Explanation
“Technique” questions on the SAT reading section assess your understanding of the author’s use of various literary or rhetorical techniques to convey meaning, emphasize certain ideas, or enhance the overall effectiveness of the passage. These questions require you to closely analyze the author’s choices and identify how those choices contribute to the passage’s tone, style, or persuasive intent.
Here are some example question lead-ins for “technique” questions on the SAT reading section:
- Based on the information in the passage, the author’s use of [literary technique] in paragraph X serves primarily to:
- The author’s reference to [specific detail] in the second paragraph primarily functions to:
- Which of the following best describes the role of the author’s use of [rhetorical device] in the passage?
- How does the author’s use of [writing technique] contribute to the overall tone of the passage?
- The author’s decision to include [dialogue/imagery/figurative language] in paragraph Y primarily serves to:
These question lead-ins prompt you to examine the passage’s specific techniques and their effects. The questions will typically provide answer choices that describe different functions or effects of the identified technique.