Personal Narrative Writing: Introductions What is a hook? • A narrative hook (or hook) is a literary technique in the opening of a story that "hooks" the reader's attention so that he or she will keep on reading. The "opening" may consist of several paragraphs for a short story, or several pages for a novel, but ideally it is the opening sentence. The Puzzler Definition: Raises questions that puzzle the reader Example: I’m never really sure if it’s a real memory or just something that’s become more solid over time. But I’m sure that my brother once tried to murder me. The Salesperson Definition: Stops the reader in their tracks and addresses them directly Example: So you want to know all about me? Well, stay there and I’ll begin… The Hinter Definition: The subtle approach, drops hints so the reader has to put the pieces together Example: It wasn’t as if we hated each other. I don’t really think he knew what he was doing. I wasn’t much better. The Weatherman Definition: Sets the atmosphere Example: The sky was a shade of midnight, the pavements shined with drizzle and reflected lights from lamp-posts and car headlights. I splashed along in my cozy rainboots. The Painter Definition: Paints a visual image of the scene Example: My apple red rainboots shone as they splashed through the puddles on the black tar pavement. Multicolored cars raced past, cutting through the drizzle and the dark of the winter night. The Comedian Definition: The funny approach Example: Being splashed by a car moving so quickly that you are soaked to your underwear is really funny. Until it happens to you. The Interrupter Definition: Brings you in during a conversation Example: “I can’t believe he did that! What happened?” Liz demanded… The Scientist Definition: Uses an interesting fact or piece of data Example: Shock has been known to kill ten-year-olds. It can cause their brains to explode and their heart to stop dead still. These facts came to mind as I stood dumbfounded in front of my fourth-grade classmates. I wish I had stayed in bed! Personal Narrative Writing: Conclusions Conclusions ▪ Your conclusion is your chance to have the last word on the subject. The conclusion allows you to: ▪ Have the final say on the issues you have raised in your paper, ▪ Synthesize your thoughts, ▪ Demonstrate the importance of your ideas ▪ Revisit some of your initial views from the beginning ▪ Your conclusion gives your reader something to take away that will help them see things differently or appreciate your topic in personally relevant ways. You have provided some personal insight into your own background and ideas. What do you want the reader to take away, knowing about you or life in general? The end of your narrative is your gift to the reader. Echoing the Introduction Definition: Echoing your introduction can be a good strategy if it is meant to bring the reader full-circle. If you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay was helpful in creating a new understanding. Example: I thought I would spend a few hours at Disneyland, but here I was at 1:00 A.M., closing time, leaving the front gates with the now dark towers of the Magic Kingdom behind me. I could see tired children, toddling along and struggling to keep their eyes open as best they could. Others slept in their parents' arms as we waited for the parking lot tram that would take us to our cars. My forty-year-old feet ached, and I felt a bit sad to think that in a couple of days I would be leaving California, my vacation over, to go back to my desk. But then I smiled to think that for at least a day I felt ten years old again. Looking to the Future Definition: Looking to the future can emphasize the importance of your paper or redirect the readers' thought process. It may help them apply the new information to their lives or see things more globally. Example: Without well-qualified teachers, schools are little more than buildings and equipment. If higher-paying careers continue to attract the best and the brightest students, there will not only be a shortage of teachers, but the teachers available may not have the best qualifications. Our youth will suffer. And when youth suffers, the future suffers.
