How to Hook Your Reader with a Provocative Question

This video tutorial teaches how to write engaging opening paragraphs for letters by using three strategies: storytelling, asking provocative questions, and making brave statements. It emphasizes the importance of hooking the reader from the start and warns against the common mistake of starting with a thesis statement. The lesson focuses on crafting a provocative question by rereading the thesis, thinking of a question, and drafting the paragraph. The tutorial concludes with a review of the steps and the importance of integrating the thesis into the opening.

What is one common mistake writers make when starting a letter?

• Asking a question

• Stating their thesis

• Telling a story

• Using a bold statement

Which of the following is NOT a suggested way to start a letter?

• Listing all arguments

• Telling a story

• Asking a provocative question

• Making a bold statement

What is the first step in crafting a provocative question?

• Choosing a sentence starter

• Rereading the thesis statement

• Drafting the paragraph

• Identifying the audience

Why is it important to include the thesis statement in the opening paragraph?

• It lists the main arguments

• It introduces the writer

• It answers the provocative question

• It provides a summary of the letter

What is the purpose of using a provocative question in the opening paragraph?

• To introduce the writer

• To summarize the letter

• To engage the reader's interest

• To confuse the reader