Question 175·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Harriet Tubman served as a scout and spy for the Union Army.
- In June 1863, Tubman helped plan and lead the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina.
- The raid freed more than 700 enslaved people.
- It was the first military operation in United States history to be led by a woman.
- Tubman’s intelligence work allowed Union forces to destroy vital Confederate supply depots along the river.
The student wants to highlight Tubman’s groundbreaking leadership during the raid. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis, underline the goal language (here, “groundbreaking leadership during the raid”). Then select the notes that match that goal (a historic first + leading the raid) and choose the option that states those points clearly and prominently, eliminating options that focus on background details instead.
Hints
Restate the goal in your own words
The best sentence must emphasize Tubman’s leadership and explain what made it groundbreaking (something historically first or unprecedented).
Locate the “groundbreaking” note
Which bullet point signals that Tubman’s role in the raid was a first in U.S. history? The best choice should clearly include that idea.
Check each option for focus
Prefer the option that stays centered on the raid and Tubman’s leadership in it, not one that mostly emphasizes general background (like being a scout or spy).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the goal
The goal is to highlight Tubman’s groundbreaking leadership during the raid.
So the best choice should (1) emphasize leadership in the raid and (2) show what made it groundbreaking (a first-of-its-kind achievement).
Find the most relevant notes
The notes most directly tied to the goal are:
- Tubman helped plan and lead the Combahee River Raid (leadership).
- It was the first U.S. military operation led by a woman (groundbreaking).
Eliminate choices that miss the “groundbreaking leadership” focus
- Option 1 emphasizes intelligence and guiding troops, not her groundbreaking leadership as a historic first.
- Option 2 mentions planning/leading and the raid’s outcome, but it omits the key “first woman to lead a U.S. military operation” detail.
- Option 3 focuses on her service as a scout and spy and mentions planning, but it does not highlight her leadership as a historic first.
Select the choice that directly meets the goal
Option 4 directly states that Tubman was the first woman to lead a U.S. military operation and that she helped plan and lead the June 1863 Combahee River Raid, which best matches the goal.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
As the first woman to lead a U.S. military operation, Harriet Tubman helped plan and lead the June 1863 Combahee River Raid in South Carolina.