Strong Story Openings: Hook Your Reader — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 2nd Grade narrative writing worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet2nd Grade · English · Narrative WritingStrong Story Openings: Hook Your Reader — Answers
Part A: Which is stronger?
Circle the opening that hooks the reader.
- AThis is a story about a dog.
- BCrash! The dog knocked over the cake.
Answer: Crash! The dog knocked over the cake.
Starting with a sound word and some action grabs the reader.
- AHave you ever seen a talking cat?
- BI have a cat.
Answer: Have you ever seen a talking cat?
A question makes the reader wonder.
- AOne day I went out.
- BLate one stormy night, a strange light glowed in the garden.
Answer: Late one stormy night, a strange light glowed in the garden.
It tells when and where and adds a mystery.
Part B: What kind of opening?
Circle the kind of opening each writer used.
- Asound word
- Bquestion
- Cwhen and where
Answer: sound word
Splash is a sound word.
- Asound word
- Bquestion
- Cwhen and where
Answer: question
This opening asks the reader a question.
- Asound word
- Bquestion
- Cwhen and where
Answer: when and where
Early one morning tells when, and on a quiet farm tells where.
- Asound word
- Bquestion
- Cwhen and where
Answer: sound word
Bang is a sound word.
Part C: Make it stronger
Improve each opening.
Answer: Pop
A sound word that fits a balloon. Also correct: Bang, Boom.
Answer: Any opening that adds when and where, e.g. Deep in a dark cave, late one night, a dragon woke up.
Answer: Any question that hooks the reader, e.g. What would happen if you found a magic hat?
Part D: True or false?
Answer: True
That is its job: to hook the reader.
Answer: False
There are many ways to start a story, such as a sound word or a question.
Part E: Your turn
Model answer: Woof! Woof! Buster raced off after a ball. / Have you ever lost something you love? / One sunny afternoon at the busy park, a little puppy wandered away.
Success criteria:
- One opening starts with a sound word
- One opening is a question
- One opening tells when and where
- Each opening is about the lost puppy
- Capital letters and correct end marks
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.