Text-Based Evidence and Source Integration
What the questions test
These items ask you to select the quotation or detail that best supports a claim, to combine information from two passages, and to cite sources accurately. The core skill is matching evidence to the exact claim, not to the general topic.
Choosing the best evidence
Read the claim carefully and identify its key terms. Then test each candidate quotation: does it directly support the claim, and is it specific enough? A strong quotation contains the fact, statistic, or example that proves the point. A weak one merely mentions the topic. Prefer evidence that is precise, relevant, and drawn from the passage rather than from personal experience.
Integrating sources smoothly
Introduce quotations with context (who said it and where), use quotation marks for exact words, and explain how the evidence supports your point. Avoid quote dropping, where a quotation appears with no introduction or commentary. Use signal phrases such as According to the author or The report states that. When paraphrasing, restate in your own words and still credit the source.
Synthesizing two sources
When passages disagree, identify each author's claim and evidence, then note where they agree and differ. Synthesis means combining both to build a fuller picture, not summarizing them one after another. If one source is stronger, explain why using the quality of its evidence.
Traps to watch for
- Evidence that supports a related but different claim.
- Quotations that are too general to prove anything.
- Misreading a source's position, especially when it presents a counterargument.
- Copying exact wording without quotation marks (plagiarism).
- Ignoring a second passage when the prompt asks about both.
Rule of thumb
After choosing evidence, write one sentence linking it to the claim ("This shows that..."). If you cannot write that link, the evidence is not the best fit.
Worked example
Claim: "Bike lanes reduce accidents." A quotation stating that collisions fell 40 percent after lanes were added directly supports it; a quotation saying cyclists enjoy riding is related but does not prove the claim.