Bell Ringer Activity: Read the following Items. If it is a complete sentence write “S”. If it isn’t write “F”. Try to fix the fragments you identify/find. When a new term begins. It is always a great time to start all over again. You can make new goals. Said never give up.

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How can I improve the quality of the essay with the Introduction and Conclusion?

Hooking your reader “When you open the front door of a house… you can sense if you’re comfortable or even if you want to stay awhile…..Similarly, the lead or beginning of a piece of writing is the “front door.” You want your guests or readers to feel compelled to stay and linger.” The Revision Toolbox by Georgia Heard Leads get readers hooked and raise questions yet to be answered.

What is a “Hook”,”Lead-In” or a”Great Beginning”? These are all terms or expressions used to describe the importance of grabbing the reader’s attention at the beginning of the essay. Use a “Hook” to begin and end the essay. The “Hook” should always prepare the reader for the essay that will follow by staying on the topic.

What is a “Hook”,”Lead-In” or a”Great Beginning”? Be careful not to overuse the same type of “Hook” with every essay. Eg. The Rhetorical question or dialogue. By the way, announcing your topic is NEVER a good idea, “In the following essay I will…”.

What is a “Hook”,”Lead-In” or a”Great Beginning”? These are all terms or expressions used to describe the importance of grabbing the reader’s attention at the beginning of the essay. It is important that you use a technique that will not only grab the reader’s attention, but prepare them for topic that will be discussed in the essay. Be careful not to overuse the same type of “Hook” with every essay. Eg. The Rhetorical question or dialogue. By the way, announcing your topic is NEVER a good idea.

Ending with a PUNCH! Bring closure to the essay by using the same creative “hook” to close out the essay. This leaves the reader with a lasting impression and brings a unique sense of closure to the essay.

Listen to these examples.

Here’s an Example from an FCAT Essay: “Eric! Put your head in the window! What do you mean what did you do?! Do it! Now!” This, and more, is what my bus driver, Mrs._________, has to go through day after long day. That, and some more reasons, is why I would like to trade places with her. I want to know how she can do it. I’ll admit this is not the most glamorous person in the world to trade places with, but it fascinates me. My first reason is….

Great alternatives for introductions, hooks, and leads Kind of a boring, cliché intro! “Once upon a time, there lived a little girl with a red riding hood…”

Great alternatives for introductions, hooks, and leads - Examples Start with a short (4 or 5 word maximum) effective sentence – Her hair shone gold. Start with an interesting metaphor or simile – The wolf was a tornado, changing the lives of all who crossed his path. Start with an interesting question for the reader to ponder – Who could have thought that a simple trip to Grandma’s house could end in tragedy?        All good stories start off with a great beginning. We are going to look at some of the ways that students can start their pieces. Insert Red Riding Hooks from Northern Nevada Writing Project http://nnwp.org

More Great Leads- Examples Start with a subordinate clause or other complex sentence form – Though the road to Grandma’s house was spooky, Red skipped along with an air of confidence. Start with a riddle – Who has big eyes, big teeth and is dressed in Grandma’s clothes? Yes, you guessed it, the Big Bad Wolf.

More Great Leads- Examples Fill in these blanks: “___ was the kind of ___ who/that ___” - Little Red was the kind of girl who thought wolves would never bother her. Capture a feeling or emotion: You might be surprised to learn that a little girl couldn’t recognize her own mother.

More Great Leads- Examples Use a string of adjectives – Tall, dark, and with an air of confidence, the woodsman entered the house. What fairy tales, fables, or stories do you know well enough to write eight new, possible introductions?

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES: SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES: *Group work must be done on separate sheets of paper. Group 2: Group 3: Use the “Capture the feeling or emotion” model for “The Three Little pigs”. Create a “Hook” which uses the “capture the feeling or emotion” model for the “Drugs are bad for you”. Use the “Start with a Simile or Metaphor” technique to create a Hook for “Cinderella”. Next use a “Reflective Question to ponder” technique. Rewrite the Introduction for the “Drugs are bad for you ” essay using one of these techniques.

Activity Creating Great Leads The Tortoise and the Hare If time allows, assign different fairy tales to small table groups. Direct the participants to write eight new introductions using the great leads as models. Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs Cinderella Sleeping Beauty Aesop’s Fables – The Tortoise and the Hare The 3 Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf Cinderella