What strategies help with extended-response tasks requiring analysis of multiple sources?

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When you have an extended-response task that requires analyzing multiple sources, the key is to build a coherent argument that rests on evidence from those sources. The best approach is to compare and contrast the materials, synthesize the evidence, and present a clear thesis with quotations integrated into your analysis. Start with a focused thesis that answers the prompt and previews how the sources will inform your claim. In the body, use each paragraph to show how a specific source supports, challenges, or adds nuance to your thesis, while weaving in its evidence rather than simply summarizing it. Emphasize synthesis by drawing connections across sources—note where they agree, where they diverge, and how biases or limitations affect what they reveal. Quotations should be brief and purposefully chosen, followed by explanation that connects the quote to your point and to the overall argument. Throughout, demonstrate how the evidence leads to your conclusion, showing reasoning and interpretation rather than just listing facts. This approach ensures you present a well-supported, analytical response rather than a descriptive one. Personal narratives, memorizing quotes without analysis, or citing sources without tying them to a claim don’t meet the task’s expectations because they miss the critical process of analysis and synthesis across sources.