Welcome everyone! Introduce today’s lesson: how to write a strong college essay introduction. Explain that over the next 30 minutes, students will learn the parts of an admissions essay, brainstorm personal stories, and draft an engaging hook.

Warm up the class by connecting to experiences they already have. Encourage volunteers to share briefly, and emphasize what made each story memorable.

Distribute the College Essay Structure Handout. Walk through each part—hook, story, reflection—explaining its role and purpose in an admissions essay.

Hand out the Brainstorming Worksheet. Circulate while students list 2–3 personal moments—challenges, achievements, passions. Ask guiding questions if they get stuck.

Show a few example hooks. Read them aloud and point out what makes them intriguing (sensory detail, a question, a surprising fact).

Prompt students to pick one story and write a 3–5 sentence hook. Remind them to include vivid detail, a compelling question, or an intriguing fact.

Have students pair up. They take turns reading their draft intro aloud. Partners provide one compliment and one suggestion for improvement.

Collect the exit tickets to gauge understanding of hooks. Use these insights to plan the next writing lesson.

Welcome! Explain that today’s 30-minute lesson will guide students through brainstorming personal stories, using a graphic organizer, and drafting a strong hook for a personal essay.

Ask the question on screen and invite 2–3 volunteers to share. Emphasize how starting with a personal detail immediately draws in a reader.

Distribute the College Essay Structure Handout. Review each part—Hook, Story, Reflection—and explain how they build a cohesive narrative.

Hand out the Personal Story Brainstorming Worksheet. Circulate and help students list and refine 2–3 significant experiences.

Introduce the Personal Essay Graphic Organizer. Model filling in the hook, story details, and reflection notes, then let students work.

Show the Engaging Introduction Examples. Read each aloud and highlight features like sensory detail, questions, or surprising facts.

Prompt students to choose their best story idea and write a 3–5 sentence hook. Remind them to include vivid detail or an intriguing question.

Pair students and have them read hooks aloud to one another. Each partner gives one specific compliment to encourage positive feedback.

Collect exit tickets to assess understanding of hook strategies and to inform the next lesson.