SAT Reading & Writing – Craft and Structure
Text Structure and Purpose
Understanding how texts are organized and why authors structure information strategically
Text Structure and Purpose questions test your ability to understand how texts are organized, recognize the function of specific sentences or paragraphs, identify transitions and logical connections, and determine why authors make specific structural choices. On the SAT, you'll analyze organizational patterns, understand how parts relate to wholes, and recognize rhetorical purpose.
Success requires recognizing common organizational patterns, understanding transition signals, identifying the function of text elements, and appreciating how structure serves purpose. These analytical reading skills aren't just test-taking strategies—they represent critical literacy for understanding academic arguments, professional communications, persuasive writing, and any text where organization shapes meaning and effectiveness.
Understanding Text Structure and Purpose
Common Organizational Patterns
Authors organize information in predictable ways based on purpose.
Cause-effect: Explaining why something happened or its consequences
Compare-contrast: Showing similarities and differences
Problem-solution: Presenting issue then proposing resolution
Classification: Organizing into categories or types
Spatial: Describing physical arrangement or location
Transition Words Signal Structure
Key words reveal how ideas connect and text is organized.
Contrast: However, nevertheless, conversely, in contrast
Cause-effect: Therefore, consequently, as a result, thus
Example: For instance, specifically, such as, to illustrate
Emphasis: Indeed, in fact, certainly, undoubtedly
Time sequence: Subsequently, meanwhile, finally, previously
Function Questions
Understanding what role a sentence or paragraph plays.
Provide evidence: Supports claim with data, examples, quotes
Acknowledge counterargument: Presents opposing view
Make concession: Admits limitation or opposing point's validity
Provide transition: Connects ideas or shifts topics
Conclude/summarize: Restates main points or final thoughts
Question Types
How the SAT tests structural understanding.
"What is the function of the underlined sentence?"
"Which choice provides the best transition?"
"The primary purpose of the paragraph is to"
"How does the author organize information?"
Essential Structure Analysis Strategies
Identify the Organizational Pattern
Ask: How is this information arranged?
Look for: Time words, cause-effect language, comparison terms
Consider: Does structure match content purpose?
Recognize: Patterns often combine (chronological + cause-effect)
Understand Before and After Context
For transitions: Read sentences before and after the blank
For function: Understand how sentence relates to paragraph
Ask: What logical relationship exists between ideas?
Test: Does the transition accurately reflect this relationship?
Determine Function by Asking "What Does This Do?"
Not what it says: Focus on what it DOES (its role)
Common functions: Introduce, support, contrast, conclude, transition
Consider placement: Beginning sentences often introduce; endings conclude
Look at verbs: Action words reveal purpose (argues, demonstrates, acknowledges)
Match Structure to Purpose
Narrative texts: Often chronological structure
Argumentative texts: Claim-evidence-reasoning pattern
Explanatory texts: Often cause-effect or classification
Consider audience: Structure reflects what readers need to understand
Common Pitfalls & Expert Tips
❌ Confusing what text says with what it does
Function questions ask about role, not content. A sentence that says "pollution causes health problems" FUNCTIONS to provide evidence or establish causation.
❌ Choosing transitions based on individual words
Just because previous sentence mentions "problems" doesn't mean "however" fits. Check the actual logical relationship between complete ideas.
❌ Not reading enough context
To understand function or choose transitions, you need surrounding sentences. One sentence in isolation rarely provides sufficient context.
❌ Overlooking text structure questions
These questions seem simple but require careful analysis. Don't rush—understand the organizational pattern before answering.
✓ Expert Tip: Map the passage structure
Quickly note what each paragraph does: introduces, provides example, contrasts, concludes. This mental map reveals overall structure.
✓ Expert Tip: Know your transition words
Memorize common transitions and their functions. "However" = contrast; "Therefore" = conclusion/result; "Moreover" = addition.
✓ Expert Tip: Think like the author
Ask "Why would the author include this here?" Purpose drives placement—understanding WHY reveals FUNCTION.
Fully Worked SAT-Style Examples
Passage:
Solar panels have become increasingly efficient over the past decade, with conversion rates improving from 15% to over 22%. Manufacturing costs have also dropped dramatically, making solar energy more accessible to homeowners. ______ widespread adoption faces obstacles, including energy storage limitations and geographic constraints in regions with limited sunlight.
Question:
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Answer Choices:
A) Therefore,
B) Nevertheless,
C) For example,
D) Similarly,
Correct Answer: B
Logical relationship analysis: Before the blank: positive developments (improved efficiency, lower costs). After the blank: problems (storage limitations, geographic constraints). This is a CONTRAST.
Why B is correct: "Nevertheless" signals contrast—despite the positive developments mentioned, there are still obstacles. This accurately reflects the shift from benefits to challenges.
Why A is wrong: "Therefore" indicates conclusion/result. The obstacles don't result FROM the improvements—they contrast with them.
Why C is wrong: "For example" introduces a specific instance. The sentence presents new information (obstacles), not an example of what came before.
Why D is wrong: "Similarly" indicates similarity. The obstacles are different from/opposite to the improvements, not similar.
Passage:
The widespread use of antibiotics has saved countless lives since their introduction in the 1940s. Some researchers argue that we should develop alternatives to antibiotics rather than rely solely on discovering new ones. This concern stems from the growing problem of antibiotic resistance: bacteria evolve to survive drugs that once killed them effectively. As resistance spreads, previously treatable infections become life-threatening.
Question:
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Answer Choices:
A) It provides evidence supporting the claim that antibiotics have been beneficial.
B) It introduces a proposed solution to a problem that is subsequently explained.
C) It presents an alternative viewpoint that the passage will contradict.
D) It explains the scientific process for discovering new antibiotics.
Correct Answer: B
Function analysis: The sentence proposes "alternatives to antibiotics" (a solution). Following sentences explain WHY this solution is needed—the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Why B is correct: The underlined sentence introduces a solution (develop alternatives), and the subsequent sentences explain the problem (resistance) that makes this solution necessary. Structure: solution → problem explanation.
Why A is wrong: The sentence doesn't support the benefits of antibiotics—it actually suggests moving beyond relying on them.
Why C is wrong: The passage doesn't contradict this view; the following sentences explain why researchers hold this position.
Why D is wrong: The sentence mentions discovering new antibiotics but doesn't explain the scientific process—it suggests seeking alternatives instead.
Passage:
Urban heat islands occur when cities become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. This temperature difference results primarily from human activities: dark pavement and building materials absorb more heat than natural vegetation, while air conditioning and vehicle engines release additional thermal energy. Consequently, urban areas can be 5-7°F warmer during the day and up to 22°F warmer at night. These elevated temperatures increase energy consumption for cooling, worsen air quality, and contribute to heat-related illnesses.
Question:
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
Answer Choices:
A) It presents a theory and then provides evidence that contradicts it.
B) It defines a phenomenon, explains its causes, and describes its effects.
C) It compares two competing explanations for an environmental problem.
D) It proposes a solution to a problem and evaluates its effectiveness.
Correct Answer: B
Structure breakdown: Sentence 1: defines urban heat islands. Sentence 2: explains causes (dark materials, A/C, engines). Sentence 3: quantifies the phenomenon. Sentence 4: describes effects (energy use, air quality, illness).
Why B is correct: The passage follows a clear cause-effect pattern: defines what heat islands are → explains why they happen → describes consequences. This matches "defines, explains causes, describes effects."
Why A is wrong: No contradiction. All information consistently explains and supports the heat island concept.
Why C is wrong: Only one explanation is provided, not competing alternatives.
Why D is wrong: No solution is proposed. The passage explains a problem without offering remedies.
Passage:
Artificial intelligence has demonstrated remarkable capabilities in medical diagnosis, often matching or exceeding human accuracy in detecting diseases from medical images. Critics point out, however, that AI systems can perpetuate biases present in training data, potentially leading to misdiagnosis in underrepresented populations. Additionally, the "black box" nature of some AI algorithms makes it difficult for doctors to understand how diagnoses are reached. These concerns have led medical ethicists to call for careful regulation and transparency requirements before widespread clinical implementation.
Question:
What is the primary function of the underlined portion in the passage?
Answer Choices:
A) To provide additional examples of AI's successful medical applications.
B) To present counterarguments that complicate the initially positive assessment of AI.
C) To explain the technical process by which AI diagnoses diseases.
D) To summarize the main benefits of using AI in medical settings.
Correct Answer: B
Functional analysis: The underlined portion begins with "Critics point out, however" (contrast signal) and presents concerns (bias, transparency issues) that challenge the positive opening about AI's capabilities.
Why B is correct: The function is to acknowledge counterarguments ("however," "critics") that add complexity to the positive assessment, showing AI isn't unequivocally beneficial. This prepares for the call for regulation in the final sentence.
Why A is wrong: The underlined portion discusses PROBLEMS, not additional successes.
Why C is wrong: Mentions "black box" nature but doesn't explain the technical diagnostic process.
Why D is wrong: The portion discusses drawbacks and concerns, not benefits.
Passage:
The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s produced a flowering of African American literature, music, and art that challenged racial stereotypes and celebrated Black culture. Langston Hughes wrote poetry that captured the rhythms of jazz and the realities of Black urban life. Zora Neale Hurston's novels drew on Southern folklore traditions. Duke Ellington's compositions brought jazz to concert halls. ______ this cultural movement laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights activism of the 1950s and 1960s.
Question:
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Answer Choices:
A) In other words,
B) By contrast,
C) Ultimately,
D) For instance,
Correct Answer: C
Logical relationship: Before blank: specific examples from the Harlem Renaissance. After blank: broader, long-term consequence (laid groundwork for later activism). This shows a concluding impact/result.
Why C is correct: "Ultimately" signals a final consequence or conclusion about long-term impact. It appropriately introduces how the cultural movement eventually influenced later historical developments.
Why A is wrong: "In other words" means restatement. The Civil Rights connection is a NEW consequence, not a restatement of the examples.
Why B is wrong: "By contrast" signals opposition. Civil Rights activism doesn't contrast with the Harlem Renaissance—it follows from it.
Why D is wrong: "For instance" introduces an example. The Civil Rights movement is a CONSEQUENCE, not an example of the Renaissance itself.
Structure Analysis Quick Reference
Common Transitions
Contrast: However, Nevertheless
Addition: Moreover, Furthermore
Result: Therefore, Consequently
Example: For instance, Specifically
Common Functions
✓ Introduce main idea
✓ Provide evidence/example
✓ Present counterargument
✓ Draw conclusion
Text Structure and Purpose: Understanding How Organization Creates Meaning
Text Structure and Purpose questions assess your ability to understand how authors organize information strategically and how structural elements function within larger arguments—analytical skills transcending test-taking to become essential for comprehending academic writing, professional communications, persuasive arguments, and any text where organization shapes effectiveness and meaning. The SAT tests this competency because understanding structure represents sophisticated reading: recognizing that how information is arranged affects comprehension and persuasiveness, appreciating that each sentence and paragraph serves specific rhetorical functions, understanding how transitions signal logical relationships, and seeing texts as purposefully constructed artifacts rather than random collections of sentences. When analyzing "the overall structure of the text" or determining "the function of the underlined sentence," you practice the same structural awareness required for following academic arguments where claim-evidence-reasoning patterns build systematically, understanding scientific papers organized by hypothesize-test-conclude logic, comprehending legal briefs where structure mirrors argumentation strategy, analyzing business reports where executive summary-detailed analysis-recommendations pattern serves decision-makers, and appreciating literary works where narrative structure creates suspense or reveals character development. Effective texts follow recognizable organizational patterns: chronological for narratives and historical accounts, cause-effect for explaining why events occurred or consequences resulted, compare-contrast for highlighting similarities and differences, problem-solution for proposing remedies, classification for organizing into categories, and spatial for describing physical arrangements. Transition words function as structural signals revealing these patterns: "however" indicates contrast, "therefore" shows consequence, "moreover" adds support, "for example" provides illustration, and "ultimately" draws conclusions. Understanding function requires distinguishing between what text says (content) and what it does (role): a sentence stating "pollution causes health problems" might FUNCTION to provide evidence supporting a claim, establish causation for subsequent explanation, or introduce a problem that solutions will address—context determines function. Common misconceptions reveal incomplete structural awareness: confusing content with function (describing what a sentence says rather than its rhetorical role), choosing transitions based on keyword matching rather than logical relationships between complete ideas, failing to read sufficient context (transitions require understanding sentences both before and after the blank), and overlooking how placement affects function (sentences at beginnings introduce while endings conclude). The sophisticated reader recognizes organizational patterns quickly: a passage beginning with historical background, presenting a problem, then proposing solutions follows problem-solution structure; a text comparing traditional and innovative approaches uses compare-contrast organization; an essay presenting a claim, supporting evidence, acknowledging counterarguments, then refuting them follows classical argumentative structure. Understanding why authors make structural choices reveals deeper comprehension: arranging chronologically helps readers follow developments over time, using cause-effect clarifies mechanisms and consequences, employing compare-contrast highlights distinctions and connections, presenting problem-solution demonstrates practical relevance. The systematic approach to structure questions—identifying the organizational pattern before examining choices, understanding logical relationships between ideas when selecting transitions, asking "what does this do?" rather than "what does this say?" for function questions, reading surrounding context to understand how parts relate to wholes, and matching structure to purpose (narratives use chronology, arguments use claim-evidence-reasoning)—represents disciplined analytical reading applicable far beyond standardized testing. Every time you follow an argument's logical progression, every moment you recognize how an author builds toward a conclusion, every instance you appreciate why information appears in a specific order, you're exercising structural awareness that enables not just comprehension but critical evaluation of rhetorical effectiveness across all written communication.