Narrative Leads

1
Narrative Leads

• An invitation into the story

2
What is the function of the lead?

• Sets the tone
• Determines the content and direction
• Establishes the voice and verb tense
• Lures the reader
• Grounds the writer
• Fuels the writing
• Makes the it easier to write the rest of the
  piece

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3 Types of the narrative leads

1. Action
2. Dialogue
3. Description

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Action Lead

• You can get the reader hooked into the story
  by starting with an exciting event or action.

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Action Lead

• BORING LEAD
• I was excited for the first day of school
• BETTER LEAD
• I threw on my favorite sweater and raced down
  the stairs, barely gulping down a glass of orange
  juice. It was the first day of sixth grade, and
  I couldnt wait to start my new life as a middle
  school student.

6
Dialogue Lead

• A character or characters speaking.
• It places the reader right into the scene.

7
Dialogue Lead

• BORING LEAD
• There was a mouse in the house today.
• BETTER LEAD
• Eeeeeeeeeew! yelled my sister as the little
  brown fur ball ran across the kitchen. Whatever
  you do, dont go into the pantry, I laughed.
  But, my sister had already fled to her bedroom.

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Description Lead

• You can draw the reader in by painting a
  picture with your words and imagery.

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Description Lead

• BORING LEAD
• Football season is the best time of year.
• BETTER LEAD
• The smell of freshly cut grass and burning
  leaves mingles in the crisp air to announce the
  beginning of the season. The bright lights
  blazed onto the field as the echo from the
  announcer blared in the background. Football
  season had arrived.

10
Atwell, N. (2002). Lessons That Change
Writers (pp. 51-53). Portsmouth, NH
Heinemann.