How to Solve Text Structure and Purpose Questions | Reading and Writing for Digital SAT PDF Download

The "Text Structure and Purpose" question on the digital SAT is designed to assess analytical skills as students engage with various text passages, requiring them to decipher the passage structure and extract the main rhetorical purpose within a written work.
Text structure and purpose questions delve into understanding beyond the apparent content of a passage. They explore not only the message of the text but also how the text is written (text structure) and why someone wrote it (purpose).

Example Questions:

Distractor Explanations:

• Choice A is incorrect because the passage does not critique or challenge the methods of past studies. It focuses on one piece of research as an instance where expected results were not met, rather than comparing methodologies.
• Choice B is incorrect because, although it addresses the misinterpretation of research outcomes, it doesn't provide any indication that Smith and Johansson's findings are commonly misconstrued.
• Choice C is incorrect because, while it hints at the researchers' intentions, it does not suggest they were directly responding to an established issue in their field; rather, they were testing an assumption.

Tips and Tricks

• Active Reading: Invest time in understanding the passage thoroughly. Visualize the text, connect themes, and recognize any unexpected twists or insights.
• Summarization: Distill the passage into a concise statement, focusing on the central theme and the author's message.
• Predictive Approach: Anticipate the main purpose based on your summary before evaluating the answer choices.
• Detailed Evaluation: Scrutinize each option meticulously, comparing it to the passage's content and your summary.
• Prudent Selection: Choose the option that aligns most closely with the passage's central message and purpose.