Understanding rhetorical effect and text structure is important for success on the ACT® Reading test. While these question types don't appear frequently, they do show up regularly enough to impact your score. Recognizing how authors use language persuasively and organize their ideas can help you navigate complex passages more effectively and answer questions with greater confidence.
Rhetorical effect and text structure represent two different question types that are somewhat related. Neither shows up very much on the ACT® Reading, but they do appear regularly enough to merit learning how to approach them.
Example Question Phrasing
Rhetorical Effect
A typical rhetorical effect question might ask: "Both passages make use of which devices: lyrics, references, excerpts, etc.?"
There are many different kinds of rhetorical devices. You do NOT need to know all of them for the ACT® Reading Test. The key point to remember is that a rhetorical device is a technique that focuses on both the actual words used and the effect of using those words.
For example, an author might use references to scientific journals. On a literal level, this helps prove the author's argument. Rhetorically, using these references can convince the reader by appealing to empirical data. When an author consistently explains their thoughts using data from journals, it can create the impression that the article is well-researched and therefore more convincing.
Text Structure
A text structure question might ask: "How is this passage organized?"
Possible answer choices could include:
- Theories
- Problems
- Chronology
- Reasons
- Innovations
While there are countless ways to organize a passage, the important skill is recognizing that an author is organizing the passage in some way. Your task is to determine the specific organization method used.
Effective Strategies for These Questions
For both rhetorical effect and text structure questions, I recommend the following approach:
- Start by examining the answer choices and use the Process of Elimination.
- Remember that rhetorical devices and organization patterns aren't confined to specific parts of the text. They're typically spread throughout the passage.
- If you're unsure about the passage's organization, a quick skim can be helpful. However, reviewing your answer options first is often more efficient.
- Keep in mind that you'll need to find evidence supporting a particular answer choice. Unlike some questions, there's rarely a single word or phrase that provides the definitive answer. Instead, several details throughout the passage will support the correct choice.
- Based on the answer options, go back to the passage and skim or scan for relevant details. Use these to eliminate incorrect choices and identify the correct answer.
- Consider saving these questions for the end of the passage. This strategy, known as Question Order, allows you to build maximum context for the passage, making these question types easier to answer.