Traditional lecture-based teaching often leaves students passive and disengaged. Researchers at Stanford University noticed this challenge and decided...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Traditional lecture-based teaching often leaves students passive and disengaged. Researchers at Stanford University noticed this challenge and decided to test an alternative approach. They implemented 'active learning' methods in several courses, where students worked in small groups, solved problems together, and participated in discussions rather than just listening to lectures. A 2020 study of these courses showed that student test scores improved by an average of 15 percent compared to traditional lecture sections. Additionally, student attendance and course satisfaction ratings increased significantly.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To argue that active learning methods are superior to all other teaching approaches used in higher education
To describe a teaching innovation implemented at Stanford University and the positive outcomes observed from that innovation
To demonstrate that student engagement in university courses has declined significantly since traditional methods were introduced
To compare active learning techniques used at Stanford with similar methods employed at other research universities
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Traditional lecture-based teaching often leaves students passive and disengaged.' |
|
| 'Researchers at Stanford University noticed this challenge and decided to test an alternative approach.' |
|
| 'They implemented active learning methods in several courses, where students worked in small groups, solved problems together, and participated in discussions rather than just listening to lectures.' |
|
| 'A 2020 study of these courses showed that student test scores improved by an average of 15 percent compared to traditional lecture sections.' |
|
| 'Additionally, student attendance and course satisfaction ratings increased significantly.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Stanford University tested active learning methods as an alternative to traditional lectures and found multiple positive outcomes.
Argument Flow: The passage starts by identifying a problem with traditional teaching methods, then describes how Stanford researchers implemented an alternative approach called active learning, and finally presents evidence showing this innovation produced measurable improvements in student performance and engagement.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? The primary function or goal the author had in writing this passage
Any limiting keywords? 'Main purpose' - we need the overarching reason this text exists, not just a detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should describe Stanford implementing an educational innovation and the positive outcomes that resulted from it
- The passage is fundamentally about describing what happened at Stanford - they tried something new in response to a recognized problem
To argue that active learning methods are superior to all other teaching approaches used in higher education
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text argues active learning is 'superior to all other teaching approaches' but the passage only compares active learning to traditional lectures, not 'all other' approaches
To describe a teaching innovation implemented at Stanford University and the positive outcomes observed from that innovation
✓ Correct
- Accurately captures what the passage does: describes an innovation at Stanford and its positive outcomes
- Matches our passage structure perfectly
To demonstrate that student engagement in university courses has declined significantly since traditional methods were introduced
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text demonstrates that engagement has 'declined significantly since traditional methods were introduced' but the passage provides no historical timeline about when traditional methods started
To compare active learning techniques used at Stanford with similar methods employed at other research universities
✗ Incorrect
- Says the text compares Stanford's methods 'with similar methods employed at other research universities' but the passage makes no mention of other universities