ACT English: Rhetorical Skills - Big Picture, Writer's Goal, Does the Passage Accomplish X?

What This Is and Why It Matters for the ACT

Rhetorical Skills — Big Picture: Writer's Goal — Does the Passage Accomplish X? appears in the Reading section of the ACT. This topic is crucial because it tests your ability to analyze a passage and identify the writer's main goal or purpose. It appears on every Reading test and is typically considered an intermediate-level question.

Key Concepts (What You Must Know)

• Rhetorical purpose: The writer's main goal or purpose in the passage.
• Passage analysis: Breaking down the passage to understand the writer's argument or message.
• Writer's tone: The writer's attitude or voice in the passage.

Step-by-Step Strategy for This Topic

1. Read the passage quickly: Get an overview of the passage and identify the main topic.
2. Identify the writer's purpose: Look for words or phrases that indicate the writer's goal, such as "to persuade," "to inform," or "to entertain."
3. Analyze the passage: Break down the passage into smaller sections and identify the writer's main points.
4. Eliminate wrong answers: Look for answers that don't match the writer's purpose or tone.
5. Check your work: Verify that your answer matches the passage and the writer's purpose.

How It’s Tested on the ACT

In the Reading section, you'll encounter questions that ask you to identify the writer's purpose or main goal. These questions will be based on a passage, and you'll need to analyze the passage to determine the correct answer.

Typical distractors include:

• Misreading the passage: Failing to understand the writer's purpose or main points.
• Overlooking key words: Failing to identify important words or phrases that indicate the writer's purpose.
• Making assumptions: Assuming the writer's purpose based on personal opinions or biases.

Common Mistakes & Exam Traps

• The mistake: Misreading the passage.
• Why it happens: Rushing through the passage or not taking the time to analyze it carefully.
• How to avoid it: Read the passage carefully and take your time to analyze it.
• Exam board insight: The ACT examiners penalize students for misreading the passage, so make sure to read carefully.
• The mistake: Overlooking key words.
• Why it happens: Failing to identify important words or phrases that indicate the writer's purpose.
• How to avoid it: Look for key words such as "to persuade," "to inform," or "to entertain."
• The mistake: Making assumptions.
• Why it happens: Assuming the writer's purpose based on personal opinions or biases.
• How to avoid it: Verify your answer by checking the passage and the writer's purpose.

Practice Questions (3-5 questions)

Question 1 Read the passage below and answer the question.

The new policy aims to reduce traffic congestion in the city. To achieve this goal, the city will implement a congestion pricing system, which will charge drivers a fee to enter certain areas of the city during peak hours.

What is the main purpose of the new policy?

A) To increase revenue for the city B) To reduce traffic congestion C) To improve public transportation D) To encourage carpooling E) To reduce air pollution

Answer: B) To reduce traffic congestion

Explanation: The passage states that the new policy aims to reduce traffic congestion, which indicates the main purpose of the policy.

Question 2 Read the passage below and answer the question.

The new technology has revolutionized the way we communicate. With the ability to send messages and make calls from anywhere in the world, people are more connected than ever before.

What is the main purpose of the passage?

A) To inform readers about the benefits of the new technology B) To persuade readers to use the new technology C) To entertain readers with a story D) To compare the new technology to older technology E) To discuss the potential drawbacks of the new technology

Answer: A) To inform readers about the benefits of the new technology

Explanation: The passage states that the new technology has revolutionized the way we communicate, which indicates that the main purpose of the passage is to inform readers about the benefits of the new technology.

Question 3 Read the passage below and answer the question.

The city is facing a severe water shortage. To address this issue, the city will implement a new water conservation program, which will provide incentives for residents to reduce their water usage.

What is the main purpose of the water conservation program?

A) To increase water usage B) To reduce water usage C) To improve water quality D) To increase revenue for the city E) To reduce energy consumption

Answer: B) To reduce water usage

Explanation: The passage states that the city is facing a severe water shortage and that the water conservation program will provide incentives for residents to reduce their water usage, which indicates that the main purpose of the program is to reduce water usage.

Quick Reference Card (60-Second Summary)

• Rhetorical purpose: The writer's main goal or purpose in the passage.
• Passage analysis: Breaking down the passage to understand the writer's argument or message.
• Writer's tone: The writer's attitude or voice in the passage.
• Key words: Look for words or phrases that indicate the writer's purpose, such as "to persuade," "to inform," or "to entertain."
• Verify your answer: Check the passage and the writer's purpose to ensure that your answer is correct.

If You Get Stuck on Test Day

• Don't panic: Take a deep breath and read the passage carefully.
• Eliminate wrong answers: Look for answers that don't match the writer's purpose or tone.
• Make an educated guess: If you're still unsure, make an educated guess based on the passage and the writer's purpose.

Related ACT Topics

• Identifying the main idea: This topic is closely related to identifying the writer's purpose, as it requires you to understand the main idea of the passage.
• Analyzing the author's tone: This topic is also closely related, as it requires you to understand the writer's attitude or voice in the passage.
• Identifying the author's purpose: This topic is a variation of identifying the writer's purpose, but it requires you to identify the author's purpose rather than the writer's purpose.