2. Reading and Analyzing the Source Texts

The two passages you receive on test day are argument passages -- each one is making a case for a position. Your first job is to understand what each argument is actually claiming and what evidence it uses to back that claim up.

Step 1 -- Identify each text's main claim

The claim is the author's central position: the one thing they most want you to believe. It is usually stated directly near the beginning or end of the passage. Ask yourself: 'What is this author trying to convince me of?'

Step 2 -- Find the key evidence

Evidence is what the author offers as proof. There are two kinds:

• Strong evidence: specific facts, statistics, studies, expert testimony, historical events, concrete examples. Example: 'A Harvard study found that students in year-round schools scored 12 percent higher on standardized tests.'
• Weak evidence: vague feelings, personal anecdotes, appeals to emotion, unsourced generalities. Example: 'Everyone knows year-round school is stressful.'

Step 3 -- Annotate the argument structure

As you read, jot brief notes beside each passage:

• Circle or bracket the main claim.
• Write 'E' next to each piece of evidence.
• Put a '?' next to anything that sounds like opinion rather than fact.
• Put a '+' next to evidence that seems specific and verifiable.

After reading both passages, ask: 'Which passage had more specific, checkable evidence? Which one relied mostly on feelings or vague claims?'

The reasoning link

Good arguments don't just list evidence -- they explain how the evidence proves the claim. If an author says 'Statistics show X, therefore Y is true' but X doesn't really connect to Y, that's a reasoning flaw. Spotting reasoning gaps earns you Trait 1 points.

⚠️ Common mistake: assuming the longer passage is automatically stronger. A short passage with two specific statistics can be stronger than a long passage full of emotional language and no data.

💡 Tip: after reading, write a one-sentence summary of each passage in the margin: 'Passage A argues X, using evidence Y.' This forces you to understand both arguments before you write a single word of your essay.