1. Purpose/ Examples/ Strategies
Introductions
Purpose/ Examples/ Strategies

2. Purpose Interest and capture the attention of the reader.
You have to captivate from the start or your reader will lose interest.
Orient the reader
From the start readers should understand the point of view and tone of the narrative.
Readers should also be introduced to a main character.
Start with something significant – explanation of the problem or situation, or an observation.

3. Captivate!
Read the introductions on the handout and take notes on the varying strategies each author uses to captivate.

4. To Captivate… Use tense dialogue Include vivid description
Start with an action (big or small)
Ask the reader a question (depending on tone/ POV)
Resist the urge to give too much background information – reveal what the reader needs to know throughout the story – starting with summary can lose the reader’s attention.

5. Orient!
Reread the provided introductions and explain how they orient the reader to the point of view, tone, problem, characters, or narrator.

6. To Orient… Be subtle, don’t summarize.
Mention locations/ time periods.
Reveal just enough about your characters.
Foreshadow or hint at the problem.

7. Practice
Draft two potential introductions for your narrative, trying out multiple strategies for captivating and orienting.
Have a partner read both and discuss which one is more effective.