Question 5·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Photography was invented in the early 19th century.
- The daguerreotype, introduced in 1839, was the first practical photographic process.
- Daguerreotypes produced sharp images but required long exposure times.
- In 1888, George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera, which used roll film.
- The Kodak camera made photography affordable and accessible to amateurs.
The student wants to highlight George Eastman’s role in making photography more accessible. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, first restate the task in your own words (what exactly is the writer trying to emphasize?). Then scan the notes and mark the ones that directly support that specific goal, paying attention to names, actions, and results (like making something cheaper or more available). Finally, pick the answer that uses only the most relevant note(s) and clearly matches the goal, while eliminating any options that are merely background, too general, or focused on different details.
Hints
Focus on the exact goal
Underline the words in the question that state the goal: highlight George Eastman’s role in making photography more accessible. Your answer must directly address both his name and his impact.
Use the most relevant notes
From the notes, find the bullets that mention George Eastman and any change in who could use photography (for example, regular people instead of professionals).
Eliminate off-topic choices
Cross out any answer choices that only talk about daguerreotypes, long exposure times, or general 19th-century technology, since those do not describe George Eastman’s specific contribution.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the student’s goal
The question says the student wants to highlight George Eastman’s role in making photography more accessible. So your answer must:
- Mention George Eastman, and
- Emphasize that he helped make photography more accessible/affordable to ordinary people.
Locate relevant notes
Look back at the bullet points and find the ones about George Eastman and accessibility:
- One note mentions that in 1888, George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera, which used roll film.
- Another note explains that the Kodak camera made photography affordable and accessible to amateurs. These two notes together explain both who he is and how he made photography more accessible.
Check each answer choice against the goal
Now compare each option to the goal:
- Choice A talks about early photography and daguerreotypes, not George Eastman or accessibility.
- Choice B talks about daguerreotypes and long exposure times, not Eastman or accessibility.
- Choice D talks generally about 19th-century technological innovations, not Eastman or making photography accessible. Only one option actually uses the notes about George Eastman’s Kodak camera and explains that it made photography affordable and accessible to amateurs. That option is the correct answer: George Eastman’s 1888 Kodak camera, which used roll film, made photography affordable and accessible to amateurs.