Question 104·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- In 2010, Riverdale passed an ordinance aiming to reduce single-use plastic bag consumption by 75% within ten years.
- As part of the ordinance, the city distributed 50,000 reusable cloth bags to residents in 2012.
- A 2020 municipal report recorded an 80% decline in plastic bag litter compared with 2010 levels.
- Local retailers have purchased 90% fewer plastic bags annually since 2010.
The student wants to emphasize the success of Riverdale’s plastic-bag-reduction policy. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, first underline or restate the goal in the question (here, “emphasize the success of the policy”). Then, scan the notes for (1) the statement of the policy and its goal, and (2) the strongest, most direct evidence that the goal was met, usually numerical results or clear outcomes. Eliminate choices that only mention actions without outcomes, outcomes without clearly supporting the stated goal, or wording (like contrast transitions) that weakens the emphasis. Pick the option that most directly links the policy to a clear, positive result and frames it as evidence of success.
Hints
Restate the goal in your own words
The student wants to show that the policy worked well, not just describe what happened. Keep that in mind as you compare answer choices.
Look for cause and effect
Which notes describe the policy itself, and which notes report what happened afterward? A strong answer will connect these two: policy (cause) and result (effect).
Check for strong, positive evidence
Among the notes, which details give clear numerical evidence that plastic bag use or litter went down? Focus on choices that use those numbers to support the idea of success, not just change or timing.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify the task
The question asks which sentence will emphasize the success of Riverdale’s plastic-bag-reduction policy.
So you need a choice that:
- Mentions the policy itself, and
- Shows clear evidence that it worked (a positive result).
Scan the notes for policy and outcome
From the notes:
- The policy: a 2010 ordinance to reduce single-use plastic bags by 75% within ten years.
- Possible evidence of success: large reductions by 2020, like the 80% decline in plastic bag litter or 90% fewer plastic bags purchased by retailers.
The best sentence will connect a description of the policy with one of these strong numerical results.
Evaluate how each option treats success
Ask of each answer: Does it both (1) clearly reference the policy and its goal, and (2) present a measurable outcome that shows the goal was met or exceeded, with wording that highlights, not downplays, success?
- Some options mention only actions taken (like handing out bags) with no result.
- Some mention results but don’t clearly connect them to the policy, or use contrast words that weaken the idea of success.
- Only one fully and clearly ties the policy and its goal to a strong outcome and directly frames that as evidence of success.
Identify the best choice
The best answer is: In 2010, Riverdale passed an ordinance to cut single-use plastic bag consumption by 75%, and a 2020 report showed an 80% decline in plastic bag litter, demonstrating the policy’s success.
This sentence explicitly states the policy and its target (75% reduction) and then reports a result that exceeds that target (80% decline), and it directly labels this as proof of “the policy’s success,” which is exactly what the question asks you to emphasize.