Starting With a Hook
Have you ever read a sentence that was so incredibly interesting, or mysterious, or thought-provoking, that you just had to keep reading? Starting with a hook sentence is one of the best ways to start your paragraph. It hooks your readers and leaves them wanting to learn more or it makes them wonder what comes next. Try these suggestions for using hook sentences in your writing.
- Start with a question. Asking your readers to think about the topic is a great way to get them ready to hear more. It can be a simple question like, "Could it be?" Or it can be a more complex question like, "Why is it that cats always land on their feet?"
- Use descriptive words. Creating a picture in the reader’s mind can make him or her feel connected to your writing. Use words that describe the scene you’re trying to create. For example, if you’re writing about things you like to do in the winter, you can start with, "Jumping in big, slushy, icy puddles is certainly on my list of favorite things to do in the winter, but nothing tops a snowball fight on a cold, blustery day."
- Leave it a mystery. Give your readers just enough to make them curious. Include a few details and leave the rest to their imaginations. Try something like, "It was so noisy in our classroom that the walls began to shake. We couldn’t have known what would happen next."
Time4Writing provides practice in this area. View our coursework available in High School Paragraph Writing or browse other related courses.