How to grab your reader’s attention in the beginning HOOKS How to grab your reader’s attention in the beginning

Vivid Description I grew tired after dinner. WRONG – “TELLS” CORRECT – “SHOWS” I grew tired after dinner. As I leaned back and rested my head against the top of the chair, my eyelids began to feel heavy, and the edges of the empty plate in front of me blurred with the white tablecloth.

Vivid Description (contin.) Planning your vivid description: Best way to “show” reader – 5 senses What or who do you want to describe? What is your reason for writing your description? What are the particular qualities that you want to focus on? sight sound smell touch taste

Anecdote Brief – 1-2 sentences Relevant to topic Entertaining Criteria Example Brief – 1-2 sentences Relevant to topic Entertaining Can involve quotes My grandfather preached paying kindnesses forward. “Don’t ever just take, take, take. Give back to someone one day what’s been given to you.” THESIS…

Rhetorical Question Criteria Example Thoughtful – no “yes” or “no” questions; use WWWWWH? Does not require an answer What would the world be like without hatred? Who would replace all the teachers in the world? How would children survive without the help of loving parents?

Definitions WARNING: Can be boring and not hook reader Criteria Example WARNING: Can be boring and not hook reader Use only if you can make entertaining/relevant If the definition of peace is “the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world,” humanity should reconsider its definition of “normal.”

Similes and Metaphors Life, he realized, was much like a song. Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re going to get. Life is a three-ring circus. Life is a minefield. Life is a roller coaster. Life is a puzzle.

Humor Sarcasm Hyphenated Modifiers Humorous Anecdote Criteria Examples Sarcasm Hyphenated Modifiers Humorous Anecdote Sarcasm must come from you/be your voice or sense of humor. HM- My do-it-my-way-or-it’s-wrong older sister means well, but she can be a bit controlling. HA- Falling face-first into a mud puddle is no way to start the day, but…

Quote- Quote Walk “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” ― Elbert Hubbard “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ― Winston Churchill

Fact or Statistic WARNING: Can be boring and not hook reader Criteria Example WARNING: Can be boring and not hook reader Use only if you can make entertaining/relevant Use only if TRUE; DO NOT make them up Over six million people died as a result of the Holocaust. Such-and-Such professional athlete makes over $12M annually.

Practice Using the following prompt, let’s come up with as many different types of hooks as we can. Some people think of the United States as a nation of “couch potatoes.” Let’s come up with hooks that will grab reader’s attention and persuade them to be more physically active.

Independent Practice On the back of your hook sheet, think back to the prompt you selected for your Persuasive Practice essay and create better hooks using your notes and examples.