THINK Time! How do writers effectively grab their readers?

HOOK The first sentence of a story, which should grab the reader s attention. Example: The wolf was a tornado, changing the lives of all who crossed his path. Tall, dark, and with an air of confidence, the woodsman entered the house. He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air. Metal ground against metal; a lurching shudder shook the floor beneath him.

Which of the following sentences makes you want to keep reading? 1. People are killing off ocean life. 2. The most dangerous predators in the ocean today are human, not great white sharks. 3. I m going to tell you about sharks. 4. What has given sharks such an evil and dark reputation? When I say GO! show me with your fingers!

BOOKS WITH GREAT HOOKS

Writing Strong Paragraphs Writing Prompt: Describe a goal of yours. I will try out for soccer. I will practice every day. I will get better and better. Then I will be on the soccer team. And that is how I plan to accomplish a goal. How could this be improved? Think of three ways.

Writing Strong Paragraphs Writing Prompt: Describe a goal of yours. Sometimes an idea just kicks you in the side of the head. Just last spring, bored out of my mind during math, I was knocking a wrinkled wad of paper around the classroom floor, when it hit me that I could put this skill to better use. Naturally, trying out for the school soccer team became one of my greatest goals for seventh grade. As a result, I spent every day of summer at the park, continually practicing, until I was able to confidently smash that speckled black-and-white ball through the air and into the goal. In conclusion, I made it onto the team, and I learned that if I love something, I should pursue it.

Topic Sentence/Hook: Begin with a statement about life. Sometimes an idea just kicks you in the side of the head. Just last spring, bored out of my mind during math, I was knocking a wrinkled wad of paper around the classroom floor, when it hit me that I could put this skill to better use. Naturally, trying out for the school soccer team became one of my greatest goals for seventh grade. As a result, I spent every day of summer at the park, continually practicing, until I was able to confidently smash that speckled black-and-white ball through the air and into the goal. In conclusion, I made it onto the team, and I learned that if I love something, I should pursue it.

Let s Practice Writing Hooks! On a sheet of lined paper, number 1 5. Next, write five ways you could begin a paragraph that is supposed to answer this question: How was your summer? CONSIDER THESE TYPES OF HOOKS: Ask a Question: What kind of day has it been so far? Describe a Scene: I was sitting at the breakfast table this morning, eating warm, buttery toast, when I got my first clue of how my day would go. Starling Fact: Did you know that an average size pancake weighs 58 grams? Big Statement About Life: Some days are just plain awful. This is one of those days. Short, Suspenseful Sentence: The floorboard creaked.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LEAVE YOUR MARK? To help me get to know more about you, we will be MAKING OUR MARK on the classroom walls! Everyone has different fingerprints and different personalities! So, your first assignment is to create a fingerprint that reveals your own unique self! : )

YOUR TASK: Design a fingerprint that tells me about you! - Consider including details about your personality, hobbies, extracurricular activities, family, friends, travels, etc. - Begin with a CAPTIVATING HOOK!!!!!!!!!

My life as a dreamer is to grab those stars in the sky & light them up every time I accomplish something meaningful, like making someone smile. I want to be able to know that I have done something good. I might not have everything to myself to share. I like to do random things like waving to dogs and not their owners, or eating the green peanut M&M s. I call them dinosaur eggs. And I am a believer. My imagination I am thankful for. If only I could put it on canvas. I am trying to be a healthier person, although I am allergic to most fruits and nuts. I like fairies and other mystical things. And as silly as it sounds, I am afraid of butterflies

Green is my favorite color. I make the best fairy cakes. I lived in America until I was nine. I hate Comic Sans MS. I ve never dyed my hair. Skiing = FUN!!! My best score on wii bowling is 226. My favorite season is winter. If I won the lottery, I d buy a little gallery space and spend my days filling it. I hate mess!

Today, you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! Dr. Seuss What makes me me? I love picture books. I love art but can t draw a decent stick figure. I believe that rainbow order makes perfect sense. Polka dots make me happy. I think a good font can make anything more interesting. I would spend my whole life in school if they let me.

Brainstorm characteristics about yourself. Think of your hobbies, personality, family, etc. Think POSITIVE! What nice things would others say about you?

YOUR FINGERPRINTS MAY LOOK LIKE ONE OF THESE:

SAMPLE SENTENCE STARTERS: I enjoy... I adore... is my favorite. If I knew I couldn t fail, I would... Life is... To me, happiness means... Butterflies fill my stomach when... My whole body fills with anger when... The absolute, most annoying thing in the world is... DON T COPY! BE CREATIVE!!!!!! :D

Supporting Details Include transitions! Sometimes an idea just kicks you in the side of the head. Just last spring, bored out of my mind during math, I was knocking a wrinkled wad of paper around the classroom floor, when it hit me that I could put this skill to better use. Naturally, trying out for the school soccer team became one of my greatest goals for seventh grade. As a result, I spent every day of summer at the park, continually practicing, until I was able to confidently smash that speckled black-and-white ball through the air and into the goal. In conclusion, I made it onto the team, and I learned that if I love something, I should pursue it.

Let s Practice Writing Details! Write 3-4 details you could use to follow this topic sentence. Make sure they are in a logical order. Be creative! It was the most disgusting sight of my life. Begin each detail with a transition, and draw a rectangle around it: First, earlier, next, later in the day, lastly, for example, also, in addition, finally, in conclusion, again, in the end, all in all, therefore, furthermore,

The closing sentence should be strong! Sometimes an idea just kicks you in the side of the head. Just last spring, bored out of my mind during math, I was knocking a wrinkled wad of paper around the classroom floor, when it hit me that I could put this skill to better use. Naturally, trying out for the school soccer team became one of my greatest goals for seventh grade. As a result, I spent every day of summer at the park, continually practicing, until I was able to confidently smash that speckled black-and-white ball through the air and into the goal. In conclusion, I made it onto the team, and I learned that if I love something, I should pursue it.

Let s Practice Writing Powerful Closing Sentences! Write 5 ways you could CONCLUDE this paragraph! What kind of day has it been so far? Earlier in the day, I thought it was going to be my worst day in the history of Mondays, but it improved. For example, my best friend gave me a homemade cinnamon roll, sweet and buttery and piled high with icing, right before first period. In addition, I finally earned an A on a math test, and my pencil danced in celebration., CONSIDER THESE TYPES OF CONCLUSIONS: Give advice: Always follow your dreams. Repeat the main idea in a new way: Again, a dream is something worth pursuing. Tell the last event in the story: In the end, I discovered that most people are pleasant to be around.