CARS Passage Types

CARS Passage Types

Part 1 of 7 — Humanities Passages

Characteristics of Humanities Passages

CARS draws from these humanities fields:

• Philosophy: Ethics, epistemology, logic
• Literature/Literary criticism: Analysis of texts, narrative theory
• Art/Music: Aesthetic theory, art history, criticism
• Religion/Theology: Comparative religion, philosophical theology

What Makes Humanities Passages Challenging

• Abstract language: Concepts like "being," "consciousness," "the sublime"
• Dense arguments: Multiple layers of reasoning
• Unfamiliar vocabulary: Technical philosophical terms
• Implicit assumptions: Author assumes you can follow complex chains of logic

Strategy for Humanities Passages

1. Look for the thesis statement — often at the end of the first or second paragraph
2. Track who says what — passages often discuss multiple thinkers
3. Don't get lost in examples — they illustrate a point, focus on the point
4. Paraphrase in simple language: "The author is saying that..."
5. Stay patient — understanding often comes by the end of the passage

Humanities Passages 🎯

Key Takeaways — Part 1

• Humanities passages are abstract — focus on the core argument
• Track WHO is making each claim (author vs. people being discussed)
• Paraphrase complex ideas in simple terms
• Thesis is often at the end of the intro or beginning of the conclusion

CARS Passage Types

Part 2 of 7 — Social Science Passages

Social Science Topics on CARS

• History: Social movements, political events, cultural shifts
• Economics: Theories, policy debates, market analysis
• Political Science: Governance, democracy, rights
• Psychology/Sociology: Social behavior, cultural norms (non-scientific)
• Anthropology: Cultural practices, human societies

How Social Science Differs from Humanities

Strategy for Social Science Passages

• Identify the research question or central issue
• Note cause-and-effect claims — authors often argue X caused Y
• Pay attention to dates and context — historical arguments depend on timeline
• Watch for bias — even "objective" passages have an author viewpoint

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CARS Passage Types

Part 3 of 7 — Argumentative Passages

Structure of an Argument

1. Claim/Thesis: The main point the author is making
2. Evidence/Support: Facts, examples, reasoning that back the claim
3. Warrants: Assumptions connecting evidence to the claim (often unstated!)
4. Counterarguments: Opposing views the author addresses
5. Conclusion: Where the argument lands

Common Argument Patterns in CARS

Identifying the Argument

CARS Passage Types

Part 4 of 7 — Comparative & Multiple-Perspective Passages

Tracking Multiple Viewpoints

Many CARS passages present 2-3 different perspectives on an issue.

Strategy: The Viewpoint Grid

As you read, mentally track:

Common Traps in Multi-Perspective Passages

1. Attribution errors: Confusing who said what
2. Assuming agreement: Just because the author discusses a view doesn't mean they endorse it
3. False balance: The author may present both sides but clearly favor one
4. Missing the synthesis: The author may combine elements of both views

Signal Phrases

• "According to theorist X..." → This is X's view, NOT necessarily the author's
• "While X argues... Y contends..." → Two competing views
• "Although X has merit... the evidence suggests..." → Author is about to side with one view

CARS Passage Types

Part 5 of 7 — Ethics & Morality Passages

Common Ethics Topics on CARS

• Medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, justice)
• Environmental ethics
• Technology and privacy
• Social justice and equality
• Cultural relativism vs. universal morals

Key Ethical Frameworks

Strategy for Ethics Passages

• Identify WHICH ethical framework the author uses (or critiques)
• Note when the author appeals to consequences vs. principles vs. character
• Ethics passages often have a "but" — the author concedes one side before arguing the other

CARS Passage Types

Part 6 of 7 — Art, Architecture & Aesthetics Passages

What to Expect

These passages discuss:

• Theories of beauty and artistic value
• Historical art movements (Modernism, Postmodernism, Impressionism, etc.)
• Music theory and criticism
• Architecture and design philosophy
• Photography and visual culture

Common Themes

1. Art for art's sake vs. art as social commentary
2. Objective vs. subjective standards of beauty
3. Tradition vs. innovation
4. The role of the artist in society
5. How technology changes art (photography, digital media)

Strategy

• Don't be intimidated by art jargon — the passage will explain what matters
• Track the value judgments: Is the author saying this art is good? Bad? Innovative? Derivative?
• Note historical context: Art movements are often responses to previous movements
• Focus on the argument, not the art itself — you don't need to visualize the work being discussed

Aesthetics 🎯

Key Takeaways — Part 6

• Art/architecture passages test reading comprehension, NOT art knowledge
• Track the value judgments: good/bad, innovative/derivative
• Movements are often reactions to what came before
• Jargon will be explained or inferable from context

CARS Passage Types

Part 7 of 7 — Passage Practice Principles

How to Practice CARS Effectively

The Review Process is More Important Than the Practice Itself

After completing each passage:

Step 1: Categorize the Passage

• What type? (humanities, social science, ethics, etc.)
• What was the main argument?
• Was it easy, medium, or hard?

Step 2: Review EVERY Question

• For questions you got RIGHT: Was it for the right reason?
• For questions you got WRONG: What type of error?
  • Misread the passage?
  • Fell for a trap answer?
  • Ran out of time?
  • Confused who said what?

Step 3: Identify Patterns

After 10+ passages, look for:

• Which passage types are hardest for you?
• Which question types do you miss most?
• Are you making the same error repeatedly?

Step 4: Targeted Practice

• If humanities passages are hard → read more philosophy and literary criticism
• If inference questions are hard → practice finding the "one step beyond" the text
• If timing is an issue → practice pacing with a stopwatch

CARS Practice Strategy 🎯

CARS Passage Types — Complete! ✅

The key to CARS improvement: consistent practice + thorough review. Know the passage types, identify your weaknesses, and target them specifically. Trust the process — CARS skills develop over months, not days.