rhetorical synthesis
On the digital SAT, every rhetorical‑synthesis question gives you a short set of notes (or a data graphic) and a specific writing goal. Your task is always the same: pick the option that uses the notes accurately and purposefully in that exact spot. Whether the goal is to introduce a topic, highlight a contrast, or compare perspectives, the core process never changes.
how to do them
- Read the goal carefully. Focus on what the student wants to do (e.g., emphasize a number, explain a cause, support a claim). Look for command words like introduce, emphasize, support, clarify, revise.
- Scan the source notes. Circle key facts, especially numbers, dates, names, comparisons, and anything bold or specific. If it's a graphic, note upward/downward trends, categories, or extremes.
- Create a mini-prediction. In 4–6 words, imagine a sentence that would accomplish the goal using only what’s in the notes. Don’t invent — just compress.
- Check each choice for two filters:
- Accuracy: Does it match the notes exactly? No made-up info.
- Relevance: Does it directly achieve the stated goal?
- Eliminate distractors. Cross out any answer that:
- Misstates a fact or number
- Wanders away from the goal
- Focuses on something not mentioned or barely relevant
- Repeats info from nearby text without adding value
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Aral Sea was once the fourth-largest lake in the world by surface area.
- Its primary sources were the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers.
- Large-scale irrigation projects in the 1960s diverted much of this water to cotton fields.
- As a result, the lake lost over 90% of its original volume by the early 2000s.
The student wants to emphasize the environmental consequences of irrigation projects on the Aral Sea. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
- A) In the 1960s, Soviet officials expanded cotton production across Central Asia.
- B) The Aral Sea was once the fourth-largest lake in the world.
- C) Irrigation projects that diverted river water to cotton fields caused the Aral Sea to shrink by more than 90%.
- D) The Amu Darya and Syr Darya once fed a vast inland lake in Central Asia.
Show Explanation
Correct Answer: C) Irrigation projects that diverted river water to cotton fields caused the Aral Sea to shrink by more than 90%.
Explanation: This choice directly connects the irrigation projects to the environmental impact (the 90% volume loss), which is exactly what the question asks the student to emphasize. The others either provide background context or detail causes without clearly stating the effect.
Easy
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- H. Dugdale Sykes argued in 1916 that Shakespeare was not a coauthor of The Two Noble Kinsmen.
- Sykes believed John Fletcher’s distinct writing style was clearly visible in the play.
- Sykes attributed the rest of the play to Philip Massinger, based on how female characters were written.
- Modern scholars generally agree the play was coauthored by Shakespeare and Fletcher.
- They assign the first and final acts to Shakespeare, and the middle acts to Fletcher, based on writing style.
The student wants to include a sentence that reflects a point of agreement between Sykes and modern scholars. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Easy
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Ancient Native American and Australian Aboriginal cultures described the Pleiades star cluster as having seven stars.
- It was referred to as the Seven Sisters in the mythology of ancient Greece.
- Today, the cluster appears to have only six stars.
- Two of the stars have moved so close together that they now appear as one.
The student wants to specify the reason the Pleiades’ appearance changed. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Easy
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The factors that affect clutch size (the number of eggs laid at one time) have been well studied in birds but not in lizards.
- A team led by Shai Meiri of Tel Aviv University investigated which factors influence lizard clutch size.
- Meiri’s team obtained clutch-size and habitat data for over 3,900 lizard species and analyzed the data with statistical models.
- Larger clutch size was associated with environments in higher latitudes that have more seasonal change.
- Lizards in higher-latitude environments may lay larger clutches to take advantage of shorter windows of favorable conditions.
The student wants to emphasize the aim of the research study. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Rhetorical Synthesis Unlocked
Mastering synthesis lets you weave data into clear, purposeful prose.
Next Up
18: transitions
Guide readers smoothly from one idea to the next.