PSAT 10 Reading & Writing: Mastering Craft and Structure

Words in Context

Questions that ask for the meaning of a word or phrase as it is used in a specific passage.

Polysemous

Words that have multiple meanings.

Precision

Exact meaning chosen by authors to control tone and relationships between ideas.

Tone

The emotional coloring or attitude expressed by the author through word choice.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural shade of meaning a word carries beyond its dictionary definition.

Context Clues

Hints from the surrounding text that help clarify the meaning of a word or phrase.

Contrast Clues

Words that signal an opposite idea, helping to infer meanings.

Cause-and-effect clues

Words signaling a reason or result, helping to understand the relationship between concepts.

Idioms

Expressions whose meanings are not literal, such as ‘turning the page.’

Figurative Language

Uses metaphors, personification, understatement, and irony to convey meaning.

Claim → Evidence → Explanation

A structure often used to build an argument, presenting a claim followed by supporting evidence and explanation.

Problem → Solution

A text structure that presents an issue followed by a proposed fix.

Cause → Effect

A structure explaining why something happens followed by its results.

Compare → Contrast

A text structure showing similarities and differences between concepts.

Chronological

A structure that presents events in the order they occur.

Example → Definition

A structure that clarifies a concept by providing illustrative examples.

Author's Purpose

What the author aims to accomplish through the passage (e.g., persuade, explain, argue).

Function Questions

Questions that ask how a specific line or paragraph contributes to the text as a whole.

Transitions

Words like 'however,' 'for example,' and 'therefore' that guide the reader through the structure of the text.

Cross-Text Connections

Questions that analyze relationships between two passages, including agreements or differing points.

Empirical Data

Information obtained by observation or experimentation, often used as evidence in texts.

Anecdotal Evidence

Stories or personal accounts used to support a claim, often less formal than empirical data.

Methodological Difference

Variations in types of evidence or approaches used by different authors on the same topic.

Qualifying Arguments

When one text agrees with another but adds limitations or exceptions to the claim.

Cautionary Claims

Statements made with tentative language, indicating uncertainty (e.g., 'may,' 'might').

Absolute Claims

Statements that are definitive and strong, typically using words like 'always' or 'never'.

Supporting Evidence

Data, examples, or logical reasoning that back up a claim in a text.

Text Structure

The way a passage is organized to convey its main ideas and arguments effectively.