The purpose of this activity is to get students to search for and collect great first lines in stories, and thus have them consider how carefully selecting words can influence a reader to read.This will heighten students’ awareness of the importance of a great “opening” , and their own beginnings to stories or essays may sharpen.
Strategies/Skills Used
Writing Skill 1: I generate ideas in a variety of ways.
Writing Skill 5: I carefully choose the most effective words to express my ideas.
Writing Skill 6: I choose the tone and point of view that suit my writing purpose.
Writing Skill 7: I use my personal style to make my writing unique.
(1) Ask students to decide on three favourite first lines of stories they know (see suggested list below or search on the Internet).
(2) Have students share their favourite first lines with a partner, in a small group or with the class. Challenge the students to find three better first lines for next class.
(3) The next class, gather all of the first lines for students to review.
(4) Students choose their top ten favourite first lines from all of the books.As a class, students defend why they like their first lines (or see variation).
(5) Students write their own better first line to a book they’ve read (e.g. Harry Potter, Cinderella, The DaVinci Code).
Primary
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Intermediate
Secondary
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