Question 234·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Grace Hopper (1906–1992) was a computer scientist and a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy.
- She created one of the first computer compilers, a program that translates human-readable code into machine language.
- Hopper is often credited with popularizing the term "debugging" after removing a moth from a malfunctioning computer.
- According to computer historian Paul Ceruzzi, "Hopper's compiler laid the foundation for modern programming languages."
- According to Admiral James Stavridis, "Grace Hopper changed the Navy, the tech industry, and the world."
The student wants to cite a quotation to support a claim that Hopper's work on the compiler was fundamental to the development of modern programming languages. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, first restate the claim in your own words so you know exactly what needs to be proven (who or what, and in what way). Then scan the notes for the single most specific piece of information that matches both the subject and the focus of the claim (here, Hopper’s compiler and its role in modern programming languages). Finally, choose the answer option that uses that specific information and clearly addresses the claim, and eliminate choices that are true but only loosely related, overly general, or about a different aspect of the topic.
Hints
Clarify the goal of the quotation
Focus on the exact claim: it is about Hopper's work on the compiler and its importance to modern programming languages. Any supporting quote must mention both the compiler and its impact on programming languages.
Locate the most relevant bullet point
In the notes, which bullet talks not just about what Hopper did, but about how her compiler affected modern programming languages specifically, rather than computers or the Navy in general?
Check each option against the claim
For each answer choice, ask: Does this directly link Hopper's compiler to being a foundation or key step for modern programming languages, or is it about something else (like her rank, debugging, or broad influence)?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the claim needs
The claim the student wants to support is that Hopper's work on the compiler was fundamental to the development of modern programming languages.
So the supporting quotation must do both of these things:
- Mention Hopper's compiler.
- Emphasize its key role in the development of modern programming languages (not just computers in general, the Navy, or debugging).
Find the most relevant note
Look back at the bullet-point notes and focus on the ones about the compiler and its impact.
From the notes:
- One note says she created one of the first computer compilers.
- Another note quotes computer historian Paul Ceruzzi describing what her compiler did in relation to modern programming languages.
The second of these is more useful because it directly ties her compiler to modern programming languages and sounds like strong evidence.
Match notes to the answer choices
Now compare each answer choice to the notes and to the claim:
- One choice restates that she created an early compiler, but does not say it was fundamental to modern programming languages.
- One choice talks about the term "debugging", which is unrelated to modern programming languages.
- One choice says she "changed the Navy, the tech industry, and the world", which is very broad and not specifically about compilers or programming languages.
- One choice quotes Paul Ceruzzi directly connecting Hopper's compiler to modern programming languages.
The last of these exactly supports the claim; therefore, the correct answer is: “Computer historian Paul Ceruzzi states that Grace Hopper's compiler 'laid the foundation for modern programming languages.'”.