SAT Text Structure and Purpose

What are Text Structure and Purpose questions?

Text Structure and Purpose questions test your ability to:

Understand how a text is organized
Identify the author's purpose for including certain information
Recognize how specific sentences or paragraphs contribute to the whole

These questions often ask about the function of a particular part of the passage or why the author included certain details.

Common question formats

You might see questions like:

"The main purpose of the third paragraph (lines 32-45) is to..."
"The author includes the quotation in lines 15-18 primarily to..."
"Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?"

Example Question

[1] The development of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized the spread of information in Europe. [2] Prior to this invention, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them rare and expensive. [3] The printing press allowed for the mass production of texts, dramatically increasing literacy rates. [4] Some scholars argue that this technological advancement was as significant as the invention of the internet in our own time.

Medium

Text Structure and Purpose

The author includes sentence 4 ("Some scholars...time") primarily to

provide a historical analogy that helps readers understand the significance of the printing press
criticize modern technology by comparing it to older inventions
introduce a debate among historians about the impact of the printing press
demonstrate that scholars disagree about the importance of technological progress

Correct answer: A

The author includes the comparison to the internet to help modern readers understand the significance of the printing press by relating it to a familiar technological revolution. The other choices misinterpret the author's purpose.

Strategies for Text Structure and Purpose questions

Identify the context: Look at the sentences before and after the portion in question to understand its role in the passage.
Consider the big picture: Think about how the specific part contributes to the overall purpose of the text.
Watch for signal words: Words like "however," "for example," or "in contrast" can indicate the purpose of a particular section.
Eliminate wrong answers: Cross out choices that are too narrow, too broad, or not supported by the text.