Getting hooked: Introduction for a narrative

Students will be able to identify techniques for writing an introduction for a narrative and use them effectively.

A lesson plan for grades 2–4 English Language Arts

By Leann Kelley

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Learning outcomes

Students will demonstrate techniques for writing an introduction for personal and imaginative narratives.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45 Minutes

Materials/resources

• Books with good introductions
• Examples of student writing (level 4) with good introductions
• Several writing prompts
• Overhead with transparencies of writing samples and prompts
• Techniques That Will Hook your Readers worksheet

Pre-activities

Discuss the purpose of an introduction. Have a student introduce himself to the class. What kinds of things would an introduction include?

Activities

1. Read an exciting opening paragraph from a novel or short story. What about this paragraph makes you want to continue to read?
2. Introduce the term “hook” and its purpose of hooking the reader’s interest so that they want to read more.
3. Review the term “key words” in a prompt.
4. Give several techniques by using the Techniques That Will Hook your Readers worksheet:
   • dialogue
   • a question
   • a vivid description
   • an interesting fact
   • sound effect
5. Use the overhead to show examples of children’s level 4 writing. Have the students try to locate the hook and identify the technique that was used.
6. Display a narrative prompt. Have the students identify key words in the prompt.
7. Students should choose a technique for hooking their readers and write only the introduction for a narrative based on the given prompt. Have them underline the hook and circle any key words used in the introduction using the Techniques worksheet.
8. In small groups have the students read their introductions aloud. Have the group members try to identify the hook and the technique that was used (there may be more than one technique used in the paragraph).
9. Use more than one prompt and have students vary the techniques used for writing their hook.
10. Introductions are kept in the the writing folder as works in progress to be completed as further steps in the writing process are taught.

Assessment

In future narrative writing, students will be able to write an interesting introduction using key words one technique for writing a hook.

Supplemental information

Build a file of level 4 student writing for use as illustrations as the writing process is taught.

Comments

Most students are able to become very successful at writing an introduction. This taste of success with the writing process is a helpful step in building a positive attitude toward writing.