GUIDE TO

READING + WRITING
Unit 1. Information and Ideas
Unit 2. Craft and structure
Unit 3. Expression of ideas
Unit 4. Standard English
conventions
▪Command of Evidence – Textual

▪Command of Evidence –

Quantitative

▪Central Ideas and Details

▪Inferences
COMMAND OF EVIDENCE: TEXTUAL
What are "textual evidence" questions?
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will
introduce a claim about an unfamiliar subject. The question will then ask
you to identify the piece of evidence that most strongly supports that
claim.
Textual evidence questions will look like this:

#1
#1-1
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COMMAND OF EVIDENCE:
QUANTITATIVE
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will
provide you with a graph or table that presents information about an
unfamiliar topic. The question will then offer some context for that
information and ask you to complete a sentence by effectively using data
from the graph or table.
Quantitative evidence questions will look like this:

#1
Note

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CENTRAL IDEAS AND DETAILS
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will present a short passage for you to read.
The passage may be excerpted from a work of literature or from a scholarly essay.
Once you read the passage, you'll be asked either to identify the main idea of the text or to answer a specific
question based on the text.
Central ideas and details questions will look like this:

#1
Note

#1-
1
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INFERENCES
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some
questions will provide an unfinished passage that
introduces information about an unfamiliar topic. Based
on that information, you'll be asked to select the choice
that most logically completes the text.
Inferences questions will look like this:

#1

Sometimes, an inferences passage will present a set of premises, and

your task will be to determine the appropriate conclusion.
Other times, an inferences passage will include the conclusion, and
your task will be to identify a gap in the premises that must be filled.
Either way, the basic task is the same: you need to identify what is missing
from the argument, and fill that gap with one of the choices.
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▪Words in Context

▪Text Structure and Purpose

▪Cross-Text Connections
WORDS IN CONTEXT
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.
Words in context questions will look like this:

Example #1

Tips:

• Play Positive/Negative

• Do NOT look at answer choices first—paraphrase

the given word in the context in your own words,
and match with the answer choices!
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1. TEXT STRUCTURE AND PURPOSE
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 #1

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 ______

•TIP: Use transition words

2. PART TO WHOLE RELATIONSHIPS
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, 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.
Part-to-whole relationships questions will look like this:

Example #1-1
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CROSS-TEXT CONNECTIONS
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.
Cross-text connections questions will look like this:

Example #1
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▪Transitions

▪Rhetorical Synthesis
TRANSITIONS
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions
will ask you to select the most logical transition word or phrase to
connect information and ideas within a brief passage .
Transitions questions will look like this:

Example #1
Agreement or disagreement

Sequence and Order

Are the events in the sentences being organized by time or by position? If
so, we may want to use a sequence transition like "previously".

Addition and exemplification

Does the second sentence elaborate on the first? If so, we may want to use
an addition transition like "furthermore".

Cause and Effect

Therefore, since, because, subsequently, thus, as a
result, and consequently.
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RHETORICAL SYNTHESIS
On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will
provide you with a series of bulleted notes that contain related
information about an unfamiliar topic. The question will then ask you
to effectively use relevant information from the notes to accomplish a
particular goal.
Rhetorical synthesis questions will look like this:

Example #1

Focus on the question prompt and ignore the grammar!

The question prompt will identify a goal for our solution sentence. For example, we
might be asked to emphasize a similarity or difference, or to introduce a study and its
findings, or to provide an explanation and example of some particular idea.
Only one of the choices will accomplish this goal. In fact, if we’re short on time but are
focused on the identified goal and explore the choices, we can often answer rhetorical
synthesis questions without ever reading the bulleted information.
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▪Form, Structure, and Sense

I. Subject-verb agreement
II. Pronoun-antecedent agreement
III. Verb forms
IV. Subject-modifier placement
V. Plural and possessive nouns

• Boundaries
I. Linking clauses
II. Supplement & Punctuation
CH10. STRUCTURE, FORM, AND
SENSE 10-1. Subject-Verb Agreement
Example Questions
10-2. Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Example Questions
10-3. Verb Form (Tense)

Example Questions
10-4. Subject-Modifier
Placement
Example Questions
10-5. Plural and
Possessives
Example Questions
FORM, STRUCTURE, AND SENSE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

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CH11. BOUNDARIES
Grmmar: Linking Clauses
CH11. BOUNDARIES
Grammar: Supplement & Punctuation
CH11. BOUNDARIES
Grammar: Supplement & Punctuation
BOUNDARIES
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

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