1. Hook Ideas and Conclusion

2. HOOK
A sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. It should should relate to the broad idea of the topic in a high-interest way.
GOOD ones are:
-an amazing fact
-a detailed description
-a quote, proverb
-a bold opinion
-a statistic
-a question –this is overused!!!!!!

3. Lead / Hook - Grab the Reader’s Attention
Anecdote (personal story)
I walked proudly through the hallways of AMS, my new blue mohawk glistening magnificently in the florescent lighting of the hallway, but then I saw Mr. Caruthers. I felt the wax in my hair start to melt.
Rhetorical Question
Do schools have the right to tell kids how to dress?
Hyperbole
For the past 300 years in this country, schools have been crushing the artistic freedom of students with oppressive dress codes!
Interesting Statistic
23% of all public and private schools have their students wear uniforms.
Quotation
“Give me liberty or give me death.”
Scenario
Imagine swimming in a beautiful blue ocean filled with colorful coral and exotic fish. Now imagine the impact of 3 million barrels of oil pumping into that environment…
Here are some possible leads for a persuasive paper about school dress codes. Have students consider tone and audience. Which would be most appropriate?

4. What does the conclusion do?
1. It summarizes the essay.
2. It shows you proved the point you set out to make.
3. It gives the reader a sense of completion.
4. It leaves the reader remembering your main point.

5. How to Structure the Final Paragraph
Topic Sentence/Restated Thesis Statement: repeat the ideas in your thesis statement, but don’t use the same exact wording.
“So what?” Technique
3. Supporting sentences: summarize the main points in the body of your essay
4. Closing sentence (Clincher): connect back to the introduction to "clinch" the ideas in the essay, showing their importance

6. Example of a restated thesis statement:
Thesis Statement: Many Americans are buying the Toyota Corolla because of its competitive price, fuel economy, and high resale value. Restated Thesis Statement: Reasonable pricing, low miles per gallon, and an attractive resale value have all contributed to the popularity of the Toyota Corolla in today's market.

7. Another Example of the "So What?" Method
Some people support kneeling during the national anthem, others are against it, and a writer’s evidence and word choice can express his or her opinion on the issue.
Most issues have two sides, and every writer’s
interpretation can be different.
Understanding both sides of an issue and recognizing
bias can be beneficial when reading or researching material.

8. The Clincher
The clincher, also referred to as the closer, is your last opportunity to connect with the reader. One way to make the most of this moment is to return to the technique you used for your hook.

9. Using Figurative Language
Begin with a simile, metaphor, personification, or hyperbole. Hook: Writers are artists; they start with a blank canvas and paint characters with their words. Clincher: By using direct and indirect characterization, writers can create masterpieces.

10. Hook: Writing is like an onion; it consists of many layers
Hook: Writing is like an onion; it consists of many layers. Clincher: Writing about an issue can have many layers; some may be biased and others may not. Hook: Imagine attending your first professional football game. While the people stand for the national anthem, you are surprised to see one of your favorite players kneeling instead. Clincher: At the next football game you attend, you may not be surprised to see even more players kneeling.

11. Some Things to Remember
Give the author’s name and title of each article. If you are writing about cell phones, self-driving cars, or Confederate monuments, the authors’ names and article titles are listed on the articles.
Kneeling Articles:
“Pro Players Got Us Talking about an Important Issue,” by Tim Wendel
“This Is No Place to Stage a Protest,” by Merrill Matthews
Example:
In the article, “Pro Players Got Us Talking about an Important Issue,” the author, Tim Wendel, is in favor of kneeling during the national anthem.
*Pay attention to capitalization and punctuation.