Question 74·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Fallingwater (1937), a residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, integrates the structure with its wooded site and features terraces cantilevered above a waterfall.
- The house incorporates locally quarried stone to blend with the surroundings.
- Johnson Wax Headquarters (1939), also designed by Wright, contains large open workspaces supported by slender dendriform (tree-like) columns.
- The mushroom-shaped columns and glass tubing ceiling evoke lily pads and the filtered light of a forest canopy.
- Both buildings reveal Wright's interest in drawing inspiration from natural forms.
The student wants to highlight how Wright incorporated nature into both buildings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions where a student wants to make a specific point using notes, first underline the exact goal words in the prompt (here, “how Wright incorporated nature into both buildings”). Then scan the notes and quickly mark only the details that match that goal. Next, eliminate any answer choices that (1) don’t cover the full scope (such as mentioning only one building when the goal says “both”) or (2) include details that don’t support the goal (like dates or unrelated structural facts). Choose the option that is both accurate to the notes and most directly aligned with the stated goal.
Hints
Restate the writing goal
Ask yourself: what exactly does the student want to show about Wright’s buildings? Focus on the key words in the question: how he incorporated nature into both buildings.
Locate nature-related details in the notes
Look back at the notes and find the phrases that describe natural features or forms in Fallingwater and in Johnson Wax Headquarters. What natural images or materials are mentioned for each?
Match scope and purpose
Eliminate any option that talks about only one building or that doesn’t really say anything about nature. Then choose the option that clearly connects each building to nature using the notes.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the student’s goal
The question states that the student wants to highlight how Wright incorporated nature into both buildings. So the correct sentence must:
- Talk about both Fallingwater and Johnson Wax Headquarters.
- Emphasize nature or natural inspiration in the designs.
- Use information that appears in the notes.
Pull out the relevant information from the notes
From the notes, focus on what shows nature in each building:
- Fallingwater: integrates with its wooded site; terraces cantilevered above a waterfall; locally quarried stone to blend with surroundings.
- Johnson Wax Headquarters: dendriform (tree-like) columns; features that evoke lily pads and filtered forest-canopy light.
A strong sentence should connect these nature-based details for both buildings.
Eliminate choices that miss the scope or goal
Eliminate any option that:
- Describes only one building (too narrow), or
- Gives neutral facts (like dates) without showing nature-inspired design.
Choose the option that connects both buildings to nature
The best choice is the one that mentions both buildings and links each to a natural element described in the notes:
In both buildings, Wright draws on nature: Fallingwater cantilevers over a waterfall, and Johnson Wax uses lily pad–like columns.