in the text (or change the focus of the
argument)
- Find the STRONGEST and most DIRECT choice — not a “kind of”
Medium
Command of Quantitative Evidence
Foundations
(data from a table or graph)
- Read the paragraph and identify the argument that our quantitative evidence must
support
- Graphs and tables will always include more data than you need — double check you are
looking at the right data
- Two types of INCORRECT choices:
- False statements: does not present correct data from the graph/table — eliminate
these first
- True statements: presents true data from graph/table but does NOT support
argument being made
, 1. Skim the graph
2. Read the paragraph and identify argument
3. Eliminate “false” choices
4. Select the choice that best supports argument
Central Ideas and Details
Foundations
(main idea of text or answer a ques based on text)
- The main idea SHOULD:
- cover a majority of the details introduced in the text
- mention any particular points of emphasis from the text
- The main idea should NOT:
- focus too intently just one detail
- introduce new ideas
- contradict any info from text
1. Summarize text in own words
2. Determine the task (is it main idea or answer ques)
3. Revisit text
4. Predict/answer the ques on your own first and then select the choice
- Tips:
- Eliminate choices that broaden or blur the argument, or make the choice seem
relevant but hasn’t even been mentioned in the text
Inferences
Foundations
(select the choice that most logically completes the task)
- Premises: facts on which an argument is based
- Conclusion: overall claim
- Identify what is missing in the argument
1. Separate the tasks into bullet points
2. Identify the argument — what’s the connection between all the points made
3. Eliminate choices that disagree or stray from points made in passage
4. Select choice that strengthens argument
1. Are there any similar answers?
2. Does the answer directly relate to the question at hand? (all parts)
3. Read the question again and your answer to see if it flows
Command of Textual Evidence
Foundations
(identify the piece of evidence that most strongly supports that claim)
- Scientific evidence: interpret researcher’s hypothesis, identify outcome that would
support the hypothesis, select the answer with that outcome
- Literary evidence: make an argument concerning a literary work, then give you
quotations from that work — determine whether the content of those quotations serve as
direct evidence for the argument made
1. Identify the argument (hypothesis or literary claim)
2. Create a test phrase — rephrase argument in a simple way
3. Test the choices — find a choice that makes the same argument as test phrase
- Tips:
- Eliminate choices that broaden or blur the argument, or make the choice seem
relevant but hasn’t even been mentioned in the text (or change the focus of the
argument)
- Find the STRONGEST and most DIRECT choice — not a “kind of”
Medium
Command of Quantitative Evidence
Foundations
(data from a table or graph)
- Read the paragraph and identify the argument that our quantitative evidence must
support
- Graphs and tables will always include more data than you need — double check you are
looking at the right data
- Two types of INCORRECT choices:
- False statements: does not present correct data from the graph/table — eliminate
these first
- True statements: presents true data from graph/table but does NOT support
argument being made
, 1. Skim the graph
2. Read the paragraph and identify argument
3. Eliminate “false” choices
4. Select the choice that best supports argument
Central Ideas and Details
Foundations
(main idea of text or answer a ques based on text)
- The main idea SHOULD:
- cover a majority of the details introduced in the text
- mention any particular points of emphasis from the text
- The main idea should NOT:
- focus too intently just one detail
- introduce new ideas
- contradict any info from text
1. Summarize text in own words
2. Determine the task (is it main idea or answer ques)
3. Revisit text
4. Predict/answer the ques on your own first and then select the choice
- Tips:
- Eliminate choices that broaden or blur the argument, or make the choice seem
relevant but hasn’t even been mentioned in the text
Inferences
Foundations
(select the choice that most logically completes the task)
- Premises: facts on which an argument is based
- Conclusion: overall claim
- Identify what is missing in the argument
1. Separate the tasks into bullet points
2. Identify the argument — what’s the connection between all the points made
3. Eliminate choices that disagree or stray from points made in passage
4. Select choice that strengthens argument
