Set 11: Rhetorical Synthesis
Explanation
PASSAGE
A student is writing about the nocebo effect. The student wants to contrast it with the placebo effect while explaining its clinical significance. Notes: - Nocebo effects occur when negative expectations cause harm. - Patients warned about side effects are more likely to experience them. - This is the opposite of placebo, where positive expectations help. - Doctors face ethical dilemmas about how much to disclose.
Which choice most effectively uses information from the notes to accomplish the student's goal?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question asks you to effectively combine information to achieve a goal. The goal requires CONTRAST with placebo AND clinical significance. Inverse relationship (contrast) + disclosure dilemmas (significance). 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:
• "contrast it with the placebo effect while explaining its clinical significance"
• "negative expectations cause harm"
• "opposite of placebo"
• "Patients warned about side effects are more likely to experience them"
• "ethical dilemmas about how much to disclose"
Why others are wrong: D (Explains placebo but not nocebo or contrast.), C (Mentions ethics but not the nocebo effect or contrast.), B (General statement; doesn't specifically contrast effects.).
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