Day 4 of 30
Introduction strategies: hooks
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Learning Objective
Students will explore introduction strategies and hooks through guided practice and application.
In this lesson, we'll explore introduction strategies: hooks. Strong literacy skills open doors to learning in all subjects.
An effective introduction accomplishes three things: (1) Hook the reader—grab attention before stating your argument. Hook types: a surprising statistic, a provocative question, a vivid anecdote, a compelling quotation, a bold claim. (2) Provide context—give readers the background they need to understand your thesis. (3) State your thesis—your specific, arguable claim, usually at the end of the introduction. The length of the introduction should be proportional to the essay. Avoid: starting with "In this essay I will...," restating the prompt word for word, providing so much background the reader loses interest before reaching the thesis. A strong hook creates curiosity; the thesis fulfills the implicit promise that reading will be worthwhile.
As you work through today's material, pay attention to the examples and try to identify the patterns or strategies being used. This will help you apply these concepts to new problems.
Take notes on key points and make connections to what you've already learned in previous lessons.
The process of decoding and comprehending written text
The process of composing text to communicate ideas
Instructions
Materials Needed
- Text passage
- Notebook
- Highlighter
Teaching Tip
For advanced learners: Encourage deeper analysis and real-world connections. Consider extension activities that allow students to apply introduction strategies: hooks to novel situations.