RC Question Stems

What should you look for in a Main Point answer?

1. The subject of the main clause should be the central topic

2. The framework should match

3. Make sure to have your MVP

What should you look for in a Primary Purpose/Concern answer?

1. Use your framework to pre-phrase

2. Reinforce MVP

What should you look for in a Organization answer?

1. If there are 3+ ingredients, categorize the last ingredient of the passage, and check that part of the answer first.

What should you look for in a Paragraph Purpose answer?

1. Look for purpose/rhetorical language in the first sentence of the paragraph

2. Think about the passage map and how that paragraph relates to others.

What should you look for in a Meaning in Context answer?

1. What does X refer to? Trace the callback language to earlier in the passage

2. Which word fits in the same place as X? Beware answers that sound like our superficial dictionary definition of X

What should you look for in a Local Purpose answer?

1. The correct answer usually maps to language in the Big Idea that comes right before the detail we’re asked about

What should you look for in a Locate Detail answer?

1. Use question stem keywords to find the best matching line(s)

2. Pick the answer that best matches that support window

What should you look for in a Five Questions answer?

1. Every answer teases a different part of the passage.

2. Don’t try to remember what was or wasn’t said

3. Search for the applicable line and check details.

What should you look for in an Inference answer?

1. Filter out harder to prove claims; look for low burden of proof answers

2. See if you can find a way to derive an answer’s truth from some line(s) in the passage

3. Don’t expect a language match with the passage

What should you look for in an Author/Non-Author Opinion?

1. When it’s about someone other than the author, it’s a small support window

2. When it’s about the author, it could test a small detail or test a gist-y broader point

What should you look for in an Attitude answer?

1. Beware extremes

2. Look for somewhat positive or negative (neutral has never been right).

3. Qualified approval means, “I approve, but with these qualms.”

What should you look for in an Analogy question?

1. Try to pre-phrase general traits/relationships from that part of the passage

2. Be willing to adjust once you see what relationships the answers seem to be testing

What should you look for in an Application answer?

1. Pick answer that matches a description or definition, using adjectives or relationships

2. Correct answer should reinforce what we know

What should we look for in a Strengthen/Weaken/Evaluate/Method answer?

1. Use LR strategies

2. It might involve arguments or might just care about a claim / position / hypothesis

What should we look for in an Add to Passage answer?

1. Don’t backpedal on author’s gist, sound overdramatic, or open up any new topic