Question

Which option best evaluates the author’s use of evidence in paragaph 4?
A. All details provided as evidence are relevant and credibly explained.
B. All details provided as evidence are irrelevant and lack good explanation.
C. Details explaining the way commercials influence the mind are relevant and credibly explained. The detail about the commercial from the author’s childhood is irrelevant.
D. Details explaining the way commercials influence the mind are irrelevant. The detail about the commercial from the author’s childhood is relevant and credibly explained.

Answer 1

I don’t have paragraph 4 to read, so I can’t pick the best choice yet. Could you paste paragraph 4 (or the whole passage)?

If you want to decide on your own, use this quick rubric:
- If all evidence directly supports the author’s claim and is well explained → A.
- If none of the evidence supports the claim or is explained → B.
- If the paragraph contains a solid, well-explained general explanation of how commercials influence people but also a personal childhood anecdote that doesn’t really support the general claim → C.
- If the general explanation is weak but the childhood anecdote is clearly tied to and supports the claim → D.

In many passages where the author gives a credible explanation of advertising effects plus a single personal anecdote, C is the best choice because the anecdote is illustrative but not strong evidence. Paste the paragraph and I’ll pick the correct option.