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Social Sciences: Anthropology & Sociology
Anthropology and sociology passages argue from cases, cultures and surveys. You will learn how they are built, how their authors signal a position, and which question traps they favor, then test yourself on two full passages.
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What this chapter covers
- How Social-Science Passages Are Built. Anthropology and sociology passages usually argue from a case, so find the claim that the case is there to support.
- Argument Moves & Tone. Social-science authors rarely shout. Their position hides in hedges, quotation marks and concessions.
- Question Traps & Jargon. Unfamiliar terms and extreme answer choices cost points in this genre, yet the passage always gives you what you need.
Key points to know
- The case supports a general claim; do not confuse the two
- Contrast words after an assumption usually mark the thesis
- Reporting verbs keep distance; 'shows' signals agreement
- Hedges limit how strong a correct answer can be
- Define jargon from nearby clues, not from memory
- One case supports claims only about similar cases
Try a practice question
In this passage, the fishing village serves primarily as
- a case supporting a reinterpretation of apparent generosity
- an exception that the author sets aside as unrepresentative
- an example of pure charity untouched by self-interest
- evidence that economists correctly predicted village behavior
Show the answer
A. The village illustrates the author's claim that gifts work as unspoken insurance. It is not an exception, it is not pure charity by the ethnographer's account, and it contradicts the economists' assumption.
Common questions
What does this chapter cover?
Social Sciences: Anthropology & Sociology covers How Social-Science Passages Are Built, Argument Moves & Tone, Question Traps & Jargon.
What should I know first?
The case supports a general claim; do not confuse the two Contrast words after an assumption usually mark the thesis Reporting verbs keep distance; 'shows' signals agreement
19 original practice questions accompany this chapter in the app. Spaced review brings missed ideas back at the right time; it helps memory but cannot promise you will not miss an idea again.