Learn the Strategy
We’re here to help you tackle “technique” type questions on the SAT reading section. These questions test your ability to identify the literary techniques employed by the author and understand their impact on the passage. Here are some strategies to share with you:
- First things first, read the passage carefully and get a good grasp of the main idea, purpose, and tone.
- Pay attention to specific details, language, and descriptions used by the author throughout the passage. They hold the key to identifying the techniques.
- Know your literary techniques! Get familiar with terms like imagery, foreshadowing, symbolism, and dialogue, and understand their characteristics.
- As you analyze the passage, look out for explicit mentions or direct statements of the techniques, as well as more subtle or indirect indications.
- Consider the effect and impact of the techniques on the reader’s understanding, emotions, or engagement with the passage.
- Be cautious of answer choices that may seem partially correct but don’t really match the primary technique used by the author.
- Don’t forget the process of elimination! Use it wisely to narrow down your options and increase your chances of choosing the correct answer.
- Always double-check your answer choice to make sure it accurately represents the primary technique used by the author.
Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you familiarize yourself with different techniques and practice analyzing passages, the better you’ll get at nailing these “technique” type questions. So, let’s dive into some practice and conquer those SAT reading questions together!