Developing Artistic Writing.pdf - Brevard Public Schools

Hooks - Make ‘em Great
Objective: Students will learn to identify good beginnings of narratives, explain why some
beginnings are better than others, write a good beginning for a common class topic, and write
three good beginnings for their own narratives.
Anticipatory Set: Read the first sentence or two of several mentor texts that you have chosen as
models of good hooks and discuss why you like them.
Modeling: Tell students that you are writing a story and you are going to write three different
beginnings. On the board or document camera, write three different beginnings, including one
negative example. For example,
o
o
o
Last summer I went to the beach. We had a lot of fun.
I woke up and peered out the window. It was a gorgeous day. When I headed
downstairs, I said to my mom, “Let’s go to the beach today!”
It was only 6:45 am and already the temperature was a blistering 80 degrees. I
couldn’t take another day of swimming in my own sweat! There was only one
solution. I hollered downstairs, “Hey guys, who wants to go to the beach today?!”
Have students pick the beginning that would make them want to read more. Discuss reasons why
the beginning they chose is more interesting than the other beginnings.
Guided Practice: Tell students they will write the beginning of a story. Together, brainstorm a
topic, perhaps a field trip or common class activity. List these ideas on the board. Let students
vote on or select one idea. Ask them to think of a great beginning for the story topic selected.
Tell students as they write you will place two stickers on their desk. They will be given
instructions for using the stickers a little later. Remind students to think of the beginnings they
heard earlier. In small groups, ask students to read aloud their beginnings. Ask students to take
their two stickers, and place them on the papers in their group with the two beginnings they like
best. Students count the stickers on their papers. Ask groups to share their two best beginnings
with the class. Discuss what makes each beginning interesting.
Independent Practice: Students select one story from their writing folder. Have them write 3
different beginnings for their story.
Publishing/Sharing: Have students read their beginnings to a partner and have the partner pick
the beginning that would make them want to read the rest of the story.
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