TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
Understanding SAT Texts: Effective Approaches to Using Textual Evidence
What is the Goal?
- To find the assumption, claim or hypothesis (what is the point the author is trying to make or prove)
- To understand it
- Then choose the best of the 4 options that matches, illustrates or proves this point.
Strategy (learnt in lesson)
- find text meaning
- choose best option
- tip: if you are unsure of the answer, remove the wrong options before choosing your ‘best’ answer
Simple Example of Textual Evidence
Raining season in Chiang Mai means it is often raining when teachers and students finish school.
Choose the best option that supports the meaning of the text.
- Boom likes getting wet.
- Angie has got soaked going home [from school] three times this week.
- Gun needs an umbrella during the middle months of the year.
- Mooky has a rain coat for riding her bike.
Official Examples of Textual Evidence
Example 1
“Mr. Cornelius Johnson, Office-Seeker” is a 1900 short story by Paul Laurence Dunbar. In the story, the narrator describes Mr. Cornelius Johnson’s appearance as conveying his exaggerated sense of his importance: ______
Which quotation from “Mr. Cornelius Johnson, Office-Seeker” most effectively illustrates the claim?
A “He carried himself always as if he were passing under his own triumphal arch.”
B “The grey Prince Albert was scrupulously buttoned about his form, and a shiny top hat replaced the felt of the afternoon.”
C “Mr. Cornelius Johnson always spoke in a large and important tone.”
D “It was a beautiful day in balmy May and the sun shone pleasantly on Mr. Cornelius Johnson’s very spruce Prince Albert suit of grey as he alighted from the train in Washington.”
Example 2
Jan Gimsa, Robert Sleigh, and Ulrike Gimsa have hypothesized that the sail-like structure running down the back of the dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus improved the animal’s success in underwater pursuits of prey species capable of making quick, evasive movements. To evaluate their hypothesis, a second team of researchers constructed two battery-powered mechanical models of S. aegyptiacus, one with a sail and one without, and subjected the models to a series of identical tests in a water-filled tank.
Which finding from the model tests, if true, would most strongly support Gimsa and colleagues’ hypothesis?
A The model with a sail took significantly longer to travel a specified distance while submerged than the model without a sail did.
B The model with a sail displaced significantly more water while submerged than the model without a sail did.
C The model with a sail had significantly less battery power remaining after completing the tests than the model without a sail did.
D The model with a sail took significantly less time to complete a sharp turn while submerged than the model without a sail did.
Strategy for Finding and Using Textual Evidence
- the text includes a central claim, identify the claim
- put the claim in your own words
- test the options against your version
Thai Example with Textual Evidence
vocabulary help is at the bottom of the page
Passage 1: General
In the heart of Bangkok, Ploy and Nattawut weaved through the maze of streets, their laughter punctuating the air like musical notes. Today was the dawn of their university journey, and anticipation buzzed around them like fireflies in the night.
Entering the lecture hall, Ploy clutched her notebook, its pages a canvas awaiting the strokes of knowledge. The lecturer, with a twinkle in his eye, unfolded the mysteries of English literature before them. As he read aloud an excerpt from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Ploy’s eyes widened with understanding. She turned to Nattawut, her excitement palpable.
Which quotation from the passage best illustrates the claim that Ploy and Nattawut were filled with anticipation for their university journey?
- “Ploy and Nattawut clutched their notebooks tightly.”
- “Today was the dawn of their university journey.”
- “The lecturer had a twinkle in his eye.”
- “As he read aloud an excerpt from Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ Ploy’s eyes widened with understanding.”
Passage 2: Literacy
Amidst the hushed whispers of the library, Ploy and Nattawut embarked on a quest for knowledge, their fingers trailing along the spines of books like explorers mapping uncharted territories. Words leapt off the pages, beckoning them into a world of imagination.
Ploy traced the lines of a poem, her voice a melodic hum as she savored each syllable. Nattawut, lost in the rhythm of prose, immersed himself in the story unfolding before him. Together, they uncovered the beauty of language, each passage a testament to the power of words.
Which quotation from the passage best illustrates the claim that Ploy and Nattawut were immersed in the beauty of language?
- “Ploy traced the lines of a poem.”
- “Words leapt off the pages, beckoning them into a world of imagination.”
- “Nattawut immersed himself in the story unfolding before him.”
- “Together, they uncovered the beauty of language.”
Passage 3: Scientific
Within the walls of the laboratory, Ploy and Nattawut donned their safety goggles, their fingers itching to unravel the mysteries of science. Test tubes clinked together, their contents a symphony of chemical reactions waiting to be discovered.
Ploy pipetted liquids with precision, her movements as calculated as a mathematician solving an equation. Nattawut, peering through the microscope, marveled at the microscopic world laid out before him. Together, they ventured into the realm of science, each observation a piece of evidence in the puzzle of discovery.
Which quotation from the passage best illustrates the claim that Ploy and Nattawut were eager to unravel the mysteries of science?
- “Ploy pipetted liquids with precision.”
- “Their fingers itching to unravel the mysteries of science.”
- “Nattawut marveled at the microscopic world laid out before him.”
- “Each observation a piece of evidence in the puzzle of discovery.”
Vocabulary
- Amidst, preposition, surrounded by; in the middle of, They walked amidst the trees in the forest.
- Anticipation, noun, the feeling of excited expectation about something that is going to happen, She waited in anticipation for her birthday party.
- Beckoning, verb, making a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow, The friendly child was beckoning us to play with him.
- Donned, verb, to put on (clothing or equipment), He donned his jacket before going outside in the cold weather.
- Embarked, verb, to begin a course of action, especially one that is important or demanding, They embarked on a journey around the world.
- Fireflies, noun, small flying insects that produce light, especially at night, The garden was filled with fireflies, lighting up the night.
- Hushed, adjective, quiet; silent, The library was hushed as students studied for their exams.
- Immersed, adjective, deeply involved in or absorbed by something, She was completely immersed in her favorite book.
- Palpable, adjective, able to be touched or felt; tangible, The tension in the room was palpable as they awaited the results.
- Pipetted, verb, to transfer or measure out (a liquid) using a pipette, The scientist carefully pipetted the solution into the test tube.
- Punctuating, verb, interrupting or emphasizing something at intervals, The sound of thunder punctuated the silence of the night.
- Quest, noun, a search, hunt, or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something, Their quest for treasure led them to explore ancient ruins.
- Safety goggles, noun, protective eyewear worn to prevent eye injury from debris, chemicals, or other hazards, The scientist wore safety goggles while conducting experiments in the laboratory.
- Spines, noun, sharp, pointed parts sticking out from the surface of an animal or plant, The cactus had long spines to protect itself from predators.
- Symphony, noun, a musical composition for orchestra, typically in four movements, at least one of which is traditionally in sonata form, The orchestra performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 at the concert.
- Testament, noun, something that serves as a sign or evidence of a fact or event; a testimony, His success in the competition was a testament to his hard work and dedication.
- Trailing, verb, to follow someone or something, typically in a way that is not obvious or intentional, The dog was trailing behind its owner as they walked through the park.
- Unfolded, verb, to open or spread out from a folded position, She unfolded the letter to read its contents.
- Unravel, verb, to investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling), They worked together to unravel the mystery of the missing keys.
American English vs British English – favourite (British) , favorite (US)