Question 143·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- John Muir (1838–1914) was a Scottish-born naturalist and writer.
- He first traveled through Yosemite Valley in 1868.
- Muir wrote in a letter, “No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. . . . It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.”
- He tirelessly advocated for the preservation of Yosemite, and his efforts helped lead to the establishment of Yosemite National Park in 1890.
The student wants to highlight both Muir’s admiration for Yosemite and his role in its protection. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, mark each required element in the goal (here: admiration and protection). Then check each option: it must satisfy every required element and must not distort what the notes say. Prefer the option that uses only the most relevant note details without adding unnecessary or misleading claims.
Hints
Restate the writing goal
Underline the two parts of the goal: Muir’s admiration for Yosemite and his role in its protection. The best choice must clearly include both.
Match each part to a specific note
Use the quote for admiration and the note about advocating/preservation (and the 1890 national park result) for protection.
Watch for subtle misuse of the notes
A tempting wrong choice may include the quote and mention the park but distort the relationship (for example, claiming a letter directly established the park).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the two required ideas
The sentence must do both of the following:
- Show Muir’s admiration for Yosemite.
- Show Muir’s role in protecting/preserving Yosemite.
Find the matching notes
From the notes:
- Admiration: Muir wrote that “No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. . . .”
- Protection: He “tirelessly advocated for the preservation of Yosemite,” helping lead to Yosemite National Park in 1890.
Eliminate choices that miss a requirement or misuse notes
- The option beginning “After tirelessly advocating...” focuses on protection but doesn’t show admiration.
- The option beginning “In 1868...” shows admiration but doesn’t mention preservation/advocacy.
- The option beginning “Muir wrote that...” (with “directly established”) incorrectly claims the letter itself established the park; the notes say his efforts helped lead to the park’s establishment.
Select the option that meets both goals accurately
The best choice is:
“John Muir wrote that “no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite” and advocated for its preservation, helping it become a national park in 1890.”