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SAT

Course: SAT > Unit 5

Lesson 2: Inside the SAT Writing and Language Test
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SAT
About the SAT Writing and Language Test
Inside the SAT Writing and Language Test
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Writing and Language Test: Expression of Ideas

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Details about Expression of Ideas on the Writing and Language Test.

Expression of Ideas

On the SAT Writing and Language Test, you will encounter a variety of questions that will ask you to revise and edit passages in different ways.
Expression of Ideas questions ask you to improve the effectiveness of a text by revising with an eye to topic development, accuracy, logic, cohesion, and rhetorically effective language use.
A note on the images in this article: all Writing and Language Test questions will be associated with a passage, but the full passages are not included here, only excerpts. Each question pictured is just one example of how questions in that category can look.

Some sub-topics within Expression of Ideas:

Development — These questions will ask you to focus on revising text in relation to rhetorical purpose.
  • Proposition: Questions will ask you to add, revise, or retain central ideas, main claims, counterclaims, and topic sentences to structure text and convey arguments, information, and ideas clearly and effectively.
    Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column.
    The portion relevant for the question says: "Living independently and demonstrating an intense work ethic, the Harvey Girls became known as a transformative force in the American West."
    The associated question says: "The writer is considering revising the underlined portion of the sentence [West] to read:
    West, inspiring books, documentaries, and even a musical.
    Should the writer add this information here? A) Yes, because it provides examples of the Harvey Girls' influence. B) Yes, because it serves as a transitional point in the paragraph. C) No, because it should be placed earlier in the passage. D) No, because it contradicts the main claim of the passage."
  • Support: Questions will ask you to add, revise, or retain information and ideas (e.g., details, facts, statistics) intended to support claims or points in a text.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column.
The portion relevant for the question says: "Employees who feel less than 100 percent and are sleep deprived are also less prone to work at their maximal productivity. One company in California [begin underline] gained a huge boost in its employees' morale [end underline] when it moved from an artificially lit distribution facility to one with natural illumination."
The associated question says: "Which choice best supports the statement made in the previous sentence?" (There are two sentences above and this question is asking about support for info in the first sentence.)
"A) NO CHANGE B) saw a 5 percent increase in productivity C) saved a great deal on its operational costs D) invested large amounts of time and capital
  • Focus: Questions will ask you to add, revise, retain, or delete information and ideas in text for the sake of relevance to topic and purpose.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column.
The text on the left says: "The article, published by Forbes magazine, explained that coworking spaces are designated locations that, for a fee, individuals can use to conduct their work. The spaces are usually stocked with standard office equipment, such as photocopiers, printers, and fax machines. In these locations, however, the spaces often include small meeting areas and larger rooms for hosting presentations. [begin underline] The cost of launching a new coworking business in the United States is estimated to be approximately $58,000. [end underline]"
The question on the right says: "The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence. Should the sentence be kept or deleted? A) Kept, because it provides a detail that supports the main topic of the paragraph. B) Kept, because it sets up the main topic of the paragraph that follows. C) Deleted, because it blurs the paragraph's main focus with a loosely related detail. D) Deleted, because it repeats information that has been provided in an earlier paragraph.
  • Quantitative Information: Questions will ask you to relate information presented quantitatively in such forms as graphs, charts, and tables to information presented in text.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column. Below both of these columns is a line graph.
The text on the left-hand side says: "[Title] Dark Snow
Most of Greenland's interior is covered by a thick layer of ice and compressed snow known as the Greenland Ice Sheet. The size of the ice sheet fluctuates seasonally: in summer, average daily high temperatures in Greenland can rise to slightly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, partially melting the ice; in the winter, the sheet thickens as additional snow falls, and average daily low temperatures can drop [begin underline] to as low as 20 degrees [end underline]."
The question on the right asks: "Which choice most accurately and effectively represents the information in the graph? A) NO CHANGE B) to 12 degrees Fahrenheit. C) to their lowest point on December 13. D) to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and stay there for months.
The line graph is titled "Average Daily High and Low Temperatures Recorded at Nuuk Weather Station, Greenland (1961-1990).
The x-axis shows months, starting with January and ending in December. They-axis shows temperature in Fahrenheit, starting with 0 and ending with 60 degrees. A broken line shows the average daily high while a solid line shows the average daily low. The lowest average daily low is March 5th at 12 degrees. The highest average daily high is slightly above 50 degrees in July.
Organization — These questions focus on revision of text to improve the logic and cohesion of text at the sentence, paragraph, and whole-text levels.
  • Logical Sequence: Questions will ask you to revise text as needed to ensure that information and ideas are presented in the most logical order.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column.
The text on the left-hand side says:
"[1] Thus, even though I already had all the equipment I needed in my home office, I decided to try using a coworking space in my city. [2] Because I was specifically interested in coworking's reported benefits related to creativity, I chose a facility that offered a bright, open work area where I wouldn't be isolated. [3] Throughout the morning, more people appeared. [4] Periods of quiet, during which everyone worked independently, were broken up occasionally with lively conversation."
The question on the right-hand side says:
"The writer wants to add the following sentence to the paragraph.
After filling out a simple registration form and taking a quick tour of the facility, I took a seat at a table and got right to work on my laptop.
The best placement for the sentence is immediately A) before sentence 1. B) after sentence 1. C) after sentence 2. D) after sentence 3."
  • Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitions: Questions will ask you to revise text as needed to improve the beginning or ending of a text or paragraph to ensure that transition words, phrases, or sentences are used effectively to connect information and ideas.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column. Below both of these columns is a line graph.
The text on the left-hand side says: "[begin underline] Therefore [end underline], between 1992 and 1996, more than 400 independent philosophy departments were eliminated from institutions."
The question on the right asks about the underlined portion of the sentence "Therefore" and asks whether this transition word should be kept the same or changed to "Thus", "Moreover", or "However".
Effective Language Use — These questions will ask you to identify stated central themes or determine themes that are implied in the text.
  • Precision: Questions will ask you to revise text as needed to improve the exactness or content appropriateness of word choice.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column. Below both of these columns is a line graph.
The text on the left-hand side says: "Given these solutions as well as the many health benefits of the food, the advantages of Greek yogurt [begin underline] outdo [end underline] the potential drawbacks of its production."
The text on the right asks about the underlined portion of the sentence, "outdo", and asks whether this word should be kept the same or changed to "defeat", "outperform", or "outweigh".
  • Concision: Questions will ask you to revise text as needed to eliminate wordiness and redundancy).
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column. Below both of these columns is a line graph.
The relevant text on the left-hand side says: "The share of library materials that is in nonprint formats is increasing steadily; in 2010, at least 18.5 million e-books were available [begin underline] for them to circulate. [end underline]"
The question on the right refers to the underlined "for them to circulate" and asks whether this wording should be kept the same or changed to "to be circulated by them", "for their circulating", or "for circulation".
  • Style and Tone: Questions will ask you to revise text as necessary to ensure consistency of style and tone within a text or to improve the match of style and tone to purpose.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column. Below both of these columns is a line graph.
The text on the left-hand side says: "These Harvey Houses, which constituted the first restaurant chain in the United States, were unique for their high standards of service and quality. The menu was modeled after those fine restaurants, so the food was leagues beyond the [begin underline] sinister [end underline] fare travelers were accustomed to receiving in transit."
The question on the right says: "Which choice best maintains the tone established in the passage?" [referring to the underlined "sinister"]
A) NO CHANGE B) surly C) abysmal D) icky
  • Syntax: Questions will ask you to use various sentence structures to accomplish needed rhetorical purposes.
Image of an excerpt of a Writing and Language passage on the left-hand column and an associated SAT question on the right-hand column. Below both of these columns is a line graph.
The text on the left-hand side says: "Typically, the ice sheet begins to show evidence of thawing in late [begin underline] summer. This follows [end underline] several weeks of higher temperatures."
The question on the right says: "Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences at the underlined portion?
A) summer, following B) summer, and this thawing follows C) summer, and such thawing follows D) summer and this evidence follows
Ready to practice your revising and editing skills? Start here!

Attributions

This article was adapted from the following sources:
“Test Specifications for the Redesigned SAT” from The College Board.
“SAT Practice Tests” from The College Board.

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