Infrared dichroic measurements, refined to apply to Systems of low orientation, have been used to determine the structure of uniplanar and biaxially drawn polyacrylonitrile films. Orientation results in an alignment of the molecular chains with some degree of unkinking of the molecule. Preferential orientation of the nitrile side groups occurs due to the intermolecular dipolar attractions. Contrary to previous work, the results indicate that this dipolar interaction yields nitrile groups less well oriented than the chains with respect to the direction of draw.