Crafting Irresistible Openings in Writing
Narrative Essay-Small Moments
Writing Strong Openings
Identify/Define:
Leads, Hooks,
Attention Grabbing Openers (AGOs)
Why do we have to do this?
Effective and dramatic openers are designed to grab a
reader’s attention…like a hook grabs a fish.
Hook, Lead or Attention
Grabbing Opener (AGO)
A hook, lead or AGO is the part of your story that
compels or forces
an audience to sit up and pay
attention.
It should come at the beginning of your story where
it will get your reader on the hook!
(symbolically, of course).
It will impress your audience so that they want to
keep reading.
Visualize
:
We see hooks in
movies and TV all the time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1-nt5_bRlQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3O6DMsJgI
Evaluate:
Which Lead, AGO or hook is
better? Why?
"We're going to go on a dive into the deep blue sea.”
"I study ants . . . in the desert, in the tropical forest,
in my kitchen, and in the hills around Silicon Valley,
where I live.”
Apply & Discuss:
What was the Hook for your
independent reading book?
What did the author include to get your attention?
Does it have dialogue?
Is it funny?
Does it have figurative language?
Does it make you ask questions?
Which one of yours do you
like best?
Here are some other possible
Hook AGO ideas for you:
Ask a thought provoking
question
.
Words from the Wiser.
Use your
theme in the form of a cliché or
idiom.
State a well known
quotation.
Foreshadowing-
give readers a hint at
what is coming up.
Here are some other possible
Lead/Hook/AGO ideas for you:
Name Dropping
. Use an allusion that your
audience will be familiar with that works
well with your story.
Show, don’t tell.
As I stepped onto the dark stage, my sweaty
hands trembled and my pulse was racing.
Magic 3-Triples
As I looked into her beautiful green eyes, I
thought to myself, “What if my hair is
messed
up? What if there is something in my
teeth?
What if I say something stupid?”
Here are some other possible
Lead/Hook/AGO ideas for you:
Joke
-Start off with something funny.
Onomatopoeia
Metaphor or Simile
to describe the
theme or the setting.
Dialogue-
start with an engaging
conversation
List it.
Here are some more
Lead/Hook/AGO examples
for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-h_bnNL9A
Now pick one and try it out.
Think Pair Share
Share your Hooks with your
partner.
Give each other some great
feedback on which is most
effective.
Drafting Focus Points:
Main Trait Focus =
DESCRIPTION
:
Figurative language,
Literary & Narrative Elements,
Adjectives
Support Traits Focus
:
Voice & Conventions
Adjectives
Dialogue
Idea Development
Sentence Fluency
Your objective:
I will create a small moments
personal narrative that entertains using vivid
description and elements of a story.
Personal Narrative: Small Moment
Purpose for Writing: To Entertain
Goal: Tell a true story using descriptive writing that
that includes narrative elements to entertain your
reader.
Delve into the art of creating engaging hooks, leads, and attention-grabbing openers in your writing. Learn how to captivate readers from the start with powerful strategies and examples. Explore different approaches and experiment with crafting your own compelling introductions. Discover the impact of strong openings on drawing in your audience and keeping them hooked throughout your narrative journey.
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Presentation Transcript
Narrative Essay-Small Moments Writing Strong Openings
Identify/Define: Leads, Hooks, Attention Grabbing Openers (AGOs) Why do we have to do this? Effective and dramatic openers are designed to grab a reader s attention like a hook grabs a fish.
Hook, Lead or Attention Grabbing Opener (AGO) A hook, lead or AGO is the part of your story that compels or forces an audience to sit up and pay attention. It should come at the beginning of your story where it will get your reader on the hook! (symbolically, of course). It will impress your audience so that they want to keep reading.
Visualize: We see hooks in movies and TV all the time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1-nt5_bRlQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3O6DMsJgI
Evaluate: Which Lead, AGO or hook is better? Why? "We're going to go on a dive into the deep blue sea. "I study ants . . . in the desert, in the tropical forest, in my kitchen, and in the hills around Silicon Valley, where I live.
Apply & Discuss: What was the Hook for your independent reading book? What did the author include to get your attention? Does it have dialogue? Is it funny? Does it have figurative language? Does it make you ask questions?
Apply & Experiment: Now you try each one of these for your story:
Which one of yours do you like best?
Here are some other possible Hook AGO ideas for you: Ask a thought provoking question. Words from the Wiser. Use your theme in the form of a clich or idiom. State a well known quotation. Foreshadowing-give readers a hint at what is coming up.
Here are some other possible Lead/Hook/AGO ideas for you: Name Dropping. Use an allusion that your audience will be familiar with that works well with your story. Show, don t tell. As I stepped onto the dark stage, my sweaty hands trembled and my pulse was racing. Magic 3-Triples As I looked into her beautiful green eyes, I thought to myself, What if my hair is messed up? What if there is something in my teeth? What if I say something stupid?
Here are some other possible Lead/Hook/AGO ideas for you: Joke-Start off with something funny. Onomatopoeia Metaphor or Simile to describe the theme or the setting. Dialogue-start with an engaging conversation List it.
Here are some more Lead/Hook/AGO examples for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-h_bnNL9A
Think Pair Share Share your Hooks with your partner. Give each other some great feedback on which is most effective.
Drafting Focus Points: Main Trait Focus = DESCRIPTION: Figurative language, Literary & Narrative Elements, Adjectives Support Traits Focus: Voice & Conventions Adjectives Dialogue Idea Development Sentence Fluency
Your objective: I will create a small moments personal narrative that entertains using vivid description and elements of a story. Personal Narrative: Small Moment Purpose for Writing: To Entertain Goal: Tell a true story using descriptive writing that that includes narrative elements to entertain your reader.
