Use Figurative Language Narrate a Personal Experience State Your Opinion Hooking the Reader Use a Definition Use a Quote From a Famous Person Make a Bold Or Challenging Statement Ask a Question ????????

Make your writing a page turner! The hook (beginning or introduction) establishes the direction your writing will take. A good hook 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.

Ask a Question???? 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 promote appropriate school dress.

Examples of effective 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 promote appropriate dress?

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.”

Now, YOU write a hook for this prompt using a question. Practice! *Rules are important. What are the most important rules at your school and why? Now, YOU write a hook for this prompt using a question.

Now, Let's Share...

Another technique that. writers use to engage the 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.

Basketball “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.

It’s your turn to practice It’s your turn to practice! For the following prompt, write a hook using a personal experience.

Prompt: *Rules are important. What are the most important rules at your school and why?

LET’S SHARE OUR HOOKS!

OPEN WITH A QUOTATION Open with a quotation that is well-known (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.

With your group, brainstorm and create a class list of well known quotes, catchy phrases, and idioms to use as your hook.

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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

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) Mississippi is the red-headed step-child of Hurricane Katrina. (metaphor)

Now, YOU write a hook for this prompt using an example of Practice! *Rules are important. What are the most important rules at your school and why? Now, YOU write a hook for this prompt using an example of figurative language.

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Let’s Review: Ask a Question Share a Personal Experience Open with a quotation Use figurative language

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.

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.

State 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. But, do not use “I think.” (No personal pronouns) Example “There is no question cell phones should be allowed on campus.”

Do NOT use the following phrases when stating your opinion (No personal pronouns “I” or “me”): “I think…” “I am going to tell you about…” “I will write about…” “I feel that…”

Practice! *Rules are important. What are the most important rules at your school and why? Now, YOU write a hook for this prompt using a bold statement without using the pronoun “I.”

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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.

Now, YOU write a hook for this prompt using a definition. Practice! *Rules are important. What are the most important rules at your school and why? Now, YOU write a hook for this prompt using a definition.

Now, Let's Share...

Always Remember! Hook the Viewer = Hook the Reader!