The HookThe HookCatchy Catchy

CompositionsCompositionsCaptureCaptureCritics’Critics’

ConcentrationConcentration

Adapted by Donna Barrett and Elise Keeney from: Nancie Atwell’s Lessons that Change Writers and The Hook – a PowerPoint presentation by Connie Campbell found at http://jc-schools.net/writeaway/ (accessed 09/19/2008)

The HookThe Hook

The introductory paragraph The introductory paragraph combines the hook with the with combines the hook with the with the topic sentence (thesis) to form the topic sentence (thesis) to form the essay lead.the essay lead.

The Hook: What’s the Point?The Hook: What’s the Point?

The hook paragraph makes the reader want to learn more.

We definitely want to impress We definitely want to impress the blue-haired old ladies who the blue-haired old ladies who grade our writing assessments!grade our writing assessments!

The HookThe Hook

To catch the reader, use a hook in the To catch the reader, use a hook in the introductory paragraph.introductory paragraph.

Tell a brief, related story Tell a brief, related story (anecdote/narrative hook).(anecdote/narrative hook).

Use a quote.Use a quote.

Tell the who, what, where, when, why (news).Tell the who, what, where, when, why (news).

Give a brief history of the issue (background).Give a brief history of the issue (background).

Tell what you’ll say about the issue Tell what you’ll say about the issue & take a stand (announcement).& take a stand (announcement).

The Hook: AnecdoteThe Hook: Anecdote

Tell a brief story that captures the Tell a brief story that captures the essence of the issue/situation.essence of the issue/situation.

Note: the story must be brief and Note: the story must be brief and should not extend past the first should not extend past the first paragraph. Otherwise, your whole paragraph. Otherwise, your whole essay slips into being a narrative!essay slips into being a narrative!

The Hook: AnecdoteThe Hook: Anecdote

– A small-town housewife wants A small-town housewife wants to buy a pair of shoes for her to buy a pair of shoes for her child. She goes out to her favorite child. She goes out to her favorite local shoe store, only to discover local shoe store, only to discover they’ve closed due to the they’ve closed due to the popularity of discount giant Wal-popularity of discount giant Wal-Mart. Huge stores like Wal-Mart Mart. Huge stores like Wal-Mart are ruining the chances of small are ruining the chances of small business to succeed.business to succeed.

The Hook: AnecdoteThe Hook: Anecdote

Bad BarbecueBad Barbecue– When I went to a local barbecue When I went to a local barbecue

restaurant last week, I was shocked to restaurant last week, I was shocked to discover their health inspection rating discover their health inspection rating was below 70%! At my school, that is a was below 70%! At my school, that is a failing score, yet this restaurant is still failing score, yet this restaurant is still open and serving food to the local open and serving food to the local citizens! Providing a safe food supply is citizens! Providing a safe food supply is one of the most sacred agreements one of the most sacred agreements between marketer and consumer. Why between marketer and consumer. Why isn’t anyone doing anything to stop this isn’t anyone doing anything to stop this dangerous practice?dangerous practice?

Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay SuccessSuccess

Reread the writing prompt (3 times!) and try to think of a story you can tell to get the reader involved in your composition.

Embellish with relevant details and vivid vocabulary.

The Hook: QuotationThe Hook: Quotation Use someone else’s relevant Use someone else’s relevant

words to address/exemplify the words to address/exemplify the issue.issue.

Note: the quote must be related to Note: the quote must be related to your topic. It is not enough to your topic. It is not enough to create a fake conversation. This is create a fake conversation. This is called dialogue and does not called dialogue and does not qualify as a quote.qualify as a quote.

The Hook: QuotationThe Hook: Quotation

– John Kennedy once said, “Ask John Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Today, though, it seems country.” Today, though, it seems that many want to know how that many want to know how much the government will give much the government will give them. It is time for our generation them. It is time for our generation to make a change and stand on to make a change and stand on our own feet, without intervention our own feet, without intervention from “Uncle Sam.”from “Uncle Sam.”

The Hook: QuotationThe Hook: Quotation

Just Grow Up!Just Grow Up! I recently saw a bumper sticker that I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, “It’s never too late to have a happy said, “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.” What kind of childish idea is childhood.” What kind of childish idea is this? Adults: we kids need you to grow this? Adults: we kids need you to grow up and act like the leaders you are up and act like the leaders you are supposed to be. If you spend your adult supposed to be. If you spend your adult life trying to recapture your childhood, life trying to recapture your childhood, when are when are wewe to have the chance to be to have the chance to be children? Someone has to be children? Someone has to be responsible.responsible.

The Hook: QuotationThe Hook: Quotation Don’t Don’t do this! This is dialogue, not a do this! This is dialogue, not a

quote!quote!

“ “Mom, what’s for dinner?” “Not now! I’m Mom, what’s for dinner?” “Not now! I’m about to get a high score on Guitar Hero!” about to get a high score on Guitar Hero!” “You’re always playing games, Mom!” “Hey! I “You’re always playing games, Mom!” “Hey! I had too many responsibilities when I was a had too many responsibilities when I was a kid. Now’s my time to have fun.” This kid. Now’s my time to have fun.” This shouldn’t happen. Adults have to be shouldn’t happen. Adults have to be responsible so that we can have a childhood.responsible so that we can have a childhood.

Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay SuccessSuccess

If you have time and are able to use resources, a great source for famous quotes is Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. If you are in a testing situation, stick with quotes you know from memory.

The Hook: NewsThe Hook: News Give the reader the who, what, where, when, Give the reader the who, what, where, when,

why of the issue (and sometimes the how).why of the issue (and sometimes the how).

Note: you do not have to Note: you do not have to include ALL of these include ALL of these EVERY time. Sometimes, EVERY time. Sometimes, you won’t need one or two you won’t need one or two of the W’s to get your point of the W’s to get your point across.across.

The Hook: NewsThe Hook: News

– Heart disease is the number one Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States and many killer in the United States and many want to know why. Some scientists want to know why. Some scientists blame fast food restaurants for the blame fast food restaurants for the recent rise in the number of unhealthy recent rise in the number of unhealthy Americans. In 2008, a few towns Americans. In 2008, a few towns even made fast food illegal in their even made fast food illegal in their city limits! However, it may not be city limits! However, it may not be possible to identify just one culprit in possible to identify just one culprit in this battle.this battle.

Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay SuccessSuccess

You may have noticed that some of these hook techniques blend with one another at times. This is okay. Remember: these are just some tricks you can use to avoid sounding like every other writer out there. We’re working on developing your own style and voice.

The Hook: BackgroundThe Hook: Background Give the reader a brief history of Give the reader a brief history of

the issue.the issue.

Note: be careful that your history Note: be careful that your history does not verge into becoming an does not verge into becoming an anecdote. This isn’t supposed to anecdote. This isn’t supposed to be a story. Stick to straight facts.be a story. Stick to straight facts.

The Hook: BackgroundThe Hook: Background

– During World War II, governments on both During World War II, governments on both sides of the conflict used special persuasive sides of the conflict used special persuasive posters called posters called propagandapropaganda to spread their to spread their beliefs to their citizens. The same beliefs to their citizens. The same persuasive techniques that were used then persuasive techniques that were used then can be used to convince people today. In can be used to convince people today. In fact, the persuasive tactics we use were first fact, the persuasive tactics we use were first developed by ancient Greeks like Socrates, developed by ancient Greeks like Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato!Aristotle, and Plato!

Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay SuccessSuccess

When using background, try to include only the information that you think your reader may not already know. For instance, there is no need to explain the concept of fast food, but you may need to explain that Zaxby’s is a fast food restaurant.

The Hook: AnnouncementThe Hook: Announcement Tell the reader about the issue and Tell the reader about the issue and

take a stand.take a stand.

Note: even though you are telling Note: even though you are telling the reader about the issue, do not the reader about the issue, do not use the words, “I am going to tell use the words, “I am going to tell you about…” or anything like that.you about…” or anything like that.

The Hook: AnnouncementThe Hook: Announcement

– People are going to make bad choices People are going to make bad choices sometimes; that’s just part of being human. sometimes; that’s just part of being human. As long as we take responsibility for our As long as we take responsibility for our actions and make amends, there’s usually actions and make amends, there’s usually no problem. Such behavior builds strength no problem. Such behavior builds strength of character, in fact. There’s an increasing of character, in fact. There’s an increasing trend, though, in which parents are allowing trend, though, in which parents are allowing children to blame everyone but themselves children to blame everyone but themselves for their mistakes. If we are going to for their mistakes. If we are going to continue as the strongest nation in the continue as the strongest nation in the world, we have to find a way to stop this world, we have to find a way to stop this nonsense!nonsense!

Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay Scuba Steve’s Tip for Essay SuccessSuccess

The announcement technique works especially well with persuasive essays, but it can also be used effectively with expository topics, too.

The HookThe Hook

• Use a hook to lure the reader into the composition.

• Let’s impress those blue-haired old ladies!