Foundations: Craft and Structure Flashcards
What are “words in context” questions?
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will ask you to select the most logical and precise word or phrase in a given context.
How to approach words in context questions?
Step 1: Summarize the text in your own words
Don’t just skim the text. Read it closely, and try to summarize the main idea in your own words. This can be tricky, since an important word is likely missing. If you’re struggling to understand the text, try and translate each idea into a simple bullet point.
Step 2: Identify the key word, phrase, or idea
Often, there will be one word or phrase in the text that has nearly the same meaning as the correct answer.
Step 3: Select the word that matches
If a choice changes the meaning of the text, or introduces a new idea or perspective, then it’s not the most precise word in context. Only one of the choices will match and emphasize the idea being expressed in the text. You can select that choice with confidence!
What are the top tips when solving words in context questions?
1) Charge it (+/-)
Sometimes connotation alone is enough to answer a words in context question. Is the text expressing something positive? If so, we can eliminate any choices that are too negative or neutral.
ex:
-The basketball star’s promising play this season suggests a bright future.
-The dark, ominous clouds on the horizon suggest a storm is coming.
Based on context clues like “bright” and “storm”, it’s clear where the positive and negative words are most appropriate.
2) Avoid unknowns
Eliminate what you can from the words you do know
Select an option from what remains.
Note: The only time you should select a word you don’t know is if you can confidently eliminate all of the other choices.
What are “text structure and purpose” questions?
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will present a short text for you to read. The question will then ask you to identify the main purpose or overall structure of the text.
How to approach text structure and purpose questions?
Step 1: Identify the task
The first thing you should do is glance at the question to see if it asks about “overall structure” or “main purpose”. While structure and purpose are closely linked, you may find it helpful to read the passage while focusing on just the one the question asks about.
Step 2: Summarize the text
Read the passage closely and summarize the ideas you encounter. Try to boil the whole text down to one or two simple points. You already know whether the question asks about structure or purpose, so keep that in focus as you form your summary.
Step 3: Test the choices
Compare your summary to each of the choices. While a summary isn’t exactly the same as a structure or purpose, you should find a significant resemblance. One of the choices should jump out as the most clearly linked to your summary. You can select this choice with confidence!
What are the Top tips when solving “text structure and purpose” questions?
1) Stay specific
Don’t stray beyond the focus of the text. Eliminate choices that describe a purpose or structure that introduces information not directly addressed in the passage. Likewise, avoid choices that shift or blur the purpose of a text by emphasizing details that aren’t a central focus.
2) Be strict
Choices in structure questions often break the text into two parts. Make sure the description of both parts of the text is accurate. If a choice correctly describes the first part of the text, but doesn’t feel quite as accurate for the second part, eliminate that choice. Every part of the answer needs to accurately describe the text.
3) Lean on transitions
Transitions like “however” and “therefore” contribute significantly to the structure of a text by showing how one idea flows into the next. Take note of any transition words you encounter while reading; these can be very helpful when trying to map out the structure of the text.
What are “part-to-whole relationships” questions? How is it different from other text structure and purpose questions?
Some questions will require you to read a short text with one underlined sentence. The question will then ask you to identify the function of the underlined sentence within the text as a whole. while other text structure and purpose questions focus on the entire passage, part-to-whole relationships questions require us to focus on one specific part of the text: the underlined portion.
How to approach part-to-whole relationships questions?
Step 1: Summarize the text
Read the passage closely and summarize the ideas you encounter. Try to boil the whole text down to one or two simple points. Give some extra attention to the underlined portion: you know the question will focus on it!
Step 2: Make a prediction
Once you have a firm understanding of the entire passage, you should try to state the function of the underlined portion in your own words.
Step 3: Test the choices
Compare your prediction to each of the choices. Which choice most closely matches your prediction? You can select that choice with confidence!
What are the Top tips when solving part-to-whole relationships questions?
1) Stay within the underline!
Make sure the choice you select applies directly and specifically to the underlined portion. Other choices may correctly identify the function of other sentences within the text, so make sure you’re looking in the right place!
2) Be strict
Eliminate any choices that feel kind of correct, but that contain a detail or two that doesn’t match the text. A choice must be entirely accurate to be the answer.
What are “cross-text connections” questions?
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will present two short texts for you to read. The question will then ask you to compare the points of view of the authors of the two texts.
How to approach cross-text connections questions?
Step 1: Summarize the texts
Read each passage closely and summarize the ideas you encounter. Try to boil each text down to one or two simple points. Give some extra attention to the point of view expressed in each text: you know the question will focus on it!
If a passage introduces a particular person, it’s a good idea to focus on the opinions of that person.
Step 2: Determine the relationship
Now that you have summarized the points of view that the question focuses on, you must determine how those summaries relate to one another.
Do the points of view agree?
Do they disagree?
Does one point of view elaborate on or modify the other?
Step 3: Test the choices
Compare your results to each of the choices. Which choice most closely matches the relationship between points of view that you identified? You can select this choice with confidence!
If you’re still struggling to decide between the choices, try eliminating choices that go beyond what is expressed by the text or that exaggerate how extreme different points of view might be. Remember, the correct answer will be directly supported.
What are the top tips when solving “cross-text connections” questions?
Top tips
1) Look for positives (+) and negatives (–)
Pay attention to the specific words used in a text. Are the words positive, negative, or neutral? Word choice that reveals a particular tone or attitude is highly useful for identifying point of view because it can tell us how the author (or whoever else we’re focused on) feels about the subject being discussed.
2) Stick to the text
Avoid choices that go beyond what’s directly stated in the text. While it might be tempting to infer what an author’s opinion might be, incorrect choices will frequently make claims that are too extreme or that cover cases not explicitly covered in the text. Don’t fall into these traps!
