Science and social science passages | Organization and text structure

Science passages

There are a number of parts in a scientific passage, and your ability to identify them quickly can help you find correct answers more quickly and accurately.

Here are some common questions about science passages:

What is the structure of the passage?
What would Scientist A say about Scientist B’s theory?
With which statement would Scientist A and Scientist B agree/disagree?
What criticisms have been made of the study and/or its results?

Now, let’s look at the general structure of a science passage. Not all science passages will have all of the parts listed here, but being able to recognize those that are present in a given text is extremely useful.

Old idea: Many science passages use this “hook” to whet the reader’s interest.
Transition to the new idea. This can be presented as a hypothesis, a question, or a problem that needs solving.
Discussion of other hypotheses or experiments and their shortcomings.
The scientists’ hypothesis for the new experiment.
A description of how the experiment was designed.
The outcome of the experiment and what the scientists have learned from it (or not).
A suggested direction for future research. (Science passages rarely say that a question is definitively settled.)

Social science passages

Social science passages resemble science passages, although the experiments may be replaced with studies instead. They present a claim, explain how they explored it, and then discuss the results. They may also include a **literature review, **or analysis of other work that’s been done in that field.

Common questions about social science passages include:

What is the main idea of the passage?
What supporting evidence is there for the passage’s claim?
Which detail from the passage would (or would not) support the study’s hypothesis?
What criticisms have been made of the study and/or its results?
What limitations are there to the study described in the passage?

Here’s an example:

This passage is from “Mobile Marketing in the Art Industry,” by Francis Ankyiah.

The rising prevalence of mobile devices has transformed consumer behaviors and created new opportunities for audience engagement through mobile marketing in the art world. However, there has been limited research on implementing effective mobile strategies for art professionals. This study aimed to systematically review mobile techniques over the past five years based on academic literature and industry reports. It analyzed key mobile marketing campaigns from prominent art institutions focusing on approaches like apps, augmented reality, and location-based services. The literature revealed several important findings about mobile marketing effectiveness. According to Pew Research Center data from 2019, 81% of Americans now own smartphones frequently used for internet access, demonstrating widespread mobile access. Studies of apps found those displaying artist portfolios and enabling ticket purchases had high audience engagement. Augmented reality apps providing interactive experiences attracted more first-time museum visitors than non-users. Location services increased nearby gallery foot traffic up to 35% by capitalizing on proximity. Case studies indicate mobile strategies can significantly boost participation when integrated across digital and physical channels through profiles, ticketing, content, and location promotion to spur visits. As a result, mobile technologies may help arts institutions connect with broader demographics in novel ways. However, usability and data privacy must be addressed. The review concluded that mobile techniques are highly impactful for boosting audience involvement, working best as an omni-channel approach across platforms and interactivity. Adopting established mobile marketing best practices is essential for arts professionals and organizations to thrive in today’s digital landscape and engage wider audiences.

What is the organizational structure of the passage?
a. The passage discusses a study that looked at how prominent art institutions use mobile marketing to display artists’ portfolios, mentioned findings about location services, and suggests that arts professionals and organizations adopt mobile marketing best practices.
b. The passage defines mobile marketing, examines its impact on the art world, and calls for additional funding to help artists who are struggling to adapt to the new media landscape.
c. The passage begins by pointing out a lack of research on mobile marketing in the art world, cites a Pew Research
d. Center study about smartphone use, and concludes with a call to improve internet access for artists.
e. The passage reviews data about how artists use mobile marketing to sell their work, cites a Pew Research Center study, and provides reasons why the study is wrong.
f. The passage defines mobile marketing, lists statistics that support that definition, and concludes that mobile marketing will engage a wider audience.

(spoiler)

The passage discusses a study that looked at how prominent art institutions use mobile marketing to display artists’ portfolios, mentioned findings about location services, and suggests that arts professionals and organizations adopt mobile marketing best practices correctly identifies three components of the passage.

The passage defines mobile marketing, examines its impact on the art world, and calls for additional funding to help artists who are struggling to adapt to the new media landscape is incorrect because the passage does not define mobile marketing or call for additional funding for artists.

The passage begins by pointing out a lack of research on mobile marketing in the art world, cites a Pew Research Center study about smartphone use, and concludes with a call to improve internet access for artists is incorrect because the passage does not “conclude with a call to improve internet services for artists.” Instead, it recommends that “arts professionals and organizations adopt mobile marketing best practices.”

The passage reviews data about how artists use mobile marketing to sell their work, cites a Pew Research Center study, and provides reasons why the study is wrong is incorrect because the passage does not seek to disprove the Pew study.

The passage defines mobile marketing, lists statistics that support that definition, and concludes that mobile marketing will engage a wider audience is incorrect because the passage is not about mobile marketing in general, but rather about its use in the art world.