10 Effective Hooks

1. Interesting description – Uses vivid verbs, precise nouns, strong adjectives, and strong adverbs to describe an event or character.

2. A thought – Words/phrases/sentences that are the thoughts of a character

3. Figurative Language– Figurative language: hyperbole, idiom, personification, simile, onomatopoeia, metaphor, or alliteration (HIPSOMA)

4. Scary, exciting, or intense moment – Set up a mysterious tone or mood through good description.

5. Conversation/Dialogue – Show dialogue between two characters.6. “Show” feelings – Use emotion words to show feelings of a character.7. Fast action – Description of an occurrence of exciting or dramatic action8. Details about the setting-- When? Where?9. Flashback--The character thinks back to an important detail about the

story.10. Repetition of strong feelings--Repeat 3 times.

Interesting description – Uses vivid verbs, precise nouns, strong adjectives, and strong adverbs to describe an event or character.• What is a vivid verb?• What are some vivid verbs for run?• What are precise nouns?• What is a precise noun for dog?• What are descriptive adjectives?• What are some descriptive adjectives for big?• Now, add vivid verbs, precise nouns, and descriptive adjectives to

this hook.• The big dog ran.• Write an interesting description hook for my “Dog bites lip”

story, Ms. Krodman’s “Car jacking” story OR for one of your stories.

A thought – Words/phrases/sentences that are the thoughts of a character• When I stepped out in the bright sunlight from the

darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. (The Outsiders)

• Write a thought for the “Dog Thief”, “Cheerleader rips pants” story

OR• Write a thought hook for one of your stories.

Figurative Language– Figurative language: hyperbole, idiom, personification, simile, onomatopoeia, metaphor, or alliteration (HIPSOMA)1. Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement-My mother has told me a million

times to clean my room.2. Idiom is an expression that should not be taken literally- I told the actor to

break a leg.3. Personification is giving an inanimate object human-like qualities-The leaves

danced in the breeze.4. Simile is comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as”- My bed is like a

coffin with its stiff mattress.5. Onomatopoeia is the formation of a word from a sound-Bang!6. Metaphor is comparing two unlike things without using “like” or “as” – My

bed is a coffin with its stiff mattress.7. Alliteration – The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of closely

connected words – My bad big brothers always bother and bully me.Write the figurative language hook for “Embarrassing Girlfriend Shout out” thatmatches your row number.

Scary, exciting, or intense moment – Set up a mysterious tone or mood through good description.

What makes these famous hooks mysterious?• It was a cold day in April, and the clocks were striking

thirteen. (Nineteen Eighty-Four)• They murdered him. (The Chocolate War)• There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife. (The

Graveyard Book)• It was a pleasure to burn. (Fahrenheit 451)• Write a mysterious hook for The Three Little Pigs.• He crept up to the straw house to blow it down and devour

its owner.

Conversation/Dialogue – Show dialogue between two characters.• Fill in the speakers and write a response to this

opening line of dialogue.• “What did you mean when you said that?” the

_____ asked the _____.“What did you mean when you said that?” the one grape asked the other grape.“If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be in this jam.”

“What did you mean when you said that?” one eye asked the other eye.

“Something between us smells.”

“Show” feelings – Use emotion words to show feelings of a character.

• “It was hot in my room.” This tells but doesn’t show.

• “I lay in my own pool of sweat. The paint was peeling off of my walls, and the water in my goldfish’s bowl was beginning to boil.” – This shows that it was hot in your room.

• Now it’s your turn. Show “The food in the lunchroom was gross.”

Fast action – Description of an occurrence of exciting or dramatic action

• How could you change this hook to make it fast action?

• The monster was scary. It chased me. • The scary monster turned, and we locked

eyes. It darted towards me. I turned and raced for my life. Faster, faster, and faster it went gaining on me with every step I took. My heart pounded through my chest, and sweat soaked my hat.

Details about the setting• Write a hook about your favorite setting from a

book, movie or TV show. Remember to include your five senses (see, hear, taste, smell, feel).

Warm Up-Flashback--The character thinks back to an important detail about the story.• Think back to the most important thing that

happened to you last year.• Write a hook where you flashback to that event.• For example:

Whenever I see the clothes my son has outgrown, it takes me back to when I bought them. Last year around this time I slowly ducked my head in a baby clothing store. I stressed and stressed over which onesie, footsy, and bib to buy for my unborn son. Back then, I thought the clothes I purchased were essential to the happiness of my son. Now I realize how insignificant baby clothes are and what is really important .

Repetition of strong feelings--Repeat 3 times.• These strong feelings need to be at the center of

the story.• For example, what is the central feelings in “Sara

Cynthia Stout would not take the garbage out”? How would you write a hook for this story?

• Sara Cynthia Stout

1. Filthy! Filthy! Filthy! The only way Sara Cynthia Stout knew how to live.

2. Disgusting! Disgusting! Disgusting! Sara Cynthia Stout’s house was a landfill.

3. Lazy! Lazy! Lazy! Sara Cynthia Stout would not take the garbage out.