Question 220·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has compiled the following notes:
- Mary Anning lived in Lyme Regis, England, from 1799 to 1847.
- At age 12, she unearthed the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton.
- Women were largely excluded from scientific societies in early-19th-century Britain.
- Anning sold fossils to collectors and museums and earned the respect of prominent geologists.
- The Geological Society of London did not admit women until 1904.
The student wants to emphasize how unusual Anning’s scientific accomplishments were for a woman of her era. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to achieve this goal?
For “notes and goal” questions in Expression of Ideas, first restate the goal in your own words (for example, “show why her success was unusual for a woman then”). Next, quickly sort the notes into idea types (e.g., achievements, obstacles, background). Then scan the answer choices and eliminate any that (1) ignore a key part of the goal (such as not mentioning women when the goal is about women), or (2) use only background details. Prefer the choice that combines the most relevant notes and uses clear logical connections (contrast words like “even though,” cause/effect, etc.) to directly accomplish the stated goal in one concise sentence.
Hints
Focus on the specific goal worded in the question
Underline the phrase "how unusual Anning’s scientific accomplishments were for a woman of her era." What two kinds of information do you need to show that something is unusual?
Sort the notes into categories
Look back at the bullet points and decide: which ones show that Anning was scientifically successful, and which ones describe restrictions on women in science at the time?
Match an answer choice to both categories
Choose the option that includes at least one idea about Anning’s scientific recognition or achievements and one idea about how women were treated in scientific fields during that period, ideally with a contrast word like "even though."
Eliminate answers that only talk about one side
Cross out any option that talks only about Anning’s life or work without mentioning women’s situation, or only about women’s exclusion without saying what Anning achieved.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the goal of the question
The prompt says the student wants to emphasize how unusual Anning’s scientific accomplishments were for a woman of her era.
So the best answer must do both of these things:
- Show that Anning had notable scientific success.
- Show that women in her time usually did not have such opportunities or recognition.
Identify the most relevant notes
From the bullet points, separate background details from the ones that help make the “unusual for a woman” point.
Useful for accomplishments:
- "At age 12, she unearthed the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton."
- "Anning sold fossils to collectors and museums and earned the respect of prominent geologists."
Useful for barriers women faced:
- "Women were largely excluded from scientific societies in early-19th-century Britain."
- "The Geological Society of London did not admit women until 1904."
The best answer should combine one idea about her success with one idea about women being excluded.
Check each choice against the goal
Now compare each option with what the question is asking for.
- One choice talks only about her birthplace and fossil discoveries, with no mention of women or barriers.
- Another choice says she sold fossils to collectors and museums, but again says nothing about the situation of women.
- A third choice focuses on the Geological Society’s rule about women, but doesn’t mention Anning’s achievements.
Only one remaining choice connects Anning’s scientific respect from geologists directly with the fact that women were excluded from scientific societies, highlighting how unusual her success was.
Select the answer that combines success and exclusion
The only option that clearly shows both Anning’s scientific recognition and the barrier women faced is:
B) Mary Anning earned the respect of leading geologists even though women were barred from scientific societies during her lifetime.
This contrast (“even though”) directly emphasizes how unusual her accomplishments were for a woman of her era.