1. Narrative Leads Lesson 9/19/2011

2. W HAT IS A LEAD ? A lead is the beginning of your story.

3. A good lead catches the reader’s attention, making them want to read on. It also makes the writer want to write more.

4. T YPES OF L EADS Action Dialogue Setting Character Strong Feeling

5. A CTION LEADS – S OMETHING IS HAPPENING Example: (Copy what is in black) Strolling down the hall and casually turning the corner, I spotted my number one enemy. Jack Stowitz. Turning to bolt towards safety, I knew I was in the race of my life.

6. D IALOGUE LEADS – S OMEONE IS SPEAKING Example: (Copy what is in black) “Why did you do that, Jack?” I asked the kid that had just smacked me in the nose. The crooked smile on his face told me he wasn’t finished and I’d better brace myself.

7. S ETTING L EADS – T IME, PLACE, OR STATE OF MIND OF THE CHARACTER Example: (Copy what is in black) This is going to hurt. It’s all I could think as I fled. The shiny newly waxed hallways reflected the monster known as Jack Stowitz barreling after me. 2:35 and the teachers and students were already out of sight.

8. C HARACTER L EADS – GLIMPSE OF A CHARACTER ( PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION ) Example: (Copy what is in black) Huge. That’s the only word to describe him. He was a foot taller than the tallest fourth grader. His brown eyes seemed to glow red under the school lighting. The bangs of his black hair fell at an angle over his face giving him the appearance of a Cyclops.

9. S TRONG FEELING LEADS – F EELINGS OR OPINIONS ARE BEING SHARED Example: (Copy what is in black) My heart felt like it was being ripped apart by the fear and hate that filled it up at that very moment. Fear, because I was staring at the one person who had beaten me senseless since the day school began. Hate, because I wanted to do something to stop him but felt powerless standing there in the empty end-of-the-day hallway.