SAT Prep - Critical-Reading

Supporting Argument Questions test your ability to recognize how an author constructed his argument.  They may as you to determine why an author made a specific argument, or more generally they may ask you what types of evidence or information the author used to make his argument.  They may even ask you to go a step further, and chose an additional piece of information that would support the argument the author is making. 

Supporting argument questions may be phrased a number of different ways.  Some examples of supporting argument questions are:

• Which of the following pieces of information would provide additional support for the author's argument?
• The author's argument can be strengthened by...
• Lines 4-5 provide the most support for which of the following arguments?
• The author includes the example in line 7 in order to provide additional support for which of the following points?

You should approach Supporting Argument questions by first trying to understand the argument being made, and then trying to understand how and why the argument supports it. 

Lets refer back to the Spider paragraph for an example:

 (1)  The Spider has a bad name: to most of us, she represents an odious, (2)  noxious animal, which every one hastens to crush under foot.  Against (3)  this summary verdict the observer sets the beast’s industry, its (4)  talent as a weaver, its wiliness in the chase, its tragic nuptials and (5)  other characteristics of great interest.  Yes, the Spider is well (6)  worth studying, apart from any scientific reasons; but she is said to (7)  be poisonous and that is her crime and the primary cause of the repugnance (8)  wherewith she inspires us.  Poisonous, I agree, if by that we understand (9)  that the animal is armed with two fangs which cause the immediate death (10) of the little victims which it catches; but there is a wide difference (11) between killing a Midge and harming a man.  However immediate in (12) its effects upon the insect entangled in the fatal web, the Spider’s (13) poison is not serious for us and causes less inconvenience than a Gnat-bite.  (14) That, at least, is what we can safely say as regards the great majority (15) of the Spiders of our region.