2. This sentence or sentences is at the very beginning of the
introductory paragraph. Its job is to grab the reader’s
attention.
There are different types of hooks…
3. A short, interesting or amusing story. It must be very quick and to the
point, only a few sentences long.
Example:
Sally is a home school student who got to do the best activities to study
science. She went to the Space and Air Museum, built a rocket and
interviewed a pilot. She loves to be in home school.
(the essay prompt is “Why is home school a good choice for your
education?”)
4. A quick exchange between two people.
Example
“Where do you go to school?” a boy asked his friend. “I am
in home school and it is awesome!” replied the boy’s friend.
5. Interesting information that supports your opinion in the
essay. Be sure that it is accurate!
Example
There were 1.1 million homeschool students in the US in
2003 according to the National Center for Education
Statistics.
6. Definition
A phrase said by someone else (usually a famous person
or an expert) in support of your position.
Example –
George Santayana, a philosopher, and poet said, “A child
educated only at school is an uneducated child.”
7. Definition –
A statement that is overstated for effect.
Example –
Homeschool is by far the best schooling option for
everyone. If you are not in homeschool you will not learn
anything!
9. The hook must relate to the essay topic
The hook should lead into the topic statement smoothly
For example – In the fact or statistic example the fact
leads directly to the sentence where you tell what your
essay is about:
There were 1.1 million homeschool students in the US in
2003 according to the National Center for Education
Statistics. Homeschooling is something that many
students are choosing to do to better their education.
10. After the hook write about the topic of your essay – what
are you going to be writing about?
11. A thesis statement tells what your position on the topic is.
Example
Homeschooling is the best choice for your child’s education.
12. After your thesis statement write your rainbow sentence. In
the persuasive essay these will be the three reasons that
support your thesis.
Example
In a homeschool environment students learn at their own pace,
can learn about interesting topics, and can go to many different
places to learn.
13. Sentence 1: Hook (either an anecdote, conversation, fact, statistic, quotation,
exaggerated information, question)
Sentence 2: Topic Sentence (tell what the topic is)
Sentence 3: Thesis Statement (tell your position on the topic)
Sentence 4: Rainbow Sentence (reasons that support your thesis)
Sentence 5: Transition Sentence (leads to your body paragraph)
