Writing an autobiographical narrative: **Think of one event from your life. It should be an event...

It’s all about the

Created by Jacqueline Carrier

jmcarrie@svsu.edu

Santee-Wateree Writing Project

Rationale When students in my classroom are asked to

write pieces that they will follow through to publication, they always begin with lines that bore me to tears.

While it is an attempt, it is not good writing and lacks any engagement with the reader.

Rationale

One of the weakest areas my students have with their writing is with voice. Voice contains several components such as diction (word choice) and tone, but one of my favorite lessons to teach is on creating that hook. The line that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to keep reading.

Student Example 1:

Hi! You just started reading my story about me, my mom, sister, and brother getting in a car accident. I’m going to tell you when it happen, where it happen, and how it happen.

My name is ________ and I’m going to tell you about a time when my sister won her softball game. Her team was winning 5-0 and me and my mom were on the bleachers cheering on her team. I feel like doing a cartwheel every time my sister gets a point for her team.

Student Example 2:

TheoryRebecca Olness says:

“The first few lines of any piece of writing are essential because they set the tone and make the reader want to read on.”

Rebecca Olness says:

“The more students become aware of effective hooks in literature, the more they are able to see the importance of good introductions in their own writing.”

Nancie Atwell says:

“The lead gives shape to the piece, to the experience of writing it, and to the experience of reading it.”

Writing an autobiographical narrative:

**Think of one event from your life. It should be an event that actually happened to you that you want to write about.

(Other people may read this event, so it should be one you want to share.)

Once you know your event, begin drafting your story.

Mini-Lesson: Types of Hooks8 TYPES OF HOOKS

QuestionWhen writing a question, try to create a picture in the reader’s mind. Use the words who, what, when, where, why, is, how, or are at the beginning of the sentence.

QuoteWhen writing a quote, it can be a direct quotation from a book, TV show, movie, or a famous person.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia is a word that makes sounds. Those can be animal sounds, car sounds, or any other sound. Examples include: Bang! Woof! or Cock-a-doodle-doo!

PoemUse a poem from a famous author, or make up your own.

Mini-Lesson: Types of Hooks (cont.)Song

Use a line or two from your favorite song on the radio. Make sure you relate it to your essay.

InterjectionInterjections express emotions. Examples are Aha!, Stop!, Ugh!, Help!, Well!, YOW!, Brrrr!, Yummy!

Startling StatisticStatistics show relationships with numbers. Find a surprising statistic involving your topic.

DialogueDialogue features two or more people talking.

Simile or MetaphorFigurative language making comparisons to create vivid images.

Here is an example of 8 different hooks which could be used for writing an expository essay about my favorite television show, Spongebob Squarepants:

QUESTION• Where in the Pacific Ocean can you find a delicious Krabby Patty to eat, live in a pineapple, and drive in an underwater boat? Bikini Bottom, of course!

QUOTE• "Do you smell that? That smell--It's the smell of a smelly smell that smells smelly," stated Spongebob.

ONOMATOPOEIA• "Meooowww!" said Gary, Spongebob's pet snail.

POEM Roses are red, violets are blue. I love Spongebob Squarepants, do you?

SONG "Are ya ready kids? Aye, aye, Captain. I can't hear you! Aye, aye Captain. Ohhhh!" My favorite TV show started to play on Nickelodeon.

INTERJECTION "Noooo!" Don't touch the TV, I am watching my favorite show, Spongebob Squarepants.

STARTLING STATISTICOver 1 million adults and children worldwide tune in to watch the TV show, Spongebob Squarepants ona weekly basis

DIALOGUE"There's nothing wrong with getting kissys from your grandmother," said Spongebob. "No, especiallyif you're a big baby who wears diapers!" responded Fish.

Student Example 1:

Hi! You just started reading my story about me, my mom, sister, and brother getting in a car accident. I’m going to tell you when it happen, where it happen, and how it happen.

Oh no! The tire popped! Help! Help! Somebody! Anybody! My mom, sister, brother and I got in a car accident. We were driving down Bethel Church Road taking my oldest brother somewhere when the front tire popped on my mom’s car.

My name is ________ and I’m going to tell you about a time when my sister won her softball game. Her team was winning 5-0 and me and my mom were on the bleachers cheering on her team. I feel like doing a cartwheel every time my sister gets a point for her team.

Student Example 2:

“Strike! You’re out,” yelled the umpire. We got excited because my sister was winning her softboll game 5-0. My mom and I were on the bleachers cheering on her team. I feel like doing a cartwheel everytime my sister scores a point.

Student example 3:

Wow! It’s the first day of school as I walk out the door to go to the bus stop. I said to myself I don’t feel right. I feel missplace.

“The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town.” It’s the first day of school as I walk out the door to the. bus stop. I said to myself, “I don’t feel right. I feel misplaced.”

Activity #1- Identify the type of hook written in literature

“Ba-room, ba-room, baripity, baripity, baripity, baripity – Good. His dad had the pickup going.”

Bridge to Terabthia by Katherine Paterson

Answer: Onomatopoeia

Activity #1- Identify the type of hook written in literature

“Mama?”

“Yes, buttercup?”

“What’s that I hear?”

Waiting Out the Storm by JoAnn Early Macken

Answer: Dialogue

Activity #1- Identify the type of hook written in literature

“Whoa! Look out!”

The First Horror by R.L. Stine

Answer: Interjection

Activity 1: Identify the type of hook written in literature

* Everyone begins with a book.

* Get a sheet of paper and number it 1-10.

*Look at the sticky on the front of the book. Find that number on your paper.

*You will have 30 seconds to look at the FIRST SENTENCE of the book , identify the hook, and record it next to the correct number.

“A good lead fuels writing: it makes the rest of the piece easier to write.”- Nancie Atwell

Topic:Adopting Willow from the SPCA

Model Writing Different Hooks

Model Writing Different Hooks

Model Writing Different Hooks

Model Writing Different Hooks

Activity 2: Create original hooks

*Number your paper 1-3.

*Choose 3 different types of hooks that you learned about IN CLASS, and create 3 hooks for your autobiographical narrative (an event that happened to you).

Activity 3:

* Turn to your partner and exchange hooks/journals.

*Create 2 more hooks (any type) for your partner’s story.

Volunteers to share hooks?

Hooks across the curriculum:

You could have:

math students create interesting story problems by including a hook.

science/social studies students create flash nonfiction or historical fiction pieces that engage the readers’ attention by using a hook.

Make your hook memorable!

Bibliography

Atwel l , Nancie. Lessons That Change Writers . Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2002. 80-83. Pr int.

"Elmyra Jessica Duff ." Elmyra Duff - Looney City Cit izens . Web. 22 Jun 2011. <http:/ / looneytunes.wikia.com/wiki /Elmyra_Duff >.

Fishing for Readers: Identi fy ing and Writ ing Eff ective Opening "Hooks"." ReadWriteThink . N.p. , 2011. Web. 15 Jun 2011. <http:/ /www.readwritethink.org/uti l /contact.html>.

"How-To Writ ing: Motivat ing Students to Write for a Real Purpose." ReadWriteThink . N.p. , n.d. Web. 22 Jun 2011. <http:/ /www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/ lesson- plans/writ ing-motivating-students-write-871.html>.

Macken, Joann. Waiting Out the Storm. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2010. 1. Print.

Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. New York, NY: HarperTrophy,

1977. 1. Print.

SpongeBob SquarePants. Web. 21 Jun 2011. <http://spongebob.wikia.com/wiki/SpongeBob_SquarePants>.

Stine, R.L. The First Horror. New York, NY: Simon Pulse, 2002. 1. Print.

"Teaching Kids to Write Fantastic Hooks!." A to Z Teacher Stuff. Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., 2008. Web. 22 Jun 2011. <http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=53699>.

Bibliography (cont.)