ATI TEAS: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas Concepts
Importance ★★★★★ · 39% (estimate)
Overview
This chapter asks you to put information together. You will compare two or more sources, judge whether the evidence really supports a claim, combine words with charts or graphics, and choose the most trustworthy source for a task.
An argument has a claim, which is the point being argued, and evidence, which is the support for it. Strong evidence is relevant to the claim and sufficient to back it up. Watch for reasoning that jumps to a conclusion or relies only on personal feelings.
Primary sources are first-hand records made by people who were there, such as a diary, an original study, or a photograph. Secondary sources describe or interpret primary sources, such as a textbook or a news analysis. When choosing a source, look at who wrote it, how current it is, and whether the author has a reason to be biased.
Key concepts
Claim
The main point or position an author is trying to prove in an argument.
Memory tipThe claim is what the author wants you to believe.
Evidence
Facts, data, examples, or expert statements used to support a claim. Good evidence is relevant (on topic) and sufficient (enough of it).
Memory tipRelevant and sufficient: both are needed.
Primary source
An original, first-hand record created at the time by someone directly involved, such as a letter, diary, interview, original research report, or photograph.
Memory tipPrimary = I was there.
Secondary source
A source that describes, summarizes, or interprets primary sources, such as a textbook, encyclopedia article, or review.
Memory tipSecondary = someone telling you about it later.
Bias
A one-sided leaning that can make a source unfair or incomplete, often because the author benefits from a certain conclusion.
Memory tipAsk: Who gains if I believe this?
Credible source
A source you can reasonably trust because it is written by a qualified author, is current, cites evidence, and comes from a reputable publisher or organization.
Memory tipCheck author, date, evidence, and publisher.
Often tested
- When two sources disagree, compare their evidence, not just their conclusions.
- A single personal story is weak evidence for a broad claim.
- For up-to-date health or science facts, a recent source from an expert organization beats an old or anonymous one.
- When a passage includes a chart, the correct answer must agree with both the text and the chart.
Easy to confuse: Primary vs. secondary source
| Feature | Primary source | Secondary source |
|---|---|---|
| Who made it | Someone directly involved | Someone looking back at the event or data |
| When | At the time of the event or study | Later |
| Examples | Diary, original study, photograph | Textbook, encyclopedia, review article |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Read the note. "Rosa is writing a history paper about the 1918 flu in her town. At the library she found four items: a diary kept by a local nurse during the outbreak, a 2010 textbook chapter on pandemics, an encyclopedia article about the flu, and a documentary film made in 2018." Which item is a primary source?
- ① The documentary film made in 2018
- ② The 2010 textbook chapter on pandemics
- ③ The encyclopedia article about the flu
- ④ The diary kept by a local nurse during the outbreak
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Answer: ④ The diary kept by a local nurse during the outbreak
Key point: Primary source = first-hand record from the time
A primary source is a first-hand record made by someone who was there at the time, such as a diary, letter, or photo. The nurse's diary was written during the outbreak. The other items were made later to explain the event, so they are secondary sources.
Wrong choices
- The documentary film made in 2018: It was made long after the event by people who were not there, so it is secondary.
- The 2010 textbook chapter on pandemics: A textbook explains events later, so it is a secondary source.
- The encyclopedia article about the flu: An encyclopedia summarizes other sources, so it is secondary.
Question 2. Read the note. "Tom needs to know what time the county health clinic opens this Saturday. He has four possible sources." Which source is most reliable for this task?
- ① The clinic's official website
- ② A friend's social media post from two years ago
- ③ A newspaper article about rising health care costs
- ④ A dictionary
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Answer: ① The clinic's official website
Key point: Choose sources that are current, official, and on topic
The best source is current, official, and on topic. The clinic's own website is run by the clinic and should show its present hours. Old posts or unrelated articles may be wrong or off topic.
Wrong choices
- A friend's social media post from two years ago: The post is old and not official, so the hours may have changed.
- A newspaper article about rising health care costs: This article is about costs, not the clinic's hours.
- A dictionary: A dictionary does not list clinic hours.
Question 3. Read the report. "Flu shots given at the clinic this fall: October — 120; November — 95; December — 60. The report's summary says, 'Flu shot numbers rose each month this fall.'" Do the numbers support the summary?
- ① Yes, because the numbers went up each month.
- ② Yes, because December had the most shots.
- ③ No, because the numbers went down each month.
- ④ There is no way to tell from the numbers.
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Answer: ③ No, because the numbers went down each month.
Key point: Check written summaries against the actual numbers
Compare the numbers in order: 120 → 95 → 60. Each month is lower than the one before, so the shots went down, not up. The summary does not match the data.
Wrong choices
- Yes, because the numbers went up each month.: The numbers fell from 120 to 95 to 60.
- Yes, because December had the most shots.: December had the fewest shots (60).
- There is no way to tell from the numbers.: The numbers are given, so we can compare them.
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