While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:African American women played prominent roles in the Civil Rights...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- African American women played prominent roles in the Civil Rights Movement, including at the famous 1963 March on Washington.
- Civil rights activist Anna Hedgeman, one of the march's organizers, was a political adviser who had worked for President Truman.
- Civil rights activist Daisy Bates was a well-known journalist and advocate for school desegregation.
- Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman was included in the lineup of speakers at the march.
- Bates was the sole woman to speak, delivering a brief but memorable address to the cheering crowd.
The student wants to compare the two women's contributions to the March on Washington. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Hedgeman and Bates contributed to the march in different ways; Bates, for example, delivered a brief but memorable address.
Hedgeman worked in politics and helped organize the march, while Bates was a journalist and school desegregation advocate.
Although Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman speaker was included, Bates was the sole woman to speak at the march.
Many African American women, including Bates and Hedgeman, fought for civil rights, but only one spoke at the march.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "African American women played prominent roles in the Civil Rights Movement, including at the famous 1963 March on Washington." |
|
| "Civil rights activist Anna Hedgeman, one of the march's organizers, was a political adviser who had worked for President Truman." |
|
| "Civil rights activist Daisy Bates was a well-known journalist and advocate for school desegregation." |
|
| "Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman was included in the lineup of speakers at the march." |
|
| "Bates was the sole woman to speak, delivering a brief but memorable address to the cheering crowd." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes detail how two prominent African American women, Anna Hedgeman and Daisy Bates, made distinct but complementary contributions to the 1963 March on Washington.
Argument Flow: The notes first establish that African American women were important in the Civil Rights Movement and March on Washington. They then introduce two specific women with their general backgrounds and roles. Finally, they explain each woman's particular contribution to the march—Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to ensure a woman could speak, while Bates was that woman who delivered the speech.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student wants to compare the two women's contributions to the March on Washington specifically.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that effectively shows both women's contributions and how they relate to each other—either similar or different ways they contributed.
Any limiting keywords? "Compare" is key—we need to show both women's contributions in relation to each other, and "most effectively uses relevant information from the notes" means we need to use the specific details provided.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should mention both women's specific contributions to the March on Washington (not just their general backgrounds)
- It should show how their contributions relate to each other—whether they were similar or different
- It should use the specific details from the notes about what each woman actually did for the march
- From our analysis, Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to ensure a woman speaker was included, while Bates was that woman who actually spoke
- These are complementary but different types of contributions
- The right answer should show both women's specific march contributions and highlight how they worked in different but related ways
Hedgeman and Bates contributed to the march in different ways; Bates, for example, delivered a brief but memorable address.
✗ Incorrect
- States they contributed "in different ways" but only gives Bates' example
- Doesn't mention Hedgeman's specific contribution to the march
- Incomplete comparison since it only details one person's contribution
Hedgeman worked in politics and helped organize the march, while Bates was a journalist and school desegregation advocate.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on their general backgrounds and roles (politics vs journalism)
- Doesn't mention their specific contributions to the March on Washington
- Misses the point about what they actually did for the march itself
Although Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman speaker was included, Bates was the sole woman to speak at the march.
✓ Correct
- Shows both women's specific contributions to the march
- Creates a clear contrast: Hedgeman's behind-the-scenes work vs Bates' speaking role
- Uses the exact relevant details from the notes about their march contributions
- Shows how their efforts were complementary—Hedgeman ensured a woman could speak, Bates was that speaker
Many African American women, including Bates and Hedgeman, fought for civil rights, but only one spoke at the march.
✗ Incorrect
- Too general—mentions "many African American women" rather than focusing on the comparison
- Only mentions that one spoke, doesn't detail their different contributions
- This trap represents students who might choose this because it acknowledges both women fought for civil rights, but it doesn't effectively compare their specific march contributions