Digital SATReading and Writing: Craft and StructureMedium
A journalist is writing an article about a recent increase in local homelessness. They are considering two potential titles: Title 1: "Homelessness on the Rise: A Crisis in Our Community" Title 2: "More Than Just Numbers: The Human Stories Behind Our City's Homelessness Crisis" Which of the following statements best describes the difference in purpose between the two titles?
- ATitle 1 focuses on factual reporting, while Title 2 emphasizes emotional connection.
- BTitle 1 uses formal language, while Title 2 employs colloquialisms.
- CTitle 1 suggests a solution, while Title 2 highlights the problem.
- DTitle 1 aims to inform, while Title 2 aims to persuade.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Title 1 focuses on factual reporting, while Title 2 emphasizes emotional connection.
Title 1 uses direct, fact-oriented language ('Homelessness on the Rise,' 'Crisis'). Title 2 adds 'More Than Just Numbers' and 'Human Stories,' explicitly signaling an intent to engage the reader's emotions and empathy beyond mere statistics.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Both titles use relatively formal language; Title 2's phrasing is more evocative, but not colloquial.
- C. Neither title explicitly suggests a solution; both highlight aspects of the problem.
- D. Both titles inform; Title 2 might be more persuasive due to emotional appeal, but 'inform' vs. 'persuade' isn't the primary distinction.
Text Purpose & Tone
The author's reason for writing and the attitude conveyed towards the subject and audience.
- Purpose drives content and structure.
- Tone is communicated through word choice and sentence structure.
- Different purposes and tones evoke different reader responses.
Memory trick: What's the goal? What's the feeling?