Evaluate whether evidence is relevant and sufficient for a claim.
Judge whether the evidence is relevant and strong enough for the claim.
Core Idea
Relevant evidence matches the exact point being made, and sufficient evidence is strong enough to support it at that level. A detail can be true and still fail to prove the conclusion.
Understanding
This skill becomes especially important when a passage works with a table or graph. The passage may make a broad claim, but the visual may show whether the claim is actually supported, partly supported, or overstated. Match the strength of the evidence to the strength of the claim.
Be careful with outcome vs. activity. Participation, enthusiasm, or smooth implementation may all sound positive, but if the author is claiming improved outcomes, the support has to measure outcomes. When a chart appears, read its labels, groups, and time frame before deciding whether it truly does that job.
Step by Step
- Underline the exact claim being made.
- Ask what kind of evidence would directly measure that claim.
- Use the visual as part of the evidence set, not as decoration.
- Reject answers that show activity or popularity without proving the stated outcome.
Misconceptions
- Any positive data about a program support every positive claim about it.
- If a chart shows change, it automatically proves the author's explanation for that change.
- Evidence about participation is the same as evidence about impact.
Worked Example
A passage argues that a district's after-school tutoring program substantially improved ninth-grade biology achievement. A bar graph shows the percentage of students at each school who attended at least eight tutoring sessions, and a table shows that average biology scores rose slightly districtwide that semester. Which piece of evidence would best support the author's claim?
Select an answer to see the explanation