1. GRABBERS Otherwise known as HOOKS Get your reader’s attention!!!
Some information obtained from:

2. Start with a startling statement or fact that will grab the readers' attention to surprise, anger, or amuse them into reading more.
Blah: Most people haven’t had the opportunity to explore space. Similarly, many people have not had the opportunity to explore the deep sea.
Better: Many people know that space exploration is exciting, yet dangerous, but a lot of people don’t give the same attention to deep- sea exploration. Not many people consider the dangers deep-sea explorers face to bring us information and images of exotic ocean creatures.
Which one is more directly connected to the prompt?

3. Start with a direct quotation from the passages
Start with a direct quotation from the passages. You can’t just pick any old quote to use. You have to make a connection between the quote and your big idea or opinion statement.
“What’s so exciting about exploring the bottom of the ocean? Actually, the ocean bottom contains as many different features as our continents.
“Seventy percent of our planet lies under water. This “world ocean” consists of the Pacific, our largest ocean, followed by the Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic Oceans. We have explored less than 5 percent of these waters. In fact, we have better maps of the surface of Mars than we do of our oceans. 
“Many of these creatures live at the greatest depths, which pose the most dangers to human divers. Some, like the frilled shark, may hold clues to our planet’s past.” 
“Exploring the oceans may lead us to discover many new land forms and animals. Scientists also hope it will help us learn more about the planet, and even about ourselves.
Which quote is the most effective to support the big idea statement? Do we need to use the entire quote or is there too much? What could we add to directly connect the two?

4. Start with a verbal picture that relates to the topic
Start with a verbal picture that relates to the topic. Do not begin with "Picture this" or "Imagine this."
Sharks longer than five feet, fish with dangerous teeth, and creatures that glow in the dark. Many of us have seen these creatures in books or on TV, but very few people get to see them in the ocean.
Look through the articles. Can you find a “picture” to describe that would capture your reader’s attention?
How can we connect these images to our big idea statement?

5. Don’t start with a question
Don’t start with a question. The questions being written are either repeating the prompt or are questions we’ve already thought of. IF YOU FIND YOU HAVE USED A QUESTION, JUST CHANGE IT INTO DECLARATIVE STRUCTURE.
Nope: Have you ever wanted to go deep-sea exploring?
Meh: If given the chance, many of us would jump at the opportunity to go deep-sea exploring in the Pacific Ocean.
Yep: If given the chance, many of us would jump at the opportunity to go deep-sea exploring in the Pacific Ocean, even if it seems to be a dangerous thing to do.
(See how the second one is more directly connected to the big idea statement?)