Analyzing Claims and Evidence

Nathan Greenberg introduces command of evidence questions on the SAT, explaining their challenges and presenting a four-step approach to tackle them. He demonstrates this method through various examples, including a hypothesis about green chilies, a poem by Amy Lowell, a claim about mosasaurs, and an analysis of economic policy uncertainty using a graph. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the question and forming predictions before evaluating answer choices.

What is the primary challenge students face with command of evidence questions?

• Understanding the text

• Reading the question

• Identifying the claim

• Finding the best evidence

Which step in the four-step approach involves forming your own answer?

• Step 2

• Step 3

• Step 1

• Step 4

Why is it important to form a prediction before looking at answer choices?

• To ensure accuracy

• To save time

• To understand the text better

• To avoid confusion

In the green chilies example, what was the hypothesis about?

• Increasing temperature

• Reducing roasting time

• Changing ingredients

• Using more propane

What does the example with the poem illustrate?

• How to support a claim

• How to identify personification

• How to analyze a character

• How to find the main idea

In the poem example, what literary device is used to show nature as an active participant?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

• Alliteration

What was the claim about mosasaurs in the third example?

• They were cold-blooded

• They were endothermic

• They were extinct

• They lived in warm waters

Why is it important not to jump straight to the graph in questions involving graphical data?

• It avoids errors

• It helps in prediction

• It ensures understanding

• It saves time

What does the graph in the mosasaurs example help illustrate?

• The endothermic nature of mosasaurs

• The temperature of the water

• The difference in policy uncertainty

• The number of mosasaurs

What is the key takeaway from the video regarding command of evidence questions?

• Use a structured approach

• Memorize the text

• Guess the answers

• Focus on the graph