While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Conventional academic symposiums are characterized by solo presentations given by...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Conventional academic symposiums are characterized by solo presentations given by researchers to seated attendees in university auditoriums.
- These symposiums are frequently held at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, and the Sorbonne.
- Professors Maria Santos and David Kim initiated the collaborative Dialogue Forum series in 2018.
- The Dialogue Forum facilitates intimate group conversations in various community locations, such as cafes, libraries, and outdoor areas.
- The Dialogue Forum functions on a flexible timeline, conducting sessions during 2018, 2020-21, 2023, with additional events scheduled for 2025-26.
The student aims to highlight a distinction between the Dialogue Forum and conventional symposiums. Which option most successfully employs pertinent details from the notes to achieve this objective?
In contrast to conventional symposiums, the Dialogue Forum facilitates intimate group conversations in various community locations on a flexible timeline.
Professors Maria Santos and David Kim initiated the Dialogue Forum series in 2018, which has functioned during 2018, 2020-21, 2023, with additional events scheduled for 2025-26.
Conventional academic symposiums typically showcase solo researcher presentations in university auditoriums, rather than intimate group conversations in diverse community locations.
Symposiums take place at Harvard, Oxford, and the Sorbonne, while the Dialogue Forum has additionally utilized cafes, libraries, and outdoor areas.
Looking at this Rhetorical Synthesis question, I need to help a student understand how to identify which choice best uses the research notes to show the distinction between two symposium formats.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Conventional academic symposiums are characterized by solo presentations given by researchers to seated attendees in university auditoriums. |
|
| These symposiums are frequently held at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, and the Sorbonne. |
|
| Professors Maria Santos and David Kim initiated the collaborative Dialogue Forum series in 2018. |
|
| The Dialogue Forum facilitates intimate group conversations in various community locations, such as cafes, libraries, and outdoor areas. |
|
| The Dialogue Forum functions on a flexible timeline, conducting sessions during 2018, 2020-21, 2023, with additional events scheduled for 2025-26. |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes contrast conventional academic symposiums with the alternative Dialogue Forum format.
Argument Flow: The notes first establish the characteristics of traditional symposiums (solo presentations in university settings at prestigious institutions), then introduce an alternative format (the Dialogue Forum) that differs in interaction style (group conversations), location (community spaces), and scheduling approach (flexible timeline).
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer should draw a clear contrast between the two formats using specific details from the notes
- It should highlight key differences like presentation style (solo vs group), location type (university vs community), or scheduling approach
- The answer should show how the Dialogue Forum differs from conventional symposiums rather than just describing one format
In contrast to conventional symposiums, the Dialogue Forum facilitates intimate group conversations in various community locations on a flexible timeline.
✓ Correct
- Creates direct contrast with "In contrast to conventional symposiums"
- Uses specific details: "intimate group conversations" vs solo presentations, "various community locations" vs university auditoriums
- Includes "flexible timeline" detail that shows another distinction
- Employs multiple pertinent details from the notes to achieve the goal
Professors Maria Santos and David Kim initiated the Dialogue Forum series in 2018, which has functioned during 2018, 2020-21, 2023, with additional events scheduled for 2025-26.
✗ Incorrect
- Only provides information about the Dialogue Forum (founders, timeline)
- Doesn't mention conventional symposiums at all
- Fails to highlight any distinction between the two formats
Conventional academic symposiums typically showcase solo researcher presentations in university auditoriums, rather than intimate group conversations in diverse community locations.
✗ Incorrect
- Only describes conventional symposiums
- Mentions the contrast elements but doesn't actually present the Dialogue Forum as the alternative
- Doesn't show the distinction - just states what conventional symposiums do "rather than" something else
Symposiums take place at Harvard, Oxford, and the Sorbonne, while the Dialogue Forum has additionally utilized cafes, libraries, and outdoor areas.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses narrowly on just location differences
- Misses other key distinctions like presentation format (solo vs group conversations)
- Uses less comprehensive details compared to choice A