1. Do Now: Thursday, October 17, 2013 The best beginning is # , because
Personal Narratives
Day 9: "Beginnings & Endings"
Do Now:
Directions: Choose the best beginning.
1. Last summer I went to a pool. We had a lot of fun.
2. I woke up and looked out the window. It was a clear, sunny day. When I walked into the kitchen, my aunt said, "How about we go to the pool today?"
3. It was only 6:45 am and the room felt like a sauna. There was no way that I could take another day of swimming in my own sweat. Just as I was making my way to the kitchen for some ice water, my aunt laughed, "Looks like someone could use a trip to the pool!"
The best beginning is # , because

2. Today's Objectives We will:
write attention grabbing beginnings and reflective endings.
write independently for at least 20 minutes and/or conference with teacher.

3. Quick Notes: Attention Grabbing Beginnings & Reflective Endings
Common Beginnings
Reflective Endings
Crafting Reflective Endings
Attention Grabbing Beginnings & Reflective Endings
important because most readers make a quick judgment about a piece of writing
if the first few sentences don't catch their attention, they may stop reading
A Question
Readers will want to know the answer! Example: Where's Papa going with that ax? (from Charlotte's Web by E.B. White)
A Feeling
Your readers will want to know why you feel that way! Example: When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. (from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Colins)
A Hint
Readers will be curious! Example: I was born with water on the brain. Okay, that's not exactly true. (from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie)
A Sound
Readers will wonder what's making it! Example: Brrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinng! (from Native Son by Richard Wright)
tell how the event you are writing about has affected you
writer reflects on the story and tells the reader what it means to them
Questions to ask yourself:
Why is this memory important?
What do I want the reader to know or feel when they read the ending?

4. “Grandmother”
It was May, 24, 2011 and I was out residential in V.A. and my mother called me on the phone and told me the terrible news. When I heard her say your grandmother just died my mind went numb. I immediately broke down and start crying. I didn’t want to believe what I just heard. I couldn’t believe grandmother was gone and I felt like life was over. I don’t know, it really just felt like the world became all black. The staff was trying to calm me down but it didn’t work. I was feeling something I never felt before.
It was a pill too big to swallow. I tried to use all of the coping skills I had, but it didn’t work. When I finally calmed down my head was spinning and it stopped spinning a little when my case manager told me that I can go to the funeral.
You see my grandmother raised me. My mother has 10 kids so my grandmother raised me and my sister. When I was out in resi I had two home passes. I knew she was sick but I didn’t know how sick she really was. She always used to say son you know Imma be alright. I am worried about you so you don’t worry about me. So I thought she’s goning to be ok and she’s so strong nothing could ever break her. So I used my weekend passes to go chill with my men. I went home both weekends and chilled with them. Then on that day 2 staff and my therapist came and got me off the unit. I knew it had to be something bad and no family team meeting. This is when my mother was on the phone and told me on the phone.
I was able to go to the funeral and what hurt me the most was seeing her casket. It finally hit me and I felt like it was real. I kind of came down not believing it. Then it
hit me she was finally gone. This really changed me because I made my grandmother a promise that I was going to chill out, go to school, and not get locked up no more. Then when I turned around a year later I’m sitting in the same boat. I tried and there’s always something that took me off balance. But, this year I’m going to try my hardest and make it my goal to go day by day, month by month, year by year, and not get in trouble. I want to keep that promise to my grandmother. I owe her this and not a single minute passes that I don’t forget about this promise. I never forget. Every time I do something wrong I always think about her. I want her to be watching over me proud. I want her to be proud of the grandson she worked so hard to raise.

5. Writers at Work! Tasks at hand:
(1) crafting an attention-grabbing beginning
(2) crafting a reflective ending

6. Wrap it up! How did you choose to hook your reader?
Please answer the question below.
How did you choose to hook your reader?
Make sure all of your work from today is dated and placed in your writing folder.
Tomorrow we will celebrate and share our FFN personal narratives!