When you read an article like the one you just read, it's pretty easy to get lost in the information or story. That's okay. It's actually the mark of good writing when readers just take in the information and don't worry too much about the structure of the piece. But the structure of a text is very important if you're a writer. Watch the following slide show to learn more about the structure of the article you just read.

The Hook In writing, a hook is something that grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read further. The hook happens very early on in a piece. In this case, the hook is in the first sentence, when the author paints a picture for the reader, asking them to imagine being in a "darkened, cavernous room." It's catchy and interesting, and makes the reader want to find out what's next. Organization Once the reader is hooked, it's the writer's job to keep them reading. One way to do that is to be clear in what the article is about. Organization is key to clarity. In this case, each paragraph has a different role to develop. One entire paragraph is dedicated to developing the idea of a "concept" and explaining it clearly and effectively, while the next discusses the stage manager's job. Paragraph Order It's no accident that each paragraph flows nicely into the next, even though they are technically discussing different topics (though we'll talk more about this later in the lesson). It is likely that the writer first developed an outline that included all of the information he or she needed to include in the article, and then decided the most logical order for each paragraph. The Final Paragraph The final paragraph in any piece is designed to conclude things. The final paragraph in this article does conclude things, making sure to wrap them up nicely. But it also keeps the reader engaged, and encourages further interest in a topic. It re-emphasizes some of the important things about the article, such as the idea that theater is all about collaboration.

Do you think you have a good grasp of how the article you read is structured? Put the items below in the correct order to test your knowledge.