Current feminist theory, in validating womens own stories of their

Main Idea: Oral narrative good but not airtight
P1: Current fem theory -> (oral narratives > written autobio); distinction of oral narratives from standard histories
P2: Caution w/ oral narratives [some bias?]; stories people tell shaped by some factors (examples of factors)
1. The passage is primarily concerned with

(A) contrasting the benefits of one methodology with the benefits of another
The passage is about one methodology. It briefly mentions the “written autobiography” because it says the oral is better than the written autos - then essentially nothing about the written autos after that.

(B) describing the historical origins and inherent drawbacks of a particular methodology
Nothing about the historical origins mentioned here. Maybe some could fall for a story trap with the mention of WW2 in the second paragraph, but that’s to provide an example of a factor pertaining to the orals potential drawbacks. It’s not to describe the historical origins.

(C) discussing the appeal of a particular methodology and some concerns about its use
This is pretty spot on. They say oral > written autos (appeal); mention certain good distinctions (appeal); state to be cautious and provide examples as to why (concerns).

(D) showing that some historians' adoption of a particular methodology has led to criticism of recent historical scholarship
What recent historical scholarship?

(E) analyzing the influence of current feminist views on women's interpretations of their experience
It’s not necessarily current feminist VIEWS. We have a way to VIEW the use of women’s oral narratives as the methodology > use of women’s written autobios. And then further explaining the first why it’s good and some potential drawbacks.

2. According to the passage, which of the following shapes the oral narratives of women storytellers?
“the stories people tell to explain themselves are shaped by narrative devices and storytelling conventions, as well as by other cultural and historical factors, in ways that the storytellers may be unaware of”

(A) The conventions for standard histories in the culture in which a woman storyteller lives
The passage doesn’t actually say anything particular about “standard histories.” I’m not sure why this looked kind of enticing (maybe a lot of familiar words within the passage?), but B is directly supported.

(B) The conventions of storytelling in the culture in which a woman storyteller lives
“shaped by...storytelling conventions, as well as by other cultural...factors, in ways that the storytellers may be unaware of [this last part after the comma alludes to the fact that it may far reaching – more so than the storyteller may be aware of].

(C) A woman storyteller's experience with distinctive traditions of storytelling developed by the women in her family of origin
Family of origin is way too specific here. It can’t be declaratively supported.

(D) The cultural expectations and experiences of those who listen to oral narratives
This isn’t supported. Nothing about the listener.

(E) A woman storyteller's familiarity with the stories that members of other groups in her culture tell to explain themselves
Nothing about familiarity with OTHER groups in her culture tell is said in the passage.

3. The author of the passage would be most likely to make which of the following recommendations to scholars of women's history?
(A) They should take into account their own life experiences when interpreting the oral accounts of women's historical experiences.
NO. This is out of scope. Nothing about taking into account their (the scholars of women’s history) own life experiences.

(B) They should assume that the observations made in women's oral narratives are believed by the intended audience of the story.
Assumptions aren’t made here. This is also out of scope.

(C) They should treat skeptically observations reported in oral narratives unless the observations can be confirmed in standard histories.
Half right half wrong. They should definitely be skeptical (the passage talks about being cautious), but there is no mention of confirmation in standard histories.

(D) They should consider the cultural and historical context in which an oral narrative was created before arriving at an interpretation of such a narrative.
“Scholars should...be as cautious about accepting oral narratives” [then the author starts to talk about some of things to keep in mind, such as] “other cultural and historical factors, in ways that the storytellers may be unaware of” [then gives an example that the] “political rhetoric of a particular era...may influence...interpretations of the significance of their experience”

(E) They should rely on information gathered from oral narratives only when equivalent information is not available in standard histories.
This default way of gathering information isn’t stated. They just said oral > autobios.

4. Which of the following best describes the function of the last sentence of the passage?
[before this sentence, the author tees it up – talks about some factors to consider, then provides a particular example with political stuff and how it may influence women’s interpretations of the significance of their experience] “Thus a woman who views the Second World War as pivotal in increasing the social acceptance of women’s paid work outside the home may reach that conclusion partly and unwittingly because of wartime rhetoric encouraging a positive view of women’s participation in such work.”

(A) It describes an event that historians view as crucial in recent women's history.
Story trap – this could be true. But this isn’t the FUNCTION of the last sentence within the passage. It’s an example and explains how “political rhetoric of a particular era...may influence women’s interpretations of the significance of their experience”

(B) It provides an example of how political rhetoric may influence the interpretations of experience reported in women's oral narratives.
This is almost verbatim what’s mentioned above.

(C) It provides an example of an oral narrative that inaccurately describes women's experience during a particular historical period.
Too strong. Potentially, it’s just a wrong word – “Inaccurately”? How can we be so sure?

(D) It illustrates the point that some women are more aware than others of the social forces that shape their oral narratives.
Story trap – This isn’t the function of the last sentence. Maybe this could be interpreted as the meaning of the sentence itself? But definitely not the FUNCTION of the sentence within the passage. This is a trap because it’s further down in the answer choices, and a test taker may have forgotten what the question was asking at this point.

(E) It identifies the historical conditions that led to the social acceptance of women's paid work outside the home.
Same as D; this isn’t the function of the last sentence. Maybe this could be interpreted as the meaning of the sentence itself? But definitely not the FUNCTION of the sentence within the passage. This is a trap because it’s further down in the answer choices, and a test taker may have forgotten what the question was asking at this point.

5. According to the passage, scholars of women's history should refrain from doing which of the following?
“Scholars of women’s history should, however, be as cautious about accepting oral narratives at face value as they already are about written memories” [AKA just taking it as it is]

(A) Relying on traditional historical sources when women's oral narratives are unavailable
Nothing about traditional historical sources. Or more broadly, the passage does not saying anything about the reliance of using something other than oral narratives when oral narratives aren’t available.

(B) Focusing on the influence of political rhetoric on women's perceptions to the exclusion of other equally important factors
This is too granular. There isn’t a comparison between political rhetoric being under or over explained/influenced.

(C) Attempting to discover the cultural and historical factors that influence the stories women tell
It’s not refraining from attempting to discover these things – it’s to be mindful of them. But even then, the scholars said something very particular about what to be cautious overall about. This is better explained in E.

(D) Assuming that the conventions of women's written autobiographies are similar to the conventions of women's oral narratives
This is what the author wants the scholars to do essentially. The author wants the scholars to refrain from the opposite of this, essentially.

(E) Accepting women's oral narratives less critically than they accept women's written histories
This almost word for word as the quote above. Essentially, don’t take the orals as it is.

6. According to the passage, each of the following is a difference between women's oral narratives and most standard histories EXCEPT:
“Such narratives, unlike most standard histories, represent experience from the perspective of women, affirm the importance of women’s contributions, and furnish present-day women with historical continuity that is essential to their identity, individually and collectively.”

(A) Women's oral histories validate the significance of women's achievements.
affirm the importance of women’s contributions

(B) Women's oral histories depict experience from the point of view of women.
represent experience from the perspective of women

(C) Women's oral histories acknowledge the influence of well-known women.
Nothing about this – “well-known women” (more than enough to pick this answer)

(D) Women's oral histories present today's women with a sense of their historical relationship to women of the past.
furnish present-day women with historical continuity

(E) Women's oral histories are crucial to the collective identity of today's women.
furnish present-day women with historical continuity that is essential to their identity, individually and collectively.