Agenda for September 13, 2011

• First lines from novels• Types of hooks• Carousel: Identify type of hook and vote for

your favorite!• Literature Circle- “The Snapping Turtle”• Closing: Write 3 possible hooks for your

story. Share them with a partner to see which he/she likes best. Write your choice on your graphic organizer.

Story Hooks

How do I engage my reader?

Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson

• "At six forty-five one summer morning, a red London bus was crossing Waterloo Bridge."

• It isn't until you read on a little more that you get to these lines:

• "The bus and its passengers were never found. It was the first of the Time Tornadoes." What we soon discover is that time is behaving very strangely in London – it's slowing to a standstill and then speeding up crazily. The Time Tornadoes (and disappearances) are happening with increasing frequency and intensity.

Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

• "I come from a family with a lot of dead people.“

• Comfort Snowberger is used to death. Her family operates the funeral home in Snapfinger. Comfort has attended nearly 250 funerals already — and is happy to give you hints on the appropriate behavior at such sad occasions.

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

• "When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it's never good news.“

• The story finds Alex investigating the nefarious doings of a computer company bent on taking over the world. Alex's nonstop adventures will keep reluctant readers turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Feed by M.T. Anderson

• "We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck."

• That line sets the stage for the plot of this futuristic world that's become overrun with rampant consumerism. Computer chips are implanted in most babies at birth. There's no need to go to school, since you can Google any information you might need; there's no need to talk to anyone, since you can IM instantaneously. But what happens when someone hacks into the computer feed that everyone is receiving?

The Teacher's Funeral by Richard Peck

• "If your teacher has to die, August isn't a bad time of year for it."

• When his older sister takes over the school after his teacher dies, she's bound and determined that Russell graduate, no matter how much he hates going.

• All of these books start with a surprising statement meant to intrigue the reader.

• There are several common types of hooks, but which hook is best depends on the story you want to tell.

• Let’s look at some of your other options.

Hooks

Strategies for Engaging Your Reader

Anecdote

• Anecdote-short story about an event told to make a point

Dialogue

• Dialogue- conversation between characters that serves to develop the characters or to move the plot forward.

Fact or Statistic

• Fact/statistic

Famous Quotation

• Famous quotation-

Rhetorical Question

• Rhetorical question-a question that has such an obvious answer that it does not require a reply. As a hook, the question is best if it is of a significant, universal nature.

• Where will we live if we destroy our planet?

Description of Setting

• Description of setting- Details that are meant to help the reader to imagine him/herself within the story.

Onomatopoeia

• Onomatopoeia-use of words whose sounds echo their meanings, such as buzz, whisper, gargle, and murmur.

• As a hook, the onomatopoeia must tie in closely with the story and not stand out as just a device to get attention.

Introduction of a Character

• Introduction of a character- usually direct characterization of a major character by the narrator

Mystery Statement

• Mystery statement- a sentence that may seem oxymoronic, surprising, or even a bit puzzling at first glance but whose meaning is revealed in the rest of the writing.

Types of Hooks

• Anecdote• Dialogue• Fact/statistic• Famous quotation• Rhetorical question• Description of setting• Onomatopoeia• Introduction of character• Mystery statement

Carousel

• Work with your group to determine the type of hook for each of the first lines of famous novels.

• Write the NUMBER of each first line under the heading for the type of hook.

• After you have place all of the first lines, record your numbers on the posters.