Social science passages are typically expository texts drawn from disciplines like sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, or political science. They present information, arguments, or observations about human behavior, culture, or society.
Analyzing Arguments and Claims
Skills Assessed:
- Distinguishing between facts and opinions
- Evaluating the strength or relevance of evidence
- Recognizing an author’s central claim or line of reasoning
How to Answer:
- Find the main argument or claim: Usually in the introduction or conclusion.
- Note supporting evidence: Examples, data, or references often back up claims.
- Check for qualifiers: Words like some researchers believe… or it is often assumed… hint at less confident or debated claims.
Example Question:
Which of the following best describes the author's main argument in the passage?
Evaluating Perspectives or Competing Interpretations
Skills Assessed:
- Identifying different viewpoints, especially between researchers or schools of thought
- Understanding how the author responds to or critiques other positions
How to Answer:
- Look for contrasting terms: Words like however, on the other hand, critics argue… often signal multiple perspectives.
- Track tone and stance: Does the author support, reject, or remain neutral toward a view?
- Watch for transitions between sections to track shifts in viewpoint.
Example Question:
How does the author’s view differ from the perspective of traditional behaviorists described in the passage?
Comparing Information from Multiple Sources or Theories
Skills Assessed:
- Synthesizing information across paragraphs or ideas
- Drawing connections between studies, case examples, or models
- Understanding the implications or limitations of a theory
How to Answer:
- Outline key points from each source or theory—what are they arguing? What do they explain?
- Look for cause/effect or contrast relationships
- Pay close attention to how the author frames their comparison—do they favor one theory over another?
Example Question:
According to the passage, how does Theory A's explanation of social behavior differ from that of Theory B?
Interpreting Use of Evidence or Data in Context
Skills Assessed:
- Understanding why a specific study, statistic, or example is included
- Evaluating the credibility or relevance of that evidence
How to Answer:
- Ask: What is this study or example trying to show?
- Pay attention to source attribution: Is it from “a recent study,” “a controversial paper,” “a well-established researcher”?
- Determine how the evidence supports (or complicates) the author's point.
Example Question:
The reference to the 2016 study by Dr. Patel serves primarily to...
Analyzing Purpose and Rhetorical Strategies
Skills Assessed:
- Identifying the function of rhetorical questions, anecdotes, or structural features (like opening with a paradox)
- Understanding why the author structured the argument in a particular way
How to Answer:
- Consider why the author chose a certain device: Is it meant to persuade? Illustrate? Create doubt?
- Pay attention to the placement of rhetorical elements (e.g., an anecdote at the beginning to humanize the topic).
Example Question:
Why does the author begin the passage by describing a scene at a grocery store?