ATI TEAS: Craft and Structure Concepts
Importance ★★★★☆ · 23% (estimate)
Overview
This chapter looks at how a passage is written, not just what it says. You will tell facts from opinions, figure out why the author wrote the passage and how the author feels about the subject, recognize how the text is organized, and use context to work out word meanings.
A fact can be checked and proven true or false. An opinion expresses a belief, feeling, or judgment, and often uses words such as best, should, or terrible. Authors usually write to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain, and the word choices reveal their point of view and tone.
Writers organize ideas in common patterns: sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem and solution, and description. Signal words help you spot each pattern. When you meet an unfamiliar word, use the sentence around it, such as a definition, an example, or a contrast, to make a reasonable guess.
Key concepts
Fact
A statement that can be checked and proven true or false using evidence, such as a measurement, date, or record.
Memory tipIf you could look it up or measure it, it is a fact.
Opinion
A statement of belief, feeling, or judgment that cannot be proven. Words such as best, worst, should, and beautiful often signal an opinion.
Memory tipJudgment words point to an opinion.
Author's purpose
The reason the author wrote the passage: to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to explain how to do something.
Memory tipAsk: What does the author want the reader to do or know?
Point of view
The position the passage is told from (first person uses I or we; third person uses he, she, or they) and the author's attitude toward the subject.
Memory tipLook at the pronouns, then at the word choices.
Text structure
The pattern used to organize a passage, such as sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem and solution, or description.
Memory tipBecause and as a result signal cause and effect; however signals contrast, and similarly signals comparison.
Tone
The author's attitude as shown through word choice, such as serious, hopeful, critical, or humorous.
Memory tipFind two or three strong words and ask what feeling they share.
Context clues
Hints in nearby words or sentences, such as a definition, an example, a synonym, or a contrast, that help you figure out an unfamiliar word.
Memory tipReplace the hard word with your guess and reread the sentence.
Often tested
- A statement with numbers can still be an opinion if it adds a judgment, such as "the best price."
- Persuasive writing takes a side and tries to change the reader's mind; informative writing stays neutral.
- Signal words are the fastest way to identify text structure.
- Context clues of contrast often follow words like but, however, or unlike.
Easy to confuse: Fact vs. opinion
| Feature | Fact | Opinion |
|---|---|---|
| Can it be proven? | Yes, with evidence | No, it is a belief or judgment |
| Common wording | Dates, numbers, measurable events | Best, worst, should, believe |
| Example | The clinic opens at 8 a.m. | The clinic has the friendliest staff. |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Read the passage. "The new bridge opened in April. It is 1,200 feet long. It has two lanes in each direction. It is the most beautiful structure in the county." Which sentence from the passage states an opinion?
- ① It is the most beautiful structure in the county.
- ② It has two lanes in each direction.
- ③ The new bridge opened in April.
- ④ It is 1,200 feet long.
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ① It is the most beautiful structure in the county.
Key point: Fact can be checked; opinion is a judgment
A fact can be checked or measured. An opinion is a personal judgment. "Most beautiful" is a judgment that people could disagree about, so it is an opinion. Words like *best, worst, beautiful,* and *should* often signal opinions.
Wrong choices
- It has two lanes in each direction.: The number of lanes can be counted, so it is a fact.
- The new bridge opened in April.: The opening date can be checked, so it is a fact.
- It is 1,200 feet long.: Length can be measured, so it is a fact.
Question 2. Read the advertisement. "Tired of paying too much for your phone plan? Switch to Brightline Mobile today and save up to $20 a month. Sign up before Friday and get your first month free!" What is the author's main purpose?
- ① To inform readers about how phone networks work
- ② To entertain readers with a funny story
- ③ To explain the history of phone companies
- ④ To persuade readers to switch phone plans
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ④ To persuade readers to switch phone plans
Key point: Calls to action signal a persuasive purpose
The text asks a question about a problem, promises savings, and pushes the reader to act "today" and "before Friday." These are signs of writing meant to persuade (convince someone to do or believe something).
Wrong choices
- To inform readers about how phone networks work: The ad gives a little information, but its goal is to get readers to sign up.
- To entertain readers with a funny story: There is no story or humor here.
- To explain the history of phone companies: No history is given.
Question 3. Read the passage. "Heavy rain fell for three days straight. As a result, the river rose over its banks. Because the water covered the main road, many drivers were stuck in long delays." Which text structure does the passage use?
- ① Problem and solution
- ② Compare and contrast
- ③ Cause and effect
- ④ Description of a place
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ③ Cause and effect
Key point: "As a result" and "because" signal cause and effect
Signal words such as "as a result" and "because" show that one event led to another: rain → river rises → road covered → delays. This is a cause-and-effect structure.
Wrong choices
- Problem and solution: The passage describes problems but never offers a solution.
- Compare and contrast: Nothing is being compared.
- Description of a place: The passage explains why things happened rather than describing a place.
AI-written · Verified · Written by AI. Only units that passed a separate AI check (re-reading facts and numbers) are published. Tell us if you find a mistake.