While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Claude McKay (1889–1948) was a Jamaican American writer.Songs of Jamaica...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Claude McKay (1889–1948) was a Jamaican American writer.
- Songs of Jamaica (1912) and Constab Ballads (1912) are two acclaimed poetry collections that McKay published while living in Jamaica.
- McKay moved to Harlem in New York City in 1914.
- He is best known as a poet and novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, a literary and cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s.
- His most famous works include the poetry collection Harlem Shadows (1922) and the novel Home to Harlem (1928).
The student wants to emphasize Claude McKay's accomplishments before moving to Harlem. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Jamaican American writer Claude McKay is the author of works such as Songs of Jamaica (1912), Constab Ballads (1912), Harlem Shadows (1922), and Home to Harlem (1928).
Although he is best known as a Harlem Renaissance writer, Claude McKay had published two acclaimed poetry collections in 1912 while living in Jamaica: Songs of Jamaica and Constab Ballads.
In 1914, Claude McKay moved to Harlem, where he would become known as a poet and novelist of the Harlem Renaissance (a literary and cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s).
Before moving to Harlem, Claude McKay—author of the poetry collection Harlem Shadows (1922) and the novel Home to Harlem (1928)—lived in Jamaica.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Claude McKay (1889–1948) was a Jamaican American writer." |
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| "Songs of Jamaica (1912) and Constab Ballads (1912) are two acclaimed poetry collections that McKay published while living in Jamaica." |
|
| "McKay moved to Harlem in New York City in 1914." |
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| "He is best known as a poet and novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, a literary and cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s." |
|
| "His most famous works include the poetry collection Harlem Shadows (1922) and the novel Home to Harlem (1928)." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes chronicle Claude McKay's literary career from his early acclaimed poetry in Jamaica through his later fame as a key Harlem Renaissance figure.
Argument Flow: The notes establish McKay's biographical basics, then highlight his early poetry success in Jamaica, note his 1914 move to Harlem, and conclude with his better-known Harlem Renaissance achievements that came later in the 1920s.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
The student's goal statement is crucial here: "The student wants to emphasize Claude McKay's accomplishments before moving to Harlem."
- What's being asked? Which choice best emphasizes McKay's pre-Harlem accomplishments
- What type of answer do we need? A sentence that highlights his achievements in Jamaica before 1914
- Any limiting keywords? "before moving to Harlem" - this is a key timing restriction
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
Based on our timeline analysis, McKay's accomplishments BEFORE moving to Harlem in 1914 were the two acclaimed poetry collections he published in Jamaica in 1912: Songs of Jamaica and Constab Ballads. The right answer should:
- Focus specifically on his 1912 poetry collections
- Make clear these were accomplished BEFORE his Harlem period
- Possibly acknowledge that these pre-Harlem works are often overshadowed by his later Harlem Renaissance fame
Jamaican American writer Claude McKay is the author of works such as Songs of Jamaica (1912), Constab Ballads (1912), Harlem Shadows (1922), and Home to Harlem (1928).
✗ Incorrect
- Lists all of McKay's major works chronologically but doesn't distinguish between pre-Harlem and post-Harlem accomplishments
- Treats all works equally rather than emphasizing what he did before moving to Harlem
Although he is best known as a Harlem Renaissance writer, Claude McKay had published two acclaimed poetry collections in 1912 while living in Jamaica: Songs of Jamaica and Constab Ballads.
✓ Correct
- Directly contrasts his earlier Jamaica accomplishments (1912 poetry collections) with his later Harlem Renaissance fame
- The word "Although" sets up the contrast perfectly - he's "best known" for Harlem work BUT "had published" acclaimed work before that
- Specifically names the two 1912 collections and notes they were published "while living in Jamaica"
- This perfectly emphasizes pre-Harlem achievements
In 1914, Claude McKay moved to Harlem, where he would become known as a poet and novelist of the Harlem Renaissance (a literary and cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s).
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on his move TO Harlem and what he became known for there
- Completely ignores his pre-Harlem accomplishments
- This is the opposite of what the student wants to emphasize
Before moving to Harlem, Claude McKay—author of the poetry collection Harlem Shadows (1922) and the novel Home to Harlem (1928)—lived in Jamaica.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions "Before moving to Harlem" but then lists his POST-Harlem works (1922 and 1928)
- This is contradictory and doesn't actually emphasize pre-Harlem accomplishments