🌷Valentine's Day Activities for Upper Grades

5 Hooks to Teach Your Students for Writing a Strong Introduction

When teaching my students how to write a personal narrative, I always teach them to start by writing a strong introduction, also known as an opening hook.

This can be anything from starting in the middle of the action, to asking a question, to giving a surprising fact.

The important thing is that it will make the reader want to keep reading to find out more!

Read on to learn about each of the five hooks. 👉Be sure to read until the end of the post👈 because I’m also sharing a fun way to practice them with your class! (Plus, how you can get 100 EXCITING narrative prompts for FREE!)

Here Are 5 Of My Favorite Hooks for Writing a Strong Introduction to Narratives ✏️

1. Jump right into the action!

Start with an exciting event that will make the reader want to read on.

No one wants to read about the main character waking up and brushing their teeth. Start with something exciting, like the character being chased by a pack of wild dogs or winning the big game. 

2. Use vivid descriptions.

When setting the scene or introducing the characters, use lots of detail.

What does the character look like? What are they wearing? What’s the temperature outside?

Teach your students that the more specific they can be, the better. Using sensory language (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) really bring the scene to life for the reader.

Remind them that they want their reader to feel like they are right there in the story with the character!

Adding Details to the Text Poster from Personal Narrative Writing Units

3. Ask a question.

Posing a question at the beginning of the story will make the reader curious and want to find out the answer.

Asking a question is a great way to get readers thinking about what’s to come. Will the character be able to outrun the dogs? Will they win the game?

By posing a question, they’ll keep their readers guessing and engaged.

4. Share an interesting fact.

Give a surprising fact related to the story that will make the reader want to keep reading to learn more.

This could be something about the character or the setting. Whatever it is, make sure it is something that will pique their curiosity.

5. Use sound effects.

Just like dialogue, using a sound effect can be a great way to start the story.

Sound effects are a great way to set the tone for the story and add an extra layer of excitement for readers.

Imagine hearing the sound of barking dogs as you’re reading about someone being chased! This could be something as simple as a door slamming shut or glass breaking.

The important thing is that it draws the reader into the story and makes them want to know what happens next!

Pictured Posters & Mentor Text from Personal Narrative Writing Units

By using one of these opening hooks, you can teach your students to pull the reader into their story and set the stage for an exciting adventure.

It’s always a good idea to use a mentor text, or personal narrative example when you are modeling this with your students.

Now Practice Writing a Strong Introduction With Your Class and Make It Fun!✏️

These are just a few of the ways that you can teach your students to start their personal narrative with a bang!

After you read a story aloud with your class, model rewriting the introduction to the story.

This can be a fun activity to get your whole class involved in. Use the five different types of hooks mentioned above to write the new introductions.

Writing a Strong Introduction Poster: 5 Types of Hooks
Strong Introductions poster is found in all Personal Narrative Units (Grades 2-5)

✏️Here’s an example of rewriting an intro to Jack and the Beanstalk. Can you name each type of hook?

1. “Magic beans? What are magic beans?”

2. The thick, green beanstalk stretched as high as I could see. I looked up, shielding my eyes from the bright sun and watched the beanstalk wind its way into the clouds.

3. “MOOOOOO!”

4. Did you know cows never sold for less than 100 coins? When I came home with five magic beans, my mom was not happy with me.

Here are the answers: 1. Start with a question. 2. Use vivid descriptions. 3. Sound Effect 4. Question/Interesting Fact

You can get help teaching your students to write personal narratives with our Grades 2-5 Personal Narrative Writing Units!

Looking for EXCITING narrative writing prompts? Get a list of 100 that your students will LOVE! 👇

Learn 6 tips for teaching your students to write a personal narrative. 👇

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