Lesson 1: Mastering Main Purpose Questions (1.

5 hours)
I. Introduction (10 minutes)
Definition of Main Purpose Questions: Main purpose questions ask about the primary
goal, central aim, or overall objective of a passage. These questions test your ability to
synthesize information from the entire text and identify the author's overarching intent.
Common Phrasings:
 "The main purpose of the passage is to..."
 "The primary aim of the author is to..."
 "The passage is primarily concerned with..."
 "What is the chief objective of the text?"
Importance:
 Assesses your ability to see the "big picture" of a text
 Requires synthesizing information from the entire passage
 Often one of the first questions you'll encounter for each passage
 Tests your skill in distinguishing central themes from supporting details
II. Step-by-Step Approach (30 minutes)
1. Read the question carefully (2 minutes)
o Identify the specific task (main purpose, primary aim, etc.)
o Note any qualifiers or specific instructions
2. Read the entire passage attentively (10 minutes)
o Don't skim or skip sections
o Pay special attention to: a) The opening and closing sentences of each
paragraph b) The first and last paragraphs of the passage c) Any repeated
ideas or themes d) Transitional phrases that may signal key points
3. Mentally summarize each paragraph (5 minutes)
o After reading each paragraph, create a brief mental summary
o Ask yourself: "What is this paragraph contributing to the overall
message?"
o Look for topic sentences and concluding statements within paragraphs
o Note how each paragraph relates to the others
 4. Formulate your own main purpose summary (3 minutes)
o After reading the entire passage, create a concise statement (3-5 words)
capturing the core message
o This "approximate answer" will guide you through the answer choices
o Ensure your summary encompasses the entire passage, not just a portion
5. Consider the author's purpose (5 minutes)
o Determine if the author is primarily: a) Informing b) Persuading c)
Analyzing d) Describing e) Entertaining
o Look for language that indicates the author's stance or tone
o Consider any bias or perspective the author may have
6. Examine answer choices (5 minutes)
o Compare each to your "approximate answer"
o Eliminate choices that are: a) Too narrow (focus on minor details) b) Too
broad (go beyond the scope of the passage) c) Off-topic (introduce ideas
not present in the passage)
III. Detailed Example Analysis (20 minutes)
Let's apply this approach to the G's Bend quilts passage:
Passage: "The initial exhibition of quilts by the women of G's Bend exploded into the
world of Modern Art with great fanfare, rocking critics who generally dismiss cloth art.
The quilts are made by descendants of slaves who live in the small rural community in
Alabama called G's Bend, once the site of cotton plantations. These women spend their
spare time splicing scraps of old cloth to make robust objects of refined abstract designs.
The best of them, unusually minimalist and spare, are so gorgeous that it is hard to know
how to begin to account for them. But then, good art can never be fully accounted for,
just described."
Question: The primary purpose of this passage is to:
A) Describe the accomplishments of a famous artist B) Recount the historical origins of a
rural community C) Explain the technique of quilt making to beginners D) Call attention
to a set of impressive works of art E) Argue for a greater appreciation of cloth art
Step-by-step analysis:
1. Question asks about "primary purpose"
2. Key points from active reading:
 o Initial exhibition was significant
o Made by descendants of slaves in rural Alabama
o Quilts are high-quality, abstract art
o Beauty is difficult to explain
3. Paragraph summaries:
o Para 1: Introduction of G's Bend quilts and their impact
o Para 2: Background of quilt makers
o Para 3: Description of quilts and their artistic quality
4. Approximate answer: "Introduce G's Bend quilts as significant art"
5. Author's purpose: Informing about an art phenomenon
6. Evaluate answer choices: A) Too narrow - doesn't mention a specific artist B) Too
narrow - focuses only on historical aspect C) Off-topic - doesn't explain quilt-
making techniques D) Matches our prediction - focuses on the art itself E) Too
strong - passage informs rather than argues
Correct answer: D) Call attention to a set of impressive works of art
IV. Practice with Additional Examples (20 minutes)
Example 1: Astrophysics Passage
Passage: "Astrophysics is different from most other branches of the physical sciences
because it isn't experimental. Generally, when other physical scientists want to test an
idea, they go into the lab and construct an experiment that allows them to manipulate
reality. Their subsequent observations help to confirm or disprove a hypothesis. But our
lab is the universe, says this astrophysicist, which we can't force to do anything. All we
can do is make observations, and what we observe is very far away and hard to interpret.
But we can still make assumptions that fit the conditions we observe and, based on
those assumptions, we then make a prediction."
Question: The primary purpose of this passage is to:
A) Point out an important distinction between astrophysics and other sciences B)
Advocate for an experimental procedure in astrophysics C) Corroborate a controversial
hypothesis in astrophysics D) Put to rest a common apprehension about astrophysics E)
Report on a significant discovery in astrophysics
Analysis:
1. Question asks about "primary purpose"
 2. Key points:
o Astrophysics differs from other sciences
o Other sciences use lab experiments
o Astrophysicists observe and make predictions based on assumptions
3. Approximate answer: "How astrophysics differs from other sciences"
4. Author's purpose: Informing about the nature of astrophysics
5. Correct answer: A) Point out an important distinction between astrophysics and
other sciences
V. Common Pitfalls and Tips (5 minutes)
Pitfalls to avoid:
 Focusing on minor details instead of main ideas
 Choosing answers based on familiar words without considering context
 Selecting an option that only describes part of the passage
Tips for success:
 Always refer back to the passage to verify your choice
 Practice summarizing main ideas quickly
 Read actively, thinking about purpose as you go
 Be wary of extreme language in answer choices (e.g., "always," "never," "only")
VI. Conclusion and Review (5 minutes)
 Recap key steps for identifying main purpose
 Emphasize importance of seeing the "big picture" of passages
 Encourage students to practice these techniques regularly
By following this detailed approach and practicing regularly, students can improve their
ability to accurately identify the primary purpose of SAT Reading passages.

Lesson: Mastering Overall Structure Questions (2 hours)

I. Introduction (10 minutes)
Definition of Overall Structure Questions: Overall structure questions assess your ability
to understand how a passage is organized from beginning to end. These questions
require you to identify the "skeleton" or framework of the text, focusing on how ideas
are presented and connected rather than on specific content details.
Common Phrasings:
 "Which choice best describes the overall structure of the passage?"
 "How is the passage organized?"
 "What is the organizational pattern of the text?"
 "Which of the following best characterizes how the information in the passage is
presented?"
Importance:
 Tests your ability to see the "big picture" of a passage
 Requires understanding how ideas are connected and developed
 Assesses your skill in recognizing common organizational patterns in writing
 Often involves understanding transitions and relationships between paragraphs
 Helps in quickly grasping the main ideas and flow of complex texts
II. Comprehensive Approach to Overall Structure Questions (60 minutes)
Step 1: Read the question carefully (3 minutes)
 Identify that it's asking about overall structure or organization
 Note any specific aspects of structure mentioned in the question
Step 2: Read the passage strategically (15 minutes)
 Focus on the flow of ideas rather than specific details
 Pay special attention to: • First and last sentences of each paragraph • Transition
words and phrases between paragraphs • How each paragraph relates to the
ones before and after it
 Create a brief mental summary of each paragraph as you read
Step 3: Analyze the passage's components (10 minutes)
 Identify the introduction, body, and conclusion
 Note the function of each paragraph: • Does it introduce a new idea? • Provide
evidence or examples? • Offer a counterargument? • Summarize previous points?
Step 4: Identify organizational patterns (10 minutes) Look for common structures such
as:
  Compare and contrast
 Cause and effect
 Problem and solution
 Chronological sequence
 General to specific (or vice versa)
 Thesis and support
 Description or classification
Step 5: Recognize transitions and relationships (5 minutes)
 Look for words and phrases that signal relationships between ideas: • "However,"
"In contrast," "On the other hand" (contrast) • "Therefore," "As a result,"
"Consequently" (cause and effect) • "First," "Next," "Finally" (sequence) • "For
example," "Specifically," "In particular" (elaboration)
Step 6: Create a "From X to Y" summary (5 minutes)
 Summarize the passage's progression in a simple "From X to Y" statement
 Examples: • From problem to solution • From general principle to specific
application • From past practices to current innovations • From opposing
viewpoints to synthesis
Step 7: Consider author's purpose and tone (5 minutes)
 Determine if the author is primarily: • Informing • Persuading • Analyzing •
Describing
 Note if the tone or approach changes throughout the passage
Step 8: Evaluate answer choices (7 minutes)
 Compare each choice to your analysis of the passage structure
 Eliminate options that: • Only describe part of the passage • Introduce ideas not
present in the text • Mischaracterize relationships between ideas
 Choose the answer that best matches your "From X to Y" summary and
encompasses the entire passage
III. Detailed Example Analyses (30 minutes)
Example 1: James Webb Space Telescope Passage
Passage: "Using NASA's powerful James Webb Space Telescope, this researcher and
colleagues measured the wavelengths of light traveling through the atmosphere of
WASP-39 b, an exoplanet or a planet outside our solar system. Different molecules
absorb different wavelengths of light, and the wavelength measurements showed the
presence of carbon dioxide in this planet's atmosphere. This finding not only offers the
first decisive evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet but also
illustrates the potential for future scientific breakthroughs held by JWST."
Question: Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
A) It outlines the steps in a scientific study, then presents a hypothesis based on that
study. B) It discusses a method used by some researchers, then states why an alternative
method is superior to it. C) It examines how a group of scientists reached a conclusion,
then shows how other scientists have challenged that conclusion. D) It describes how
researchers made a scientific discovery, then explains the importance of that discovery.
Step-by-step analysis:
1. Question asks about overall structure
2. Passage breakdown:
o Para 1: Describes research method and specific discovery
o Para 2: Explains significance of the discovery
3. Organizational pattern: Specific research → Result → Broader implications
4. Transitions: "Different molecules" (elaboration), "This finding" (result)
5. "From X to Y": From specific research to broader scientific implications
6. Author's purpose: Informing about a scientific discovery and its importance
7. Evaluate choices: A) Incorrect - no hypothesis presented B) Incorrect - no
alternative method discussed C) Incorrect - no challenging of conclusion by other
scientists D) Correct - matches our "From X to Y" structure
Correct answer: D
Example 2: Moral Philosophy Passage
Passage: "Works of moral philosophy such as Plato's Republic or Nicomachean Ethics are
partly concerned with how to live a morally good life, but philosopher Bernard Williams
argues that works that present a method of living such a life without also supplying a
motive are inherently useless. They're only going to be useful to those already wishing to
be morally good, as those with no desire for moral goodness will not choose to follow
their rules. However, some works of moral philosophy attempt to describe what
constitutes a morally good life while also proposing reasons for living one."
Question: Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
A) It mentions two renowned works and then claims that, despite their popularity, it is
impossible to live according to their precepts. B) It summarizes the history of a field of
thought and then proposes a topic of further research for specialists in that field. C) It
describes two influential works and then explains why one is more widely read than the
other. D) It provides a characterization about a field of thought by noting works in it and
then details a way in which some works in that field are more comprehensive than
others.
Step-by-step analysis:
1. Question asks about overall structure
2. Passage breakdown:
o Sentence 1: Introduces traditional moral philosophy
o Sentence 2-3: Presents a criticism of this approach
o Sentence 4: Offers an alternative approach
3. Organizational pattern: Introduction of concept → Criticism → Alternative
solution
4. Transitions: "but" (contrast), "However" (contrast/alternative)
5. "From X to Y": From limited approach to more comprehensive approach in moral
philosophy
6. Author's purpose: Analyzing different approaches in moral philosophy
7. Evaluate choices: A) Incorrect - doesn't claim impossibility of living by precepts B)
Incorrect - doesn't summarize history or propose research C) Incorrect - doesn't
compare readership of works D) Correct - matches our analysis of the passage
structure
Correct answer: D
IV. Additional Tips and Strategies (15 minutes)
1. Practice active reading:
o As you read, constantly ask yourself, "How does this paragraph relate to
the previous one?"
o Try to predict what might come next in the passage
2. Create quick visual outlines:
o Use simple shapes or arrows to map out the passage structure
o This can help you see patterns more clearly
 3. Be aware of passage length:
o Shorter passages may have simpler structures
o Longer passages might have more complex organizational patterns
4. Look for repeated ideas or themes:
o These often signal key points in the passage's structure
5. Pay attention to paragraph lengths:
o A notably short or long paragraph might serve a special purpose in the
overall structure
6. Consider the introduction and conclusion carefully:
7.
o Often, the relationship between these gives a strong clue to overall
structure
8. Be cautious of answer choices that use extreme language:
o Words like "always," "never," or "only" are often incorrect
9. Remember that correct answers should encompass the entire passage:
o Be wary of choices that focus too heavily on one section
V. Common Pitfalls to Avoid (5 minutes)
1. Focusing too much on content details rather than overall organization
2. Choosing an answer that only describes part of the passage
3. Misinterpreting transitions between ideas
4. Bringing outside knowledge into your interpretation of the structure
5. Rushing to conclusion without considering all parts of the passage
6. Assuming that all passages will follow a simple, clear-cut pattern
VI. Practice Exercises (5 minutes)
Provide students with 2-3 short passages and accompanying overall structure questions
to practice the approach learned.
VII. Conclusion and Review (5 minutes)
 Recap key steps for identifying overall structure
 Emphasize the importance of seeing the "big picture" of passages
  Encourage regular practice with varied types of passages
 Remind students that understanding overall structure can aid in comprehension
and retention of passage content
By mastering this comprehensive approach to overall structure questions, students will
be well-prepared to tackle this type of question on the SAT Reading test. Regular practice
and application of these strategies will help internalize the process and improve
performance.