Text structure and purpose

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.
Text structure and purpose questions will look like this:

EXAMPLE
The following text is from Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1910 poem “The Earth’s Entail”.
No matter how we cultivate the land,
Taming the forest and the prairie free;
No matter how we irrigate the sand,
Making the desert blossom at command,
We must always leave the borders of the sea;
The immeasureable reaches
Of the windy wave-wet beaches,
The million-mile-long margin of the sea.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
Choose 1 answer:
A- The speaker provides examples of an admirable way of approaching nature and then challenges that
approach.
B- The speaker describes attempts to control nature and then offers a reminder that not all nature is
controllable.
C- The speaker argues against interfering with nature and then gives evidence supporting this
interference.
D-The speaker presents an account of efforts to dominate nature and then cautions that such efforts are
only temporary.

Explanation:
Let's start by paraphrasing the poem. By putting the text into our own words, we should start to see the
shape and structure behind it. The first four lines follow a consistent pattern, which shows us that
they're linked. However, those lines don't really form a complete thought. Instead, they use the
transition phrase "no matter" to introduce some sort of contrast with whatever idea will follow in the
next part of the poem.
Together the first four lines say something like
Despite the fact that we can control and shape the land...
So what's the follow up? Let's look at the next four lines. They work to emphasize the size and power of
the ocean. Taken together, they last four lines say something like
We can't control the sea.
Put these parts together, and we have the following summary:
Despite the fact that we can control and shape the land, we can't control the sea.
This is the story the poem is trying to tell. It's the shape and structure of the text behind the flowery
language.
Let's look at the choices and see which one matches the structure we've identified:
Choice A says the speaker is focused on whether an approach to nature is "admirable", but the poem
doesn't focus on good or bad. Instead, it focuses on possible or impossible. We can eliminate this
choice.
 Choice C says the speaker argues against interfering with nature, but the poem doesn't say that it's bad
to interfere with nature. Also, notice that the second half of the poem doesn't "[give] evidence
supporting" interference with nature; the second half of the poem argues that interfering with the sea is
impossible. We can eliminate this choice.
Choice D is tempting. The first half of the poem does indeed "[present] an account of efforts to
dominate nature". However, the second half of the poem doesn't say those efforts are "temporary".
Instead, it argues that in some cases it's simply impossible to dominate nature. We can eliminate this
choice.
Only choice B accurate reflects both parts of the poem:
While some nature can be controlled, some nature can't.
Notice how this choice very closely resembles the summary we created. Choice B is the answer.

How should we think about text structure and purpose questions?

Text structure and purpose questions are all about seeing past the surface of a passage. Instead of
just what a text says, these questions dig into why and how the text says it.
Since these questions might ask about purpose or structure, let's look at each in turn.
Purpose
Purpose is the why behind the passage. Why did the author write it? What did they want to accomplish?
What’s the point?
A text's purpose can often be framed using active verbs that demonstrate the goals of the author. Some
examples include
 to explain ______
 to illustrate ______
 to criticize ______
 to argue ______
 to introduce ______
The author wants you to have a particular experience when you read their writing. Maybe they want to
help you understand a new concept, or maybe they want to convince you of something. What
were your takeaways from reading the text? Chances are, those takeaways are closely related to the
text's purpose.
Structure
Structure is how a passage works to achieve its purpose. How does the text flow from one idea to the
next? Where does the author place particular emphasis?
A text's structure can often be described as a sort of motion, following the focus as it shifts from one
place to another.
Separating a text's structure from its content can be difficult, but it often helps to consider how the
ideas within the text relate to one another. Do they disagree? Does one idea cause or build upon
another? These relationships create a shape for the text which serves to support the goals of the author.

How to approach text structure and purpose questions

To solve a text structure and purpose question, consider following these steps:
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.
 Rephrasing things in your own words will give you a strong understanding of what the passage is about,
and this is the first step to understanding the why and how of the text.
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.
A text's purpose will include reference to the main ideas in the passage. A text's structure will often be
made obvious by a straightforward summary.
One of the choices should jump out as the most clearly linked to your summary. You can select this
choice with confidence!

Top tips
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.
Let's look at the choices in our example question:
 Choice A introduces the word "admirable", which makes a judgment about whether these attempts to
control nature are good or bad. But the poem doesn't discuss whether things are good or bad. We can
eliminate this choice.
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.
Let's look at the choices in our example question:
 Choice D describes the first part of the text pretty well. The first four lines of the poem do discuss
"efforts to dominate nature". However, the second half of choice D disqualifies the whole choice; the
poem never claims that anything is "temporary". We can eliminate this choice.

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.
Let's look at the text in our example question:
The text uses the subordinating conjunction "no matter" to link the first half of the poem to the second
half. "No matter" is very similar to "despite" or "regardless", and it very clearly signals that there will be
a contrast between the first half of the poem and the second half. This contrast is reflected in the
correct answer.

Module 1-Q7
In 2007, computer scientist Luis von Ahn was working on converting printed books into a digital
format. He found that some words were distorted enough that digital scanners couldn’t recognize them,
but most humans could easily read them. Based on that finding, von Ahn invented a simple security test
to keep automated “bots” out of websites. The first version of the reCAPTCHA test asked users to type
one known word and one of the many words scanners couldn’t recognize. Correct answers proved the
users were humans and added data to the book-digitizing project.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A. To discuss von Ahn’s invention of reCAPTCHA
B. To explain how digital scanners work
C. To call attention to von Ahn’s book-digitizing project
D. To indicate how popular reCAPTCHA is

Module 1-Q11

The following text is from Maggie Pogue Johnson’s 1910 poem “Poet of Our Race.” In this poem,
the speaker is addressing Paul Laurence Dunbar, a Black author. Thou, with stroke of mighty pen, Hast
told of joy and mirth, And read the hearts and souls of men As cradled from their birth. The language of
the flowers, Thou hast read them all, And e’en the little brook Responded to thy call.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A. To praise a certain writer for being especially perceptive regarding people and nature
B. To establish that a certain writer has read extensively about a variety of topics
C. To call attention to a certain writer’s careful and elaborately detailed writing process
D. To recount fond memories of an afternoon spent in nature with a certain writer

Module 2-Q8
The following text is from Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel Jane Eyre. Jane works as a governess at
Thornfield Hall. I went on with my day’s business tranquilly; but ever and anon vague suggestions kept
wandering across my brain of reasons why I should quit Thornfield; and I kept involuntarily framing
advertisements and pondering conjectures about new situations: these thoughts I did not think to
check; they might germinate and bear fruit if they could.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A. To convey a contrast between Jane’s outward calmness and internal restlessness
B. To emphasize Jane’s loyalty to the people she works for at Thornfield Hall
C. To demonstrate that Jane finds her situation both challenging and deeply fulfilling
D. To describe Jane’s determination to secure employment outside of Thornfield Hall