1. Mrs. Bochert ~ 4 th Grade Lacy Elementary WRITING A GOOD BEGINNING

2. Bore Your Reader You Have A Choice… Hook them! Make Them Want To Read More! OR

3. How do I hook my reader? D.A.T.E.S. 1.Dialog- Have the main character say something that expresses a feeling, creates worry, or raises the reader’s curiosity. 2. Action –Put the main character in the setting doing something interesting and relevant. 3. Thought/Question- Show what the main character is thinking or worrying about. 4. Emotion- Show a character’s emotion about the topic. 5. Sound- A story relevant sound effect or a description of a sound.

4. Which Is A Better Beginning? In a Cave A.) Are you afraid of the dark? I am. But for some reason I like caves. Last summer, I explored a cave in Missouri called Smith’s Cavern. B.) Smith’s Cavern lies on the Illinois-Missouri border. It is 30 miles north of St. Louis. It is one of the largest limestone caves in the Midwest.

5. Which Is A Better Beginning? First Bike Ride A.) The first time I rode a two-wheeler I was six years old. I was in Franklin Park with my dad. I didn’t even know that he had let go. B.) “You can let go now!” I cried. I thought Dad was holding on, but he had let go 20 seconds earlier. I was on my own!

6. Which Is A Better Beginning? On the Set A.) I had never been on the set of a TV show before. My Uncle Wally got us tickets to see a taping of the “Horsefeathers” show. It was exciting. B.) “Action!” cried the director. Suddenly the TV performers came alive. This was a real TV show, being broadcast live over the network!

7. Which Is A Better Beginning? At the Game A.) Time was running out. We were down, 3 goals to 2. The Aces had the ball. Somehow, I had to break through their line of defense. B.) We played the Aces last Wednesday. They were ahead. Then we came from behind to tie the score when I stole the ball.

8. Now You Try! Kinds of Beginnings 1.Surprise your reader with the unexpected. 2. Pose a question or a problem. 3. Use dialog.