Overall structure | The Complete SAT Course - Class 10 PDF Download

What's on the test?

In the official SAT exam, it is common to encounter 1-2 questions that inquire about the overall structure of the passage. These questions specifically address the flow and progression of ideas in the text.

Examples of such questions include:

• Which option best characterizes the overall structure of the passage?
• Throughout the passage, there is a shift in focus from...

Your task will involve identifying how ideas are organized and connected within the passage's flow.

Common errors

Incorrect choices in overall structure questions are frequently a result of the following errors:

• Near misses: Wrong choices often appear to be almost correct or partially correct, but they contain one or two words that invalidate the entire choice. In other words, these choices render the entire answer wrong. For instance, a wrong choice might accurately describe the first part of the passage but inaccurately describe the focus of the second part. Alternatively, it might grasp the basic idea of the passage but utilize words that are excessively strong or extreme and lack support. To avoid these errors, it is essential to read the choices carefully and thoroughly.
• Unsupported claims: Wrong choices often present statements that may "sound good" or "make sense," but they go beyond the actual content of the passage and introduce ideas that are not directly addressed. The correct answers to overall structure questions concentrate on the main ideas presented in the passage without extending beyond it.
• Too narrow: Ensure that the answer you select describes the overall structure of the text rather than just a specific part of it. Incorrect choices that are too narrow tend to focus on minor details and fail to identify the broader point or overarching structure of the passage.

Tips and strategies

1. Engage in active reading!

• Summarizing the passage as you read is one of the most effective ways to enhance reading comprehension. By expressing the main idea of each paragraph in your own words, you will develop a better understanding of the overall structure of the passage. If you have been underlining or taking notes while reading, those annotations will assist you in tracing the progression of ideas throughout the text.

2. Examine the foundational elements of the passage

Especially in non-fiction and expository writing, such as social science passages, central ideas often have specific placements within the text.

• The thesis statement, which summarizes the primary argument of the passage, typically appears in the initial sentences.
• A topic sentence, which describes the main subject of a paragraph, is usually found at the beginning of that paragraph.
• The concluding paragraph frequently restates the main point of the passage by summarizing the preceding content.

When you need to track the development of ideas in a passage, these locations should be your initial focus. You should be able to utilize these "bones" to describe the overall structure.

3. Simplify concepts

• Determining the overall structure of a passage entails simplifying the specific details into a general framework. Rather than fixating on intricate details, focus on the general "shape" of the text. How do the ideas within the passage interact? Do they agree, disagree, or build upon one another?
• By concentrating on these broader relationships instead of getting lost in the details, you will gain a better understanding of how the passage progresses and identify shifts in focus more effectively.