Digital SATReading and Writing: Craft and StructureHard
A journalist is writing an article comparing two prominent political figures. They dedicate one paragraph to discussing the first figure's policy positions on economic issues and the next paragraph to discussing the second figure's policy positions on economic issues. They then follow this with a paragraph analyzing their differing approaches to social reform. Which text structure is the journalist primarily employing?
- AChronological Order
- BPoint-by-Point Method
- CSpatial Order
- DBlock Method
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Point-by-Point Method
The journalist is comparing the figures by topic (economic issues, then social reform), addressing both figures within each topic. This is characteristic of the point-by-point (or alternating) method of comparison and contrast, where each specific point of comparison is discussed for all subjects before moving to the next point.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Chronological Order arranges events by time, which is irrelevant to comparing political figures' policies.
- C. Spatial Order describes things based on their physical location, which is not applicable here.
- D. Block Method would discuss all aspects of the first figure, then all aspects of the second figure, which is not what's described.
Point-by-Point Comparison
A text structure used in comparison and contrast essays where similarities and differences are discussed item by item for all subjects, rather than discussing all aspects of one subject then all aspects of another.
- Also known as the 'alternating method'.
- Effective for detailed comparisons of multiple subjects.
- Each paragraph or section focuses on a single point of comparison across all subjects.
Memory trick: Compare and contrast: either block all or point-by-point each.