Passage Discussion

[soyeonjeon]

Can one of the forum experts please help me out and check if my passage map is sound? or post a passage map done by Manhattan LSAT?

Thanks in advance.

P1: Gives background information.
Asks the question why Their Eyes, a work now viewed successful, was ever relegated to the margins of the literary canon.

P2: States that initially Their Eyes received the mixture of positive and negative reviews and gives examples of each.
Answers the question in the last sentence of the paragraph.

P3: Explains how and due to what reasons Their Eyes came to be rediscovered.

Main Point: Most critics’ and readers’ expectations of black literature rendered them unable to appreciate Hurston’s subtle delineation of the life of an ordinary black woman in a black community, and the novel went quietly out of print.

[tommywallach]

Hey Soyeon,

Some great work here, but a couple of important errors as well.

First and foremost, your main idea is wrong, and this is CRITICAL. Also, I notice you're still quoting the passage in your map. NEVER quote the passage. Everything should be coming out of your own head. The main idea is often not stated directly, so you have to find it yourself.

In this case:

Main Idea: ZNH's book was marginalized/criticized before it was accepted into the canon.

P1: Background on ZNH book
P2: Reasons it was marginalized
P3: Reasons it found acceptance

I want you to try to write significantly less in your outline. P1 should just say "gives background information," and then ignore the whole long sentence you wrote after that. Your take on the second paragraph is too focused on content, and ends up being wrong. The main point of the second paragraph is DEFINITELY NOT to describe both positive and negative reviews; it's to explain why the book wasn't immediately accepted into the canon. Your take on paragraph 3 is perfect, in both length and content.

Hope that helps!

-t

[soyeonjeon]

Thank you. It is of an incredible help.

Best