While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:While researching a topic, a student has taken the following...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Maika'i Tubbs is a Native Hawaiian sculptor and installation artist.
- His work has been shown in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Germany, among other places.
- Many of his sculptures feature discarded objects.
- His work Erasure (2008) includes discarded audiocassette tapes and magnets.
- His work Home Grown (2009) includes discarded pushpins, plastic plates and forks, and wood.
The student wants to emphasize a similarity between the two works. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Erasure (2008) uses discarded objects such as audiocassette tapes and magnets; Home Grown (2009), however, includes pushpins, plastic plates and forks, and wood.
Tubbs's work, which often features discarded objects, has been shown both within the United States and abroad.
Like many of Tubbs's sculptures, both Erasure and Home Grown include discarded objects: Erasure uses audiocassette tapes, and Home Grown uses plastic forks.
Tubbs completed Erasure in 2008 and Home Grown in 2009.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Maika'i Tubbs is a Native Hawaiian sculptor and installation artist. |
|
| His work has been shown in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Germany, among other places. |
|
| Many of his sculptures feature discarded objects. |
|
| His work Erasure (2008) includes discarded audiocassette tapes and magnets. |
|
| His work Home Grown (2009) includes discarded pushpins, plastic plates and forks, and wood. |
|
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? The question asks which choice most effectively emphasizes a similarity between Erasure and Home Grown
- What type of answer do we need? We need to identify what these two works have in common and find the choice that best highlights this shared characteristic
- Any limiting keywords? None specified
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Both Erasure and Home Grown share a clear similarity: they both use discarded objects
- Erasure uses discarded audiocassette tapes and magnets, while Home Grown uses discarded pushpins, plastic plates and forks
- The right answer should explicitly state this similarity and provide specific examples to support it
Erasure (2008) uses discarded objects such as audiocassette tapes and magnets; Home Grown (2009), however, includes pushpins, plastic plates and forks, and wood.
- Uses contrasting language like however which emphasizes differences rather than similarities
- Does not accomplish the goal of emphasizing what the works share
Tubbs's work, which often features discarded objects, has been shown both within the United States and abroad.
- Focuses on where Tubbs work has been shown rather than the specific similarity between Erasure and Home Grown
- Does not address the two specific works the question asks about
Like many of Tubbs's sculptures, both Erasure and Home Grown include discarded objects: Erasure uses audiocassette tapes, and Home Grown uses plastic forks.
- Explicitly states the similarity - both Erasure and Home Grown include discarded objects - and provides specific examples from each work to support this shared characteristic
- This directly accomplishes the goal of emphasizing similarity
Tubbs completed Erasure in 2008 and Home Grown in 2009.
- Only mentions the completion dates of the two works
- Provides no information about similarities in content, materials, or approach
- Completely fails to address the rhetorical goal