Q17

[romanmuffin]

Can someone explain to me why E is incorrect? Is it because the examples of "elaborate tattoo" or a "decorated shield" are not specific as the answer choice states? I can see why answer C fits, but I felt E was a clearer, precise answer.

Thanks so much in advance

[timmydoeslsat]

Good question.

We need to think about what did the author even put pen to paper for this third paragraph.

One of the author's issues is that by scholars limiting their studies to the solicited-translated-recorded life histories of Native Americans, they are not considering the other ways in which Native Americans communicated personal history.

The third paragraph is showing examples of the shields and tattoos that Native Americans would have that were autobiographical.

[jewels0602]

Can someone explain to me why E is incorrect? Is it because the examples of "elaborate tattoo" or a "decorated shield" are not specific as the answer choice states? I can see why answer C fits, but I felt E was a clearer, precise answer.

Thanks so much in advance

I had it down to C and E as well. What makes C the clear winner is that when you link up the answer choices to what actually happens in the passage, the 'general' words of E don't match up.

E says the third paragraph enumerates specific instances in which a phenomenon recurred
I linked it back to the passage asking, what phenomenon recurred? Is the author really talking about some type of recurring happening/events? Well... not really, the author is talking about the different ideas/assumptions that ground the autobiography within Native American and European context.

C says the third paragraph provides examples that support an argument
Alright, so what's the argument? The argument is that the underlying assumptions are different and the author uses this paragraph to show how something biographical can be discerned from shield and teepee... these 'general' words fit in much better with the passage.

[ReginaP412]

still unsure why E is wrong... Both E & C feel equally valid

C - argument - scholars didn't pay enough attention to the other mechanisms of NA autobiographies and here's all the info they are missing out on...

E - 'phenomenon' - NA autobiographies... the paragraph literally just lists one instance after another.

[Misti Duvall]

still unsure why E is wrong... Both E & C feel equally valid

C - argument - scholars didn't pay enough attention to the other mechanisms of NA autobiographies and here's all the info they are missing out on...

E - 'phenomenon' - NA autobiographies... the paragraph literally just lists one instance after another.

Hi! Sorry about the delay in answering.

I agree "phenomenon" by itself could possibly work here. I think "recurred" is a stronger reason for eliminating answer choice (E). The author included the third paragraph to provide examples that illustrate the larger argument the passage makes about Native American autobiographies. That argument has much more to do with how those autobiographies were constructed than whether or how any phenomenon recurred.

Hope this helps.