Text Structure, Features, and Author's Craft
What the questions test
This domain asks how a text is built and why the author made those choices. You need to recognize text structures, text features, author's craft, and tone.
Structures to know
- Chronological: events in time order (first, next, finally).
- Cause and effect: one event produces another (because, as a result, therefore).
- Compare and contrast: similarities and differences (both, unlike, on the other hand).
- Problem and solution: a difficulty and how it is addressed.
- Description: details organized by topic or senses.
Text features
Headings, captions, bold words, bulleted lists, diagrams, and glossaries help readers locate and understand information. Questions may ask what a feature helps the reader do, such as scan for topics or define a term.
Author's craft and tone
Watch for word choice, sentence length, repetition, imagery, and dialogue. Short, choppy sentences can build tension; long, flowing sentences can create calm. Tone is the author's attitude (humorous, serious, admiring, critical), and it is revealed through word choice, not stated outright.
Traps to watch for
- Confusing structure with topic. A passage about volcanoes is not automatically cause-and-effect; check the signal words.
- Assuming all features are decorative. Each feature usually has a purpose, such as clarifying or organizing.
- Mood vs. tone. Mood is how the reader feels; tone is how the author feels.
Rule of thumb: the signal-word scan
Before answering a structure question, underline transition words. They reveal the pattern faster than the content does.
Worked example
A passage uses "because," "led to," and "as a result." Even though it mentions dates, the structure is cause and effect, so choose that over chronological order.