Question

rhetorical synthesis: medium
while researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
muckrakers were journalists who sought to expose corruption in us
institutions during the progressive era (1897 - 1920).
ida tarbell was a muckraker who investigated the standard oil
company.
she interviewed standard oil company executives, oil industry
workers, and public officials.
she examined thousands of pages of the companys internal
communications, including letters and financial records.
her book the history of the standard oil company (1904) exposed the
companys unfair business practices.
the student wants to emphasize the thoroughness of ida tarbells
investigation of the standard oil company. which choice most effectively
uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
choose 1 answer:
ida tarbell not only interviewed standard oil executives,
oil industry workers, and public officials but also
examined thousands of pages of the companys internal
communications.
as part of her investigations of the standard oil
company, muckraker ida tarbell conducted interviews.
published in 1904, muckraker ida tarbells book the
history of the standard oil company exposed the
companys unfair business practices.
ida tarbell, who investigated the standard oil company,
was a muckraker (a journalist who sought to expose
corruption in us institutions during the progressive era,
1897 - 1920).

Explanation:

The goal is to emphasize the thoroughness of Ida Tarbell's investigation. Option A details her comprehensive methods (interviews and examining documents), which best showcases thoroughness. Option B is too general. Option C focuses on the book's publication and exposure of practices, not the investigation's thoroughness. Option D gives background but doesn't highlight the investigation's depth.

Answer:

A. Ida Tarbell not only interviewed Standard Oil executives, oil industry workers, and public officials but also examined thousands of pages of the company’s internal communications.