Hook statement techniques

1. Introductory
Ms. Alter

2. The True Story by A. Wolf
Everybody knows the story of the Three Little Pigs. Or at
least they think they do. But I'll let you in on a little secret.
Nobody knows the real story, because nobody has ever
heard my side of the story. I'm Alexander T. Wolf. You can
call me Al. I don't know how this whole Big Bad Wolf thing
got started, but it's all wrong. Maybe it's because of our
diet. Hey, it's not my fault wolves eat cute little animals like
bunnies and sheep and pigs. That's just the way we are. If
cheeseburgers were cute, folks would probably think you
were Big and Bad too. But like I was saying, the whole big
bad wolf thing is all wrong. The real story is about a sneeze
and a cup of sugar.

3. WHAT’S A HOOK?
 The ability to catch the reader’s attention
and make them want to read on.

4. Types of Hooks
 Dialogue/ internal
monologue
 Onomatopoeia
 Quote
 Rhetorical Question
 Shocking statistic
 Humor
 Analogy
 Sets the stage

5. Dialogue/Internal
monologue
 Dialogue: the conversation between two people
 Internal monologue: inner thoughts
“Hello, is anyone home”, yelled Suzie as she slowly
entered the abdonened home her friend used to live in.
“Check this off my list of scariest encounters I’ve had
to experience”, Lindsey thought to herself as she
walked down the dark ally way.

6. Onomatopoeia
 Using sound words
“Eak, the door creepily opened as the rusted hinges
made noises to startle anyone possibly inside”

7. Quote
 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness, which
most frightens us.” Nelson Mandela

8. Rhetorical Question
 How would you feel if you found out that the
murderer of the per- son you loved most in the
world was about to be set free after only two years
in prison?

9. Shocking statistic
 On a recent anonymous survey, over ninety percent
of high school males admitted to secretly enjoying
the music of 'N Sync and to practicing their "hot
dance moves."
 74% of teenagers say that they are typically excited
to return to school at the end of summer each year.

10. Humor
 Why is it that, when I go to school with my
underwear on my head, the world looks at me as if I
were unusual? High school kids are so caught up in
their little cliques that I feel like I’ve got to become
one of those“ underwear under the pants” types
too.
 (Note: Humor is not appropriate for all classes and
teachers. Use good judgment.)

11. Analogy
 A comparison between two things (simile or
metaphor)
Life is like a race. The one who keeps running wins the
race and the one who stops to catch a breath loses.

12. Set the stage
 Describe the setting or a specific character using
details
“Record breaking temperatures of 12 degrees occurred
outside the peach colored hospital walls as a new life
would soon begin for the little girl yet to be named.”
“Her pursed red lips and curly blonde hair glistened
radiantly in the summer light as Carrie sat in the
grainy sand watching the seagulls flock through the
sky, thinking how gloriously beautiful life is.”