Beginnings and endings: great first lines and final words ... in lit and life.

Writing!, April, 2008

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Beginnings and endings.

BACKGROUND MATERIAL

This issue's feature article is designed to help students write attention-grabbing beginnings and satisfying endings. Students can explore how the opening lines set the tone for the rest of their stories. They also can see how taking different approaches to writing their endings can leave readers with a variety of feelings.

The opening lines of a story vary. Some identify settings while others clue the reader into a character. Others can give a hint to the ending. Then there are those that begin with a question, asking readers to involve themselves in the story right from the start. When students begin a story, they should be encouraged to brainstorm as many...

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