1. Leads and Endings: For Fabulous Fourth Graders
Getting the reader’s attention and letting them go.
CREATED BY MRS. DAVIS

2. Function of a Lead Grab the reader’s attention
Tells something about the subject of the story
Shows significance of the story
Establishes pace and tone
Establishes the writer’s voice and authority

3. Some Types of Leads
Scene Lead-Setting Lead-A scene lead opens a story with description, to set the stage on which the action can unfold.
Anecdote Lead-An anecdote lead tells a short story to illustrate the central theme of the main story.
A straight lead summarizes the most important idea in the story. The main advantage of this type of lead is that it makes meaning instantly clear.
A significant detail lead opens the story by focusing on a concrete detail that symbolizes the central theme.
A single-instance lead tells the story of one person or one event that typifies a trend detailed in the main story.
A face lead focuses on the perspective of a single person who is significant to the story--similar to a single-instance lead.
A direct-address lead speaks directly to the reader, using the second person.
A word-play lead uses a play on words to introduce a story—usually light-hearted or funny.

4. Some Types of Leads
Anecdote Lead-An anecdote lead tells a short story to illustrate the central theme of the main story.
Anecdotes are short, brief stories that create drama. They are used to share information. They are small scenes and used in features for several reasons:
A straight lead summarizes the most important idea in the story. The main advantage of this type of lead is that it makes meaning instantly clear.
A significant detail lead opens the story by focusing on a concrete detail that symbolizes the central theme.
A single-instance lead tells the story of one person or one event that typifies a trend detailed in the main story.
A face lead focuses on the perspective of a single person who is significant to the story--similar to a single-instance lead.
A direct-address lead speaks directly to the reader, using the second person.
A word-play lead uses a play on words to introduce a story—usually light-hearted or funny.

5. Anecdotes: To make a point without being overbearing.
To use an example helping to clarify a position or point of view.
To encourage and inspire others.
To promote laughter.
A straight lead summarizes the most important idea in the story. The main advantage of this type of lead is that it makes meaning instantly clear.
A significant detail lead opens the story by focusing on a concrete detail that symbolizes the central theme.
A single-instance lead tells the story of one person or one event that typifies a trend detailed in the main story.
A face lead focuses on the perspective of a single person who is significant to the story--similar to a single-instance lead.
A direct-address lead speaks directly to the reader, using the second person.
A word-play lead uses a play on words to introduce a story—usually light-hearted or funny.

6. Anecdotes: To remember an historical event and or person.
Anecdotes are used to take factual information and get it to stand up and reveal the essence and heart of your story!
A straight lead summarizes the most important idea in the story. The main advantage of this type of lead is that it makes meaning instantly clear.
A significant detail lead opens the story by focusing on a concrete detail that symbolizes the central theme.
A single-instance lead tells the story of one person or one event that typifies a trend detailed in the main story.
A face lead focuses on the perspective of a single person who is significant to the story--similar to a single-instance lead.
A direct-address lead speaks directly to the reader, using the second person.
A word-play lead uses a play on words to introduce a story—usually light-hearted or funny.

7. Some Types of Leads
Significant Detail Lead—Opening with an Important Fact-Detail-A significant fact-detail lead opens the story by focusing on a concrete detail that symbolizes the central main idea-angle.
Single-Instance Lead-Shares personal experience of you or someone else had that connects to main idea.
A straight lead summarizes the most important idea in the story. The main advantage of this type of lead is that it makes meaning instantly clear.
A single-instance lead tells the story of one person or one event that typifies a trend detailed in the main story.
A face lead focuses on the perspective of a single person who is significant to the story--similar to a single-instance lead.
A direct-address lead speaks directly to the reader, using the second person.
A word-play lead uses a play on words to introduce a story—usually light-hearted or funny.

8. Some Types of Leads Open with a Question Lead Lead
Direct-Address Lead—Speaks directly to the reader—using second person narrative
Word-Play-Humor Lead-A word-play lead uses a play on words to introduce a story—usually light-hearted or funny.
A straight lead summarizes the most important idea in the story. The main advantage of this type of lead is that it makes meaning instantly clear.
A single-instance lead tells the story of one person or one event that typifies a trend detailed in the main story.
A face lead focuses on the perspective of a single person who is significant to the story--similar to a single-instance lead.
A direct-address lead speaks directly to the reader, using the second person.
A word-play lead uses a play on words to introduce a story—usually light-hearted or funny.

9. Focus Each story has one main idea to which all other ideas relate
Having trouble – try a diagram
Supporting Ideas
Supporting Ideas
Supporting Ideas
Main Idea

10. Why is a lead so important?
I look at leads as my one frail opportunity to grab the reader. If I don’t grab them at the start, I can’t count on grabbing them in the middle—because they never get to the middle.
Mitch Alborn Detroit Free Press

11. WHAT IS A NUT GRAF?
The nut graf tells the reader what the writer is up to; it delivers a promise of the story's content and message. It's called the nut graf because, like a nut, it contains the "kernel," or essential theme, of the story.

12. WHAT IS A NUT GRAF? The nut graf has several purposes:
It justifies the story by telling readers why they should care.

13. WHAT IS A NUT GRAF?
It provides a transition from the lead and explains the lead and its connection to the rest of the story.
It often tells readers why the story is timely. .

14. WHAT IS A NUT GRAF?
It often includes supporting material that helps readers see why the story is important.
Ken Wells, a writer and editor at The Wall Street Journal, described the nut graf as "a paragraph that says what this whole story is about and why you should read it. It's a flag to the reader, high up in the story: You can decide to proceed or not, but if you read no farther, you know what that story's about." .

15. Function of an Ending A good ending must:
Tell the reader the story is over.
Nail the central theme-main idea of the story to the reader’s mind.
Resonate—stick with the reader and make them think.

16. Function of an Ending 2 A really good ending can: Surprise the reader.
Present a twist on the story.
Do something unexpected—that turns out to be exactly right.

17. How to Write an Ending
Write the ending first, so you’ll have a destination to aim for as you write. Or at least have the destination in mind.
Don’t make it an afterthought: it’s your last chance to influence your reader, so make it count.

18. Types of Endings
Anecdote Ending-tells a brief story that summarizes the content of the main story by implication and demonstration.
Detail Ending-Ends with specific, concrete detail, fact or statistic
Close with advice for your reader—Make suggestions for what they should learn or do
An anecdote ending tells a brief story that summarizes the content of the main story by implication and demonstration.
A detail ending uses a specific, concrete detail, fact, or statistic to conclude the story.
A face ending focuses on the unique point of view of a person central to the story—similar to the detail ending, but with a personal touch.
A quote ending uses a pithy quote from a source to conclude the story—can be very effective, but can also be overused.
A scenic ending describes a physical setting, letting the reader “see” the story—almost the way the camera pulls back at the end of a movie.
A not-the-obvious ending defies the reader’s expectations. For example, the obvious ending for an article about someone who has died is to describe the funeral. A not-the-obvious ending would be to end with a story from the person’s childhood.

19. Types of Endings
Quote Ending-Use an interesting quote from someone you wrote about in your story that sums up heart and soul of your story
Pose an interesting question to your reader—keep them thinking about your story
An anecdote ending tells a brief story that summarizes the content of the main story by implication and demonstration.
A detail ending uses a specific, concrete detail, fact, or statistic to conclude the story.
A face ending focuses on the unique point of view of a person central to the story—similar to the detail ending, but with a personal touch.
A quote ending uses a pithy quote from a source to conclude the story—can be very effective, but can also be overused.
A scenic ending describes a physical setting, letting the reader “see” the story—almost the way the camera pulls back at the end of a movie.
A not-the-obvious ending defies the reader’s expectations. For example, the obvious ending for an article about someone who has died is to describe the funeral. A not-the-obvious ending would be to end with a story from the person’s childhood.

20. Why is the ending so important?
If leads are like flashlights that shine down into the story, endings can be eternal flames that keep a story alive in a reader’s head and heart.
Chip Scanlan Poynter Institute

21. Learning from a Master
“Mopsy has looked into the face of death, and it is whiskered.”
Lead for a story about a bobcat terrorizing household pets in a Florida neighborhood, told from the point of view of a chicken who survived.
Writer: Rick Bragg

22. Your Turn
Based on our discussion, write three possible leads for your feature story (or stories).
Share your leads with your partners.
Try to pick the one that best captures the heart and soul-main idea of your story