PART A
Anecdotal Lead:
THREE years ago, Sharmadean Reid, a London nail salon owner, was watching the American Music Awards when she saw Beyonce Knowles with a manicure that made her nails look as if they’d been plated with gold. “I paused the television,” she said. “I was like, ‘What is on her nails?’ Gimme now.” (New York Times, 14 Oct 2010)
I think this lead is effective as it clearly states who the focus of the article is on and it is completed with a few quotes of dialogues. To me, it is more like a microscopic view of the article which is about to be elaborated later in the body. The suspense is there when the dialogue says “What is on her nails?” and it also gives a hint to the readers that the following content must be something related about nails.
Descriptive Lead:
I was back at my alma mater recently. As the new term has just begun, the campus was pulsating with new energy. New students were chatting merrily with newfound friends, the common room buzzing with activities, and the library packed with eager, young students carrying thick books and files. (New Straits Times, 19 Oct 2010)
The lead describes what the writer saw when she was back at her alma mater. The scenes of students chatting and the packed library give a vivid image to the readers of how the scene was like. I think it is an effective lead as the description helps to draw the readers into the situation.
Narrative Lead:
COULD someone please turn the volume down?
"Ambient," I said somewhat forcibly over the music. "Music at restaurants should be ambient. You know, like in the background." I was repeating myself. It was a clear sign of frustration. (The Malay Mail, 9 July 2009)
This lead catches my attention the most. The first sentence of the article creates a great suspense as I read. It sounds like the writer was annoyed with rage over something and the dialogues in between slowly gives a clearer idea of what is going to be written in the rest of the article. I think it is an effective lead as it draws the readers into the article by putting them into the situation so to stimulate the readers’ feelings as they read on.
PART B
1.
If you are wondering how you can lose weight, you’re better off being kept in the dark. According to a study, those living in well-lit towns or cities are more likely to become obese than country dwellers, even if they eat the same amount. (New Straits Times, 19 Oct 2010)
I like how the writer begins with a sentence that questions and directs the readers. The presentation of the big idea is also interesting because the readers do not have a clue on how losing weight and living in a well-lit city could be related. Besides that, the research that is included in the paragraph is also persuasive enough to make the readers continue reading.
2.
IT’S official. I’m not very popular. At least, according to Facebook standards I’m not. You see, a recent report crowned Malaysia the most cyber-sociable country in the world, with the average number of social network friends running at a whopping 233, closely followed by Brazil with 231 friends. So what does that say about me and my measly 82 friends?
I’ve just checked my Facebook account and it seems that I have overstated my popularity. I actually only have 81 friends. This means that someone has un-friended me since the last time I was online. It’s demoralising to think that someone who once considered me a friend no longer wants to have anything to do with me, even in cyber land. (The Star, 18 Oct 2010)
I think this is an interesting lead as the writer writes about her own experience in the cyber world while she injects a little humour into the article. Besides that, the statistics that are included in the lead also gives a rough idea on what the writer is going talk about for the rest of the article.
3.
SINCE my son returned from university to spend his summer break at home in Penang, strange things have been appearing in my fridge. Take the other afternoon, for example.
I’d just opened the fridge door to get a cold drink, when I spotted a bulging plastic bag sitting on a plate on the topmost shelf. Curious, I opened the bag, only to recoil with shock. For there, stretching the sides of the pink plastic, was a glistening brain. (The Star, 9 Aug 2010)
I like how detailed the descriptions are. I am intrigued by the suspense created in the lead. It really puts me to imagine the situation as she slowly describes the process of her discovering something strange in the fridge. It also helped to draw my attention to continue reading till the end.
PART C
1.
THE other evening, I was invited to a friend’s house for dinner. After a relaxing pre-dinner cocktail on her patio, I sat down at her dining table and eagerly examined the plate in front of me.
My eyes took in the chicken breasts in a creamy mustard sauce, the plump baked potato, and the ... and the ... For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the name of the long green vegetable stems on my plate. (The Star, 27 Sept 2010)
It begins with a lead that doesn’t hint much on what is going to be written for the rest of the article. Could it be something about the name of the vegetable on her plate which she couldn’t recall? The suspense is in a great deal but it is just not enough to motivate the readers to continue reading.
2.
I have two little boys and a nanny who takes care of them twice a week. It took me months to find her. A neighbour asked for her number to see if she might baby-sit occasionally. I gave it to her because our nanny was always looking for more hours. Now, the neighbor has called to say she’s gotten a job and has offered our nanny a full-time position. Our nanny is better off, but I can’t help feeling betrayed by the neighbour. Could she have handled this better? M. D. (The New York Times, 15 Oct 2010)
I dislike how the lead here is structured because it sounds monotonous and flat to me. Squeezing in too much information in the lead makes it hard for the readers to comprehend. Furthermore, the lack of descriptions and introductions in the paragraph somehow leads to confusion in the events that is happening in the story.
3.
THE Obama volunteer coordinator assigned to find me a canvassing partner walked me toward a busload of elderly people. She must have noticed my dismay, because suddenly she veered left toward a smaller group of mostly male twentysomethings from Brooklyn. The day began looking up. (The New York Times, 15 Oct 2010)
I do not like the lead above because the idea that the writer is trying to convey is vague and the presentation of the lead is boring and unattractive. It is not impactful enough to motive the readers to continue reading.
