The Hook

The Hook
Catchy
Composition
Clichés
LEADS
The HOOK gets the reader interested in
what you have to say. Don’t be BORING!
School was finally out. Vacation
had started.
ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The Hook
The introductory paragraph begins
with the hook. The topic sentence
will usually directly follow the
hook in the introductory
paragraph.
The Hook
To catch the reader, use a hook in the
introductory paragraph.
ACTION
DIALOGUE
REACTION
USE A QUOTE FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT
ASK THE READER A QUESTION
Lead ACTION
Character is doing something.
I raced to my bike before the bell had
stopped ringing signaling the end of the
school year. I had plans—big plans– and
they didn’t include standing around the
school playground.
Lead Dialogue
Character is saying something:
“I’m outta here! I’m gone!” I yelled to my
best friend. “I’ll meet you at the pool at
12:30. Bring your flippers. Yippee!” I
screamed. “Summer has begun!”
Lead Reaction
Character is thinking about something:
“Good grief!” I thought to myself. “Is that
bell ever going to ring? This has been the
longest two hours of my life. Don’t they
know I’ve got plans? The pool is waiting,
and here I sit waiting for the dismissal
bell.”
Use a quote for dramatic effect
“So little time, so much to do!” Why am I
sitting here waiting for the bell to end the
wait?
The Hook: Phrase or Quote
Start your composition with an
entertaining flair by using a catchy
phrase.
“Girls just wanna have fun,” would
describe my best friend.
Short and sweet is the best way to sum
up my summer vacation.
If anything can go wrong it will, at least,
that was my experience on Friday the
13th.
Using A Hook
Reread the writing prompt
and try to think of a question
to ask to get the reader
involved in your
composition.
The Hook
Ask the Reader A Question
Entice the reader to continue
reading to find the answer.
The question may be
rhetorical, but the reader
will still be hooked to draw
his/her own conclusions.
QUESTION
Have you ever wondered why we have to
go to school the last day for two hours? I
mean the bus drops you off, and then you
wait for it to come back and get you.
The Hook: Question
My Best Friend
Have you ever had a friend who
could tell you what you were
thinking?
Do you have a friend you could call
on at anytime?
Can you think of someone who
knows your deepest thoughts?
The Hook: Exclamatory Sentence
Vivid exclamatory sentences start
the composition off with a bang!
Never in my wildest dreams
could I imagine a worse day!
My summer vacation was
gone in a hot flash!
The Hook
In the introductory paragraph, use
techniques that HOOK the reader.
Action Character doing something
Dialogue Character saying something
Reaction Character thinking @ something.
Quote or Dramatic Fact
Question Ask the reader a question.
Exclamatory Sentence Vivid picture
The Hook
Use a hook to lure the reader into the
composition.

Download Report