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Reading & WritingChapter 3: Command of Evidence

Notes

Claims and Supporting Evidence Notes

Separate claims from evidence and identify findings that directly bear on an assertion.

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A claim is an assertion, conclusion, hypothesis, interpretation, or point that can be evaluated. Evidence is information—a result, observation, quotation, example, measurement, or comparison—that changes how credible that claim is.

What the SAT is testing

Command of Evidence
A supplied claim or point is evaluated with the textual or quantitative evidence that best supports, illustrates, weakens, or challenges it.

Core concept

Translate the claim into a testable requirement. If a coating is claimed to reduce water absorption, relevant evidence must compare absorption for coated and otherwise similar uncoated samples. A statement that the coating changes color shares the topic but not the required relationship.

Evidence distinctions

Claim

What a researcher, critic, or narrator proposes. Example: The coating reduces water absorption.

Evidence

Information used to evaluate the proposal. Example: Coated tiles absorbed 8% less water.

Restatement

The same assertion in new words. Example: The coating makes tiles absorb less.

Step-by-step strategy

Claim-first evidence method

  1. Identify

    State the exact claim, including its population, condition, direction, and qualification.

  2. Predict

    Ask what evidence would look like if the claim were true—or what would challenge it.

  3. Locate

    Select only the text or data relevant to that predicted relationship.

  4. Compare

    Evaluate direction, scope, directness, and required assumptions across choices.

  5. Verify

    Check the chosen wording and every cited value against the stimulus.

Visual and data-reading strategy

Claim-to-evidence mapA text-first route from an assertion to relevant evidence.
  1. Claim

    State the exact assertion.

  2. Target relationship

    Ask what would need to be true.

  3. Relevant evidence

    Choose the finding that tests that relationship.

Worked example

Worked example

Apply 3-1

A design team claims that adding textured strips to a ramp helps delivery robots maintain traction on wet surfaces.

Question: Which finding, if true, would most directly support the claim?

  1. On wet ramps of equal slope, robots with textured strips slipped less often than robots without them.
  2. The textured strips were darker than the plain ramp surface.
  3. Robots completed dry-ramp trials at the same speed in both conditions.
  4. The team preferred the appearance of the textured ramp.
  1. Step 1

    The claim predicts a difference in slipping on wet ramps.

  2. Step 2

    Only choice A compares textured and plain ramps under that condition.

  3. Step 3

    The other findings concern color, dry-surface speed, or preference rather than wet traction.

Choice A directly tests traction under the claimed wet condition.

Why each choice works or fails

  1. Correct: fewer slips is direct evidence of improved wet traction.
  2. Wrong measure: color does not test traction.
  3. Wrong condition: dry-ramp performance does not test the wet-surface claim.
  4. Irrelevant preference: the team's opinion is not performance evidence.

Common traps and wrong-answer patterns

Mini check

Mini check

Claim: a shade cloth helps seedlings retain soil moisture. Which result is most relevant?

  1. Shaded pots retained 18% moisture and unshaded pots retained 11% after three days.
  2. The cloth was available in three colors.
  3. Both groups began with twelve seedlings.
  4. Gardeners found the cloth easy to fold.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A

It compares the claimed outcome—retained moisture—between the relevant conditions.

Key takeaways

Key takeaways

What to remember

  • A claim is evaluated; evidence does the evaluating.
  • Translate the claim into a relationship that evidence could test.
  • Same subject matter does not guarantee relevance.
  • Support can strengthen a claim without proving it with certainty.
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Put these notes into practice

Apply the ideas with SAT-style questions, then reinforce key details with flashcards.