Preview the text by reading the Prereading information on page 447 and skimming the selection. Keep in mind that this is a nonfiction essay. Discuss how this essay appears to be organized based on your previewing.
1. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads the first page aloud. Identify headings the authors use to organize the text. How does this organization help present information? What are the authors preparing to do at the end of the page?
2. Read the remainder of the selection independently. Write an explanation of the organization of the essay. Explain how the organization works to make the content clear to a reader.
If you have difficulty applying the reading strategy, focus on the content of the selection instead of the organization. Read the selection, paying particular attention to content. Then, review the selection, noting how the authors organized this content.
Meet with two or three students to share your description of how the selection is organized. Discuss how the organization helped you to understand the essay. How could the organization be better?