Digital SATReading and Writing: Craft and StructureMedium
A historian is writing an essay arguing that the invention of the printing press profoundly altered the social and political landscape of Europe. To best support this claim, which of the following approaches to structuring the argument would be most effective?
- AAnalysis of the printing press's impact on literacy, religious reform, and dissemination of political ideas.
- BComparison of printing press technology with earlier forms of manuscript production.
- CChronological recounting of major European events from 1400 to 1800.
- DDetailed biography of Johannes Gutenberg and his contributions to printing.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Analysis of the printing press's impact on literacy, religious reform, and dissemination of political ideas.
To argue that the printing press 'profoundly altered' the landscape, the essay needs to analyze its specific impacts on key areas like literacy, religion, and politics, directly addressing the 'alteration' aspect of the claim.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Comparing technologies explains *how* the printing press worked but not its *profound alterations* to society and politics.
- C. While chronological context is helpful, merely recounting events doesn't directly prove the *impact* of the printing press.
- D. A biography of Gutenberg focuses on the inventor, not the broad societal changes caused by the invention itself.
Argument Structure: Cause and Effect
An organizational pattern that presents a cause and then its resulting effects, or vice versa, to demonstrate relationships.
- Clearly links actions or events to their outcomes.
- Often used in historical or scientific explanations.
- Requires evidence for both the cause and the effect.
Memory trick: Structure guides the reader, making your point clear.