Hooking the Reader

Ask a Question

????????

Use Figurative Language Narrate a Personal

Experience

Use a Quote

From a

Famous

Person

State Your Opinion

Use a Definition Make a Bold

Or Challenging

Statement

Make your writing

a page turner!

The lead (beginning or introduction)

establishes the direction your writing will

take. A good lead grabs your reader's

attention and refuses to let go. In other

words, it hooks the reader.

Hooking a reader when you are writing an essay

is just as important as a movie trailer is to the

success of the movie.You want to give “a little

bit” of the content, but you really want them to

“buy the ticket.” This presentation will

introduce you to some types of introductions so

that you can use them as your own when you

write.

REMEMBER THE

RULE OF 3!

Your introduction should have at least 3 concise and clear sentences.

You should accomplish 3 things with your introduction:

Get the reader’s attention

Present your topic and purpose

Connect with your audience

WHAT IF I

COULD OFFER

EACH OF YOU

$500,000?

NO, you will not

have to do

anything illegal!!!

So, would

you like to

know how

to get it?

GRADUATE FROM HIGH

SCHOOL!!!!

• Studies show that people who graduate from

high school will earn at least $500,000 more in

their lifetime than people who do not.

• Staying in school will determine whether or

not you get the $500,000.

Well, did I get your attention?

• This is an example of one way to hook your

reader in the introduction: asking a

question.

• You can ask a rhetorical question that draws

the reader into wanting to read further to

discover the answer to the question.

• Ask an interesting question that you will

answer in your essay.

Use Questions to “Hook” Your

Reader!

Let’s Take a Closer

Look at Some Examples

“Acne, baldness, sterility. Sound

attractive, fellas? Or ladies, how

about a deep voice, facial hair, and

kidney damage? All of these

appealing attributes, along with

many others, are side effects of

using steroids, yet people continue

to use them!"

Have you ever wondered how you would

survive if you found yourself alone in the

jungle? How would you defend yourself

against predators? What would you eat?

Where would you find water? Read Lord

of the Flies to see just how a group of

teenagers manage to survive! Evaluative Writing

Dear Rodney,

Lamont? Come in Lamont. Lamont,

are you there? Over. Rodney, I am just

practicing for the Airforce. You will be

dying to join after reading The U.S.

Airforce! Learn all about it.

Evaluative Writing

Practice Time!

Writing an effective question to begin your

introduction can help you organize your essay,

because you have to be able to answer the

question in a comprehensive manner.

For example:

Read the following list of questions about requiring students to wear uniforms in an effort to prevent students from wearing gang colors to school.

Individually jot down an answer to

the following questions.

• Do you hate school uniforms?

• What will school uniforms do to student’s sense of individuality?

• Who stands to benefit from school uniforms?

• How could school uniforms prevent gang related issues in our school?

Discuss!

1. Take a moment to share your responses to each question.

2. Which question(s) bring out the most information and cause for discussion?

3. Which question(s) bring out the least information?

4. How were some questions more interesting than others?

5. How did some questions bring out a strong reaction in you rather than a statement might have? Explain why.

6. In your opinion, what question is most effective and why?

Sample Questions to AVOID!

AVOID meaningless questions that don’t ask

the reader to think critically; a question you

don’t expect the reader to answer.

Examples of Meaningless Questions

• “Do you hate school uniforms? I do.”

• “Do you have a favorite season? Well I do.”

• “Have you ever wondered why people believe in school uniforms? Well, I’ll tell you.”

Another technique that

writers use to engage the

writer is to share a personal

experience in the introduction.

Let’s Look at Some Examples

Use a Personal

Experience

I walked into the cold, white room on April 23, 1992. The beeping of the machines echoed immensely in my head and I knew that noise would haunt me for the rest of my life. I walked in further to join my family that stood beside the bed. I hung my head in grief and through tears got one last look.

I bent over and gently whispered,

"Good-bye Grandma, I love you." It

was then the nurse made the machines

make a more painful sound; the sound

of silence.

This is the act of euthanasia which is

the hardest decision for a family to

make when the choice is suffering in

life or inflicting immediate death.

“10, 9, 8, 7, 6…” It was my first basketball game

and I had the ball with the clock ticking away. I

was standing on top of the world. However, to

get to that point, I had to go through pre-game

jitters, the embarrassing shot, and the opponent’s

hard stares. Yes, it takes determination to succeed.

Two Effective Techniques

-Questions

-Narrate a personal experience

• In the steroid

introduction, the

writer involves

the reader in his

or her topic

before it is even

introduced using

questions.

• In the euthanasia

introduction, the

writer is so pulled

in by the details

of the story that

the reader already

trusts the writer as

a person.

It’s your turn to practice! For the following prompt, write an

introduction using either a question

or a personal experience.

REMEMBER THE

RULE OF 3!

Write 3 clear sentences

Get the reader’s attention

Present your topic and purpose

Connect with your audience

• The superintendent of your school district is concerned about the recent incidents of school violence and wants to take positive steps in hopes of preventing further violence.

• He has created a task force consisting of teachers, parents, and students to address the issue, and you have been chosen to serve on the task force. He wants you to draw upon your own personal knowledge of the issue of violence among students at your school.

• Write a letter to the superintendent on how to eliminate school violence in our schools.

LET’S SHARE OUR

INTRODUCTIONS

PART TWO:

“Hooking the Reader”

WHAT PHRASE

IS THIS GREAT

CIVIL RIGHTS

LEADER MOST

FAMOUS FOR?

I Have a Dream

OPEN WITH A

QUOTATION

• Open with a quotation that is well-

known (but be sure to put quotation

marks around it).

• You can also use a quotation from

someone that is not famous. It could

be from a song, movie, or one of your

own.

Examples of Famous Quotes

• “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

–Benjamin Franklin

• “All that glitters is not gold.” – Shakespeare

Student Example:

John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can

do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I think

today's Americans have forgotten Kennedy's message. We

expect our country to take care of us, but we are not taking

care of our country.

Brainstorm and create a class

list of well known quotes,

catchy phrases, and idioms to use

in writing.

Famous Quotes Continued…

• Collect as many quotes as possible from your discussion.

• Arrange your quotes thematically and use examples in your next writing assignment

Note: Refer to websites on famous quotations

See website – Famous Quotations

Use Figurative Language

to Hook Your Reader

“Time fly’s when you are having fun!”

Begin with a simile - Comparison using

“like” or “as”

Begin with a metaphor - Comparison

stating one thing is another thing

Begin with personification - Give non

living objects human characteristics

Example: Mississippi is the red-headed step-child

of Hurricane Katrina. How do you ask? The

loss of life and property in this gulf state

have almost been completely forgotten by

the rest of the country.

Additional Examples:

Tardies have overtaken our schools like cancer. (simile)

Tardies have become the pimple on our school’s

otherwise clear complexion. (metaphor)

The bell screams for the students to return to class but his

calls are left unanswered. (personification)

Practice!

• Tardies to class are disrupting instruction, leaving unfinished class work to be completed at home. Although rules and consequences were set at the beginning of the year, students are still arriving late.

• Write a letter to your principal in which you suggest a solution to the problem of tardies to class.

Now, YOU write an introduction for this

prompt using a quote or

figurative language.

REMEMBER THE

RULE OF 3!

Write 3 clear sentences

Get the reader’s attention

Present your topic and purpose

Connect with your audience

Let’s Review: • Ask a Question

• Share a Personal Experience

• Open with a quotation

• Use figurative language

PART THREE:

“Hooking the Reader”

Make a Bold Statement

The introductions in this section will deal

with speaking your mind, making a bold

statement to emphasize your position.

A bold and challenging statement is similar to an

announcement, but is meant to cause some people to

disagree with what you say. It's like one side of an

argument. It can be an opinion, but don't immediately

state that it is your opinion.

Example:

Using horses and cattle in the sport of rodeo is animal

abuse. What makes it more aggravating is that it is legal.

According to the law, there is nothing wrong with

chasing an animal down, tightening a rope around its

neck, knocking it to the ground, and tying its legs

together so it cannot move.

MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT

• Making a bold or strong

statement can get the

reader’s attention.

• Making a bold

statement also sets the

tone for your essay and

establishes you as

someone who has clear

and concise thoughts.

"It's time we faced the facts of the matter. They have been gassed, poisoned, starved and sterilized. Yet, they still thrive today in vast numbers and are multiplying at alarming rates. If we do not fight back, they could take over the world! I deeply regret to inform you the Orkin man did not accomplish his mission. I'm talking about cockroaches!"

Open with a Definition

Open with a definition of the term you are discussing and writing about.

It can be your own or come from a dictionary, textbook, or other source.

Example: According to Webster's Dictionary, government is defined as

the authority that serves the people and acts on their behalf. How

can the government know what the people want if the people do not

vote? If we do not vote, the government may act on its own behalf

instead of on the behalf of the people.

Give Your Opinion Come on, you guys do this all the time,

right? So, instead of dancing around

the topic, tell the reader what you think

about it in the introduction.

Example

“There is no question cell phones

should be allowed on campus.”

As you can see,

“hooking the reader”

is the key to success in

writing!

BUT…. Don’t forget the following tips

Tip #1 Do NOT use the following phrases:

“In this essay…”

“I am going to tell you about…”

“I will write about…”

“The first reason is…”

“The second reason is…”

Tip #2

Don’t bump into trees along the way

Tip #3 Do NOT use the following phrases:

“In this essay…”

“I am going to tell you about…”

“I will write about…”

“The first reason is…”

“The second reason is…”

Tip #4 - Know Your Strengths

Tip #5 Do NOT use the following phrases:

“In this essay…”

“I am going to tell you about…”

“I will write about…”

“The first reason is…”

“The second reason is…”

Tip #6 – Always Remember!

Hooking the Viewer = Hooking the Reader!

DON”T FORGET! Do NOT use the following phrases:

“In this essay…”

“I am going to tell you about…”

“I will write about…”

“The first reason is…”

“The second reason is…”

Take out all of your

notes on

introductions…

For the following writing prompts: Write three different introductions.

Remember the rule of 3!

– Gain the reader’s attention

– Present your topic and purpose

– Connect with your audience

AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,

REMEMBER THE THINGS TO

AVOID!

Sample Writing Topics

Compose a letter to a friend recommending that he or she

reads your favorite book or movie. (evaluation)

Think of one way someone can help make a difference in

conserving energy. The person may be a parent, friend, school

official, city, state or base official. Write a letter to a person

who can help solve a problem. Carefully describe the problem

and your proposed solution. (problem solution)

Sample Writing Topics

Recently, your English teacher, Social Studies teacher, and

Science teacher have all assigned major reports or projects due at

the same time. Each of these major assignments are required

and you want to do a good job on each one, but you cannot do

them all as scheduled.

Write a letter to your teachers or the principal, explaining the

problem this situation presents for students and suggest ways

the problem can be solved. Your suggested solution should be

very specific, so that the readers of your letter will be able to see

clearly how you think the problem can solved and how this

solution would keep the problem from arising again.

(problem solution)

10th Grade Prompts

Read the following quotations about integrity, which is the firm adherence to a

code of special moral or artistic values.

“Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against

yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth

and love.”

“Live like you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.”

“Havin'g integrity. . . means being completely true to what is inside you-to what you

know is right. . . what you feel you must do, regardless of the immediate cost of

sacrifice. . . to be honorable and to behave decently. .”

“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is

dangerous and dreadful.”

(Definition)

Writing Directions

Write a speech for your high school graduating class on the

meaning of integrity. You may use the ideas presented above,

your own experiences, observations, and/or readings.

As you write your speech remember to:

Focus on the meaning of integrity.

Consider the audience, purpose, and context of your speech.

Organize the ideas and details effectively.

Include specific examples that clearly develop your speech.

Edit your speech for standard grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

10 Grade Writing Prompt

Write an article for your school newspaper

about the meaning of individuality as it

relates to being a member of a group.

You may use the following information,

your own experiences, observations,

and/or readings.

(definition)

Writing Prompt Continued…

• “If you don’t know where you are going, any road

will get you there.” Carroll Lewis

• “My great mistake, the fault for which I can’t forgive

myself, is that one day I ceased pursuit of my own

individuality.” Oscar Wilde

• An individual's treatment and alternatives in life may

depend as much on the reputation of the group to

which that person belongs as on his or her own merit.

Catharine MacKinnon