SAT Rhetorical Synthesis
Use information from a student's notes to write a sentence that accomplishes a specific goal.
Also known as: student notes questions, accomplish this goal.
Key ideas
- Read the goal before the notes.
- Every choice may be accurate; only one meets the goal (emphasize, compare, introduce, explain…).
- Check that the choice includes everything the goal requires, e.g. both items in a comparison.
Goal first
The question tells you the student's aim: emphasize a difference, introduce the study to an unfamiliar audience, present a finding. Underline the key verb and any details (e.g. the year, the location).
Test each choice against the goal
Don't judge choices by the notes; they're all drawn from the notes. Judge them by whether they do the specific job. A choice that emphasizes a similarity fails a goal that asks for a difference.
Worked examples
Example 1 · Emphasize a difference
Notes: Species A lives 5 years; Species B lives 50 years. Goal: emphasize the difference in lifespan.
- Step 1.Choose the sentence that contrasts the two lifespans directly.
Answer: Species B can live ten times longer than Species A: 50 years compared with 5.
Example 2 · Introduce to a new audience
Goal: introduce the scientist to an audience unfamiliar with her.
- Step 1.The sentence should identify who she is (field, nationality, role), not assume prior knowledge.
Answer: Choose the choice that describes her before her work.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the most detailed option instead of the one that meets the goal.
- Missing a required element (e.g., only one of two items being compared).
- Ignoring the audience ("unfamiliar with") in the goal.
Try it yourself
Original practice questions. Your answer is checked instantly.
The student wants to emphasize how long the Great Pyramid held its record for height. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The student wants to identify the plant from which maize was developed. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?