Command of evidence (textual)
SAT glossary · Reading & Writing
Definition
The skill of identifying which quotation or detail supports a given claim. The trap is a quotation that is on-topic but supports a different claim than the one asked about.
Command of evidence (textual) in plain English
This tests whether you can find the specific quote or detail from a passage that actually BACKS UP a particular claim you're given. The classic trap is a quotation that's clearly ON-TOPIC (it's about the same general subject) but that actually supports a DIFFERENT claim than the one the question is asking about — so it feels relevant, but it doesn't actually prove the specific point being tested.
Also called: textual
Sign up free: all 157 SAT terms as flashcards, plus practice questions with full explanations →