8

Set 10: Rhetorical Synthesis (Advanced)

Explanation

Answer: D

PASSAGE

A student is writing about historiography. The student wants to argue that historical accounts are shaped by the perspectives and contexts of their authors. Notes: - Historians select which evidence to emphasize or omit. - National histories often glorify the nation's founding. - Marginalized groups were historically excluded from historical narratives. - Interpretations of events change as societal values evolve.

Which choice most effectively uses information from the notes to accomplish the student's goal?

A. Primary sources are essential for understanding historical events accurately.
B. National histories tend to present their country's founding in a positive light.
C. Historical scholarship has become more inclusive of marginalized perspectives.
D. History is inevitably shaped by its authors: historians choose what to emphasize or omit, national narratives glorify origins, marginalized voices have been excluded, and interpretations shift as values change—revealing history as perspective-bound construction, not objective recording.✓ Correct

Detailed Answer Explanation

This question asks you to effectively combine information to achieve a goal. The goal is to ARGUE perspectives shape history. Selection bias, national glorification, exclusion, and changing interpretations all demonstrate perspectival influence. The correct synthesis will use relevant details from the notes in a logical, purposeful way. Focus on what the question asks you to accomplish, then choose the answer that best achieves that goal using the provided information. Effective synthesis requires selecting and combining the most relevant information to achieve a specific purpose. Not all provided notes may be equally useful. Focus on what best accomplishes the stated goal while maintaining logical coherence.

Key Evidence:

• "shaped by the perspectives and contexts of their authors"

• "select which evidence to emphasize or omit"

• "glorify the nation's founding"

• "Marginalized groups were historically excluded"

• "Interpretations...change"

Why others are wrong: B (Presents one example but doesn't make the broader argument.), A (Not in notes; discusses sources, not author perspectives.), C (Notes improvement but doesn't argue about perspective shaping.).

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