Set 11: Rhetorical Synthesis (Intermediate)
Explanation
PASSAGE
A student is writing about democratic backsliding. The student wants to identify the gradual processes through which democracies erode. Notes: - Elected leaders may undermine independent institutions and courts. - Press freedom is restricted through legal harassment or ownership changes. - Electoral rules may be changed to favor incumbents. - Democratic norms erode faster than formal constitutional structures.
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 is to IDENTIFY GRADUAL processes. Undermining institutions, restricting press, changing rules, and norm erosion are the identified processes. 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:
• "identify the gradual processes"
• "undermine independent institutions"
• "Press freedom is restricted"
• "Electoral rules may be changed"
• "Democratic norms erode faster"
Why others are wrong: B (Not in notes; discusses prevention, not erosion processes.), C (Notes norm vulnerability but doesn't identify the processes.), D (Mentions one process but doesn't identify the full range.).
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