  In a relativistic quark model we study the structure of the $N(1710)$
resonance, and the $\gamma^\ast N \to N(1710)$ reaction focusing on the high
momentum transfer region, where the valence quark degrees of freedom are
expected to be dominant. The $N(1710)$ resonance, a state with spin 1/2 and
positive parity ($J^P = \frac{1}{2}^+$), can possibly be interpreted as the
second radial excitation of the nucleon, after the Roper, $N(1440)$. We
calculate the $\gamma^\ast N \to N(1710)$ helicity amplitudes, and predict that
they are almost identical to those of the $\gamma^\ast N \to N(1440)$ reaction
in the high momentum transfer region. Thus, future measurement of the helicity
amplitudes for the $\gamma^\ast N \to N(1710)$ reaction can give a significant
hint on the internal structure of the $N(1710)$ state.
