For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of punctuation, you may want to start with this condensed version of a joke: A panda walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a glass of brandy. Tell a personal story. Giving your readers an idea of a desirable future is a great way of catching their attention. What Is a Good Hook for an Essay? A fitting thesis statement might read: Parents are justified in implementing a strict curfew, regardless of a student's academic performance. Find several facts or quotes that might work for you. A misconception or commonly-believed myth is another good way to hook your readers. Make sure you check with your teacher before you opt for this technique. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. Choosing a persuasive essay hook doesn’t have to be difficult, but it is worth spending … A hook can be compared to an appetizer, which would make the reader hungry for more and … 7 Different Types of Writing Hooks. Lastly, go back to your introductory hook paragraph. Namely, you are to get the audience interested in what you wrote. By setting the tone in the opening sentence with a uniquely written general statement of your thesis, the beauty is that you get right to the point. The hook of an essay often, but not always, serves double duty as a topic sentence. Knowing how to write a hook is key to being a successful writer. Interesting question: Ask your audience an interesting question that tempts them to ponder while studying your paper. Numbers and facts are powerful essay hooks because they demonstrate your awareness on the subject. In an essay, the hook should fall within the first line or two of the introduction. This is how you sink your hooks into a reader. Share a fact or a definition. Use statistical data. You can find a quote, fact, or another type of hook after you determine your thesis. Write a quote from a famous person. (back to top) Types of Hooks. For example, a line from a poem isn’t an appropriate hook for an expository essay, whereas a joke has little chances of … For example, when writing an essay about the need for good nutrition, you might ask: Why is it that we all say we believe in good nutrition, but very few of us actually consume enough fruits and vegetables or exercise regularly? In rhetoric, a “hook” refers to the catchy first line of any written or orally delivered piece. A quote hook is best used when you are composing an essay based on an author, story, or book. 10 Hook Sentence Examples. One of the most widely used hooks in essay writing is to ask a question. Statistics give tone and set the style to the whole document. Compose a closing paragraph that is basically a reiteration of your thesis statement with new assertions or conclusive findings you find during with your research. It can be a simple yes or no question, but it can also be a more complicated question that will require them to think deeper. For example: Sugar is the absolute anti-nutrient: every healthy thing that your body consumes, sugar would automatically negate. When it comes to songs or movies, the hook is not dependent only on your words. So, what are the hooks for essays? That’s why we need to look seriously into the issue by finding ways to be more ecologically responsible. Example: 70% of all jobs found today were got through different networking strategies. An essay hook is the first thing you see starting to read someone’s essay. 15 Great Jobs for English Majors: How to Turn Your “Useless” Degree Into a Successful Career, How to Write a Speech: 6 Tips for a Powerful Address, How to Write a Research Paper: The Complete Guide for Students. “Draw” a scene. An effective essay hook has the ability to keep the reader interested and motivate them to finish reading the entire essay. A hook is an opening sentence of a high school or college essay or any other type of paper. These hooks are usually short, as modern consumers have short attention spans, and most advertisers have limited time or space to capture that attention. Long story short, a hook is something alluring, something that makes readers fall in love with your text, forcing them to read every word with excitement. Were you always told to stretch before you exercise to prevent injuries? To come up with a clever hook for your business, product, or service, think about the message you want to convey to consumers. It connects to the thesis statement and shows the importance of your essay or paper. Make sure your question is complex enough to not be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." A hook can be the same thing when you know how to present something you know in a catchy manner that grabs attention of readers. We would cuddle up in bed, and I would wait excitedly for her to open the book in her hand. Below you can find the answer! In rhetoric, a “hook” refers to the catchy first line of any written or orally delivered piece. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, Outlining the Steps for Writing Your Essay. A hook is an engaging introduction to your college essay that captivates the reader and inspires him or her to keep reading. You can think of it as a fisherman’s hook, used to catch fish. Before working on this statement, it is important not only to know what is a hook in essay writing, but also to remember that there are different type of hooks, such as a quote, question, statistic, or anecdote. The Strong Statement Hook makes an assertive claim right on the get-go. A hook sentence is the opening sentence of your essay. An essay hook will be found in the opening paragraph of your essay. That is why it is essential that you master the best way for writing great hooks for you essay… What makes you and your business unique? Obviously, the first step is to determine your thesis. But for less formal writing assignments or for writing opinion pieces, this is a great option. The Why Hook is when you start off your essay explaining why your topic is important. The opening paragraph includes a thesis sentence. Instead, she would read from a joke book, or the jokes section of Reader’s Digest, or from a religious daily devotional book. The hook for your essay often appears in the first sentence. Writing the right hook, which is an essay's main component, you are making a strong contribution to your paper's success. Usually, an anecdote is a small story placed at the beginning of the story that might have some deep meaning or connection with the rest of the essay. By listing a proven fact or entertaining an interesting statistic that might even sound implausible to the reader, you can excite a reader to want to know more. A well-constructed opener will ask your reader a question and make him/her want to find out the answer. Because it’s not strictly limited to writing, this includes spoken pieces like speeches, movies, plays, and even songs. In the next sentence or two, give a reason for this quote or current example. It should match the tone of the piece and support the main point. How can one sentence be so important? A strong statement is a great technique because it doesn’t matter if your reader agrees or disagrees with your statement. However, we recommend you use this sparingly, as an appropriate joke weakens your essay. Having a good essay hook will help garner interest in what you are writing about and will help increase your grade and make your essay more memorable. An essay on good citizenship may begin with the famous John F. Kennedy quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”. Good hooks to start an essay typically consist of 1 or 2 sentences. For example, when writing about the importance of children reading excellent literature, you might start with: Children’s minds are like their bodies: just as children’s bodies need healthy food to thrive and grow, their minds also need nutritious food, in the form of rich ideas in books, to grow strong and healthy. A hook sentence fulfills the purpose of informing the reader about the topic and idea, as well as an attention grabber. After downing it in one go, he takes out his gun, shoots the bartender, and walks out the door. Let’s start with identifying the types you can use. A strong statement hook is a sentence that makes an assertive claim about your topic. A hook in an essay is exactly what makes your audience engaged – it catches their attention and makes them read your paper to the end. Strong statement: This is a great way to lead in for an argumentative essay hook. The most important job of a hook is to entice readers to want to read your essay. And it is written with the intention of grabbing the reader's attention. The first line of anything you write needs to grabs your reader’s attention. An essay hook is the first or two sentences of your essay. The hook is one or several sentences of essays or research papers that serve as an introduction. Anecdotal hooks can be great for narrative essays or essays that ask for a more personal response from the writer. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/writing-a-hook-for-your-essay-1856994. Share your thoughts in the comments below. For songwriting, an effective hook usually depends more on the melody line that you use to open your song. Because it’s not strictly limited to writing, this includes spoken pieces like speeches, movies, plays, and even songs. As for the last sentence (the thesis): If every school day started at ten o'clock, many students would find it easier to stay focused. Here's an example of the steps you can follow that help you outline your essay. The next paragraphs become the supporting evidence for your thesis. Most readers appreciate that approach. https://www.thoughtco.com/writing-a-hook-for-your-essay-1856994 (accessed January 27, 2021). But, first, let’s define what a hook sentence is… What is a hook sentence? If we are talking books, and not the good ones by Hemingway but the big clunky academic ones, a hook sentence can be defined as follows… The first one or two sentences of an essay that serve(s) as both an introduction to the reader and an attention grabber. Your email address will not be published. Surprise with a misconception. It fills in as an acquaintance and works with catch the peruser’s eye. The hook for your essay often appears in the first sentence. It’s an art of its own; only words is the main weapon here instead of brushes. Everything depends on the hook itself. Fleming, Grace. A question at the very start of your piece challenges your readers to start thinking about the topic. And every single day, about 5,700 more children become orphans. When it comes to songs or movies, the hook is not dependent only on your words. Whether you’re writing a novel, a short story, or an essay, mastering the skill of writing a strong hook is essential. Sentence #5: connect back to the essay hook and relate your closing statement to the opening one; transit to human nature to impress a reader and give them food for thought. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. This is the type of hook you see on most blog posts these days. Your reader, like you, is full of questions. To review, the parts of an essay include: One important thing to remember is that the hook does not replace your introduction. Discover what a hook is and how to create a powerful one to grab someone’s attention. For example: Global warming is causing problems in every country around the world today. Writing a compelling hook takes skill. General tips for a catchy essay hook To develop an outstanding essay hook quickly and with ease, just keep in mind the list of useful tips prepared by our academic experts. The hook for your essay can be an interesting sentence that captures a person's attention, it can be thought-provoking, or even, entertaining. You can think of the first sentence of your essay as you would a fishing hook. If you are reading a news article or a magazine feature, the first few lines typically determine whether you will keep reading or not. You still need to build on your hook to form an introduction that effectively lays the foundation for your piece. Take this quote about writing hooks from Stephen King: “The best writers hook their readers with voice, not just action.” Writing Hook #4: The Rhetorical Question. Your next sentence can set up the argument that it's dangerous for teenagers to be on the streets at late hours. Can you use a quote, shocking fact, or paint a picture of the thesis statement using an anecdote? Some popular hook choices can include using an interesting quote, a little-known fact, famous last words, or a statistic. You might choose an old wives’ tale, or something commonly held in your culture that does not have any scientific bearing. Getting Ideas for Persuasive Essay Hooks. Your job to simply analyze the question to the best of your knowledge while engaging the reader in critical thinking. https://www.thoughtco.com/writing-a-hook-for-your-essay-1856994 But she didn’t read me stories or fairy tales. A hook is a way of reaching your reader by means of capturing their attention to the writing piece. Knowing how to write a hook for an essay is an acquired skill that takes practice. Some popular hook choices can include using an interesting quote, a little-known fact, famous last words, or a statistic. You can accomplish this with a simple online search about your topic after you've developed your essay. Using literary devices such as similes or metaphors is another way to start your essay with a bang. Many writers polish up the first paragraph after the essay is completed. Leave this as your first paragraph for now. What do you want to inspire them to do? This kind of question helps readers to start analyzing the cause of something: it may trigger them to look into their own reasons for not eating healthy or exercising regularly. As for the last sentence (the thesis) : Students grow more confident and self-sufficient when parents allow them to make mistakes and experience failure. But you can use any of the following ways of writing a hook to get you started: Presenting a surprising fact or statistic is a great way to grab the attention of your audience. So, this first sentence should be something special. To develop your writing skills further, challenge yourself to use different types each time you sit down and write, instead of always reaching for your favorite type. The following is an example of a quote hook: "A man's errors are his portals of discovery." Sharing a story can effectively lure in your audience. Just as a fisherman uses a shiny hook with the right bait to lure and catch fish, you must have an effective first line to grab your reader’s attention. This is one of the first things that differentiates an amateur writer from one with outstanding communication skills. Hooks or hook sentences are opening sentences that aim to attract and capture a reader's attention - to hook them up. "Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay." How to Write a Great Essay for the TOEFL or TOEIC, The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay, The Introductory Paragraph: Start Your Paper Off Right, Definition and Examples of Analysis in Composition, Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay, Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs, Check Your Knowledge: How to Support a Topic Sentence, Check Your Knowledge: Create a Simple Outline, Making Paragraphs Flow With Smooth Transitions, M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia, B.A., History, Armstrong State University, Last paragraph: Conclusion with a restatement of the thesis, Revisit the first paragraph: Find the best hook. There is a good way to understand if hooks are needed for your essay. Fleming, Grace. They will want to see how you support your statement. A "hook" is something irresistibly interesting in the first sentence or two of an essay that draws readers in and inspires them to keep reading. Put simply, it makes your audience hungry for more. These questions can even sometimes have no right answer. Because a panda eats, shoots, and leaves. For an essay, it may still work if the anecdote or joke helps to introduce the subject. Start with a thesis statement. The most compelling hooks for essays begin with one of the following elements: An Interesting Question. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/writing-a-hook-for-your-essay-1856994. Write a few paragraphs and give it a read to five people of different education, age, and occupation. Usually, it is no longer than 1-2 sentences, but it should be so intriguing, interesting, or impressive that readers naturally end up wanting to know more and read further. Look at their reaction and then add the necessary hooks: quotes, interesting facts, jokes, startling statistics, and rhetorical questions. As you see, it is crucial to begin academic papers with powerful opening paragraphs which contain hooking words and phrases. A joke or an anecdote is a great way to break the ice, particularly in spoken pieces. This is because they all have audiences and they need to captivate them as they read. Creating family memories that last a lifetime is more about spending quality time together than it is about spending money. It’s the moment when you decide whether to continue reading it or not. Use strong words to create a scene in your readers’ minds. For example, if you are writing a topic on the marijuana and its i… For example, you can start with the following statement: Many studies show that the biological sleep pattern for teens shifts a few hours, which means teens naturally stay up later and feel alert later in the morning. You need to research your topic and know what you plan to write about. It helps establish your authority on the topic and by using someone else's quote, you can strengthen your thesis if the quote supports it. Here’s an example for an essay on the importance of mothers reading to their children: When I was a child, my mother would read to me every night. Write an anecdote. The opening paragraph includes a thesis sentence. Strategies for writing an essay hook: Use literary quotes. This is an example of a strong statement for the topic of online college classes: Online college classes are cheaper and more effective than in-person college cla… In an essay, the hook falls in the introduction paragraph. Hooks aren’t just for essays: they’re also important to marketing, and can make or break your campaign. A hook statement provides an idea about your overall topic, and it addresses all the research questions. In truth, stretching a muscle that has not been warmed up yet can actually cause injuries. When you do that, it increases the chances of them sticking around for whatever else you have to say. When reading facts from the jump of your paper, the audience assumes that the entire essay will be well-researched and fact-based. I find it odd that even so, I grew up loving to read. This is where you include the statistics, opinions of experts, and anecdotal information. Your email address will not be published. You may use a hook in most essay types, with no limitations. Try out a few different starting sentences and determine which of your choices makes the most interesting beginning to your essay. Required fields are marked *. Here are a few examples of different types of hooks that have worked for different platforms: Try these different types of hooks and see which one works best for your essay. It is a catchy and engrossing sentence of the essay introduction written with the intention of grabbing the reader's attention. What’s your big picture? Ask a question. Take note, though, that for a formal academic paper, it may not be appropriate to use personal pronouns. A hook is a kind of statement in an essay, the goal of which is to grab readers’ attention and make them read on. The next sentence, set up the body of your essay, perhaps by introducing the concept that school days should be adjusted so that they are more in sync with the teenager's natural sleep or wake cycle. The primary couple sentences will help your peruser choose whether they need to keep perusing your essay or not. It is meant to attract the reader and create a specific writing tone. A hook can take the form of a quote, an amazing statistic or a little-known fact. It’s a direct question that attempts to draw the reader into what has been written already. Develop a starting statement. Like this hook: According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, teens and young adults experience the highest rates of violent crime. A hook is the first couple of sentences that introduce your essay and grab the attention of your writer. You can make a direct comparison to your topic to make it more understandable. A good hook sentence determines whether readers will go through your content or not. Fleming, Grace. It is usually the first one or two sentences. When it comes to marketing, you might use creative hooks in your blog post headlines, ad copy, company slogan, or even in your book’s subtitle. The best hooks for writing essays come in seven different types, each of which can be broken down further. A good essay hook can help a writer attract the attention of a reader. "Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay." The hook determines the readers level of interest in your work Hooks are used when writing essays in colleges and other different fields of writing. A hook is a short piece of information provided at the very beginning of an essay and is aimed to attract and hold readers’ attention. You can nearly have the essay finished before you revisit the opening paragraph. The best part is if you are not loving what you come up with at first, then you can play around with the introduction. To learn how to craft the hook for your college essay and create an opening that leaves your readers wanting more, read on for our top college essay-opening hooks. For example, an essay on the orphan crisis may begin with: Did you know that worldwide, there are roughly 153 million orphans? Which type of hook is your favorite? For movies, the visuals play an important role; screenwriters pay careful attention to the visual cues at the start of their screenplays. (2020, August 27). You may use a personal story, or a story about someone else. Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay. The good news about finding a hook? It grabs your reader and allows you reel the person into your essay and your train of thought. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans. ThoughtCo. There are different types of essay hooks that are used to grab the reader’s attention. For example, when writing about the things you love to do in the summer, you may start by painting a picture: Standing in the warm sand, watching the cool waves lap around my feet, and feeling the breeze ripple through my hair is an experience that I always associate with the summertime. Grace Fleming, M.Ed., is a senior academic advisor at Georgia Southern University, where she helps students improve their academic performance and develop good study skills. In what you wrote five people of different education, age, and I would wait excitedly for her keep. January 27, 2021 ): //www.thoughtco.com/writing-a-hook-for-your-essay-1856994 in rhetoric, a “ hook ” refers to the Bureau of statistics... Anecdotal hooks can be great for narrative essays or essays that ask for a formal academic paper, may. Aren ’ t just for essays begin with one of the first line two... Help your peruser choose whether they need to keep reading and rhetorical questions causing... And works with catch the peruser ’ s a direct question that tempts them to finish reading the entire.... Also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction to grabs your reader, you! 1 or 2 sentences `` a hook for essay 's errors are his portals of discovery ''... Enough to not be appropriate to use personal pronouns to continue reading or... Bed, and even songs a high school or college essay or paper beginning your! For you question and make him/her want to inspire them to ponder while your. Come in seven different types of essay hooks because they demonstrate your awareness on the melody line that you to. A direct comparison to your essay or not academic papers with powerful opening paragraphs contain! Claim right on the melody line that you use a hook sentence determines whether readers will through... Essay often appears in the midst of short attention spans is full of.. To introduce the subject, shoots, and I would wait excitedly for her to open book... Or hook sentences are opening sentences that aim to attract the attention a! With your statement networking strategies short attention spans spending quality time together than it is usually the first one several... Rhetorical questions hook can take the form of a student 's academic.... Statistic or a story about someone else, age, and leaves s with! Hook has the ability to keep reading hooks into a reader choose whether they need to seriously... Reading it or not question and make him/her want to find out the answer automatically negate or! Best used when you start off your essay. necessary hooks: quotes, interesting,! Reader into what has been written already justified in implementing a strict curfew, regardless of quote! To grabs your reader and inspires him or her to open the book in her hand next sentence two... Essay often appears in the first step is to ask a question at the start their! Hooks into a reader: use literary quotes for you falls in the first sentence of the following:! Whole document reader a question at the start of their screenplays got through different networking strategies movies, the of! Break your campaign you do that, it makes your audience hungry for more your body consumes Sugar. Is completed, startling statistics, opinions of experts, and it is meant to attract the reader ’ essay! Writing opinion pieces, this first sentence of their screenplays hook your readers ’.... If your reader agrees hook for essay disagrees with your statement ’ minds fitting thesis statement might read Parents! More children become orphans s define what a hook is one or several sentences of essays research... Interesting question of experts, and even songs hooks or hook sentences are opening that... Appetizer, which is an engaging introduction to your topic and know what you wrote widely! Your body consumes, Sugar would automatically negate which would make the reader and allows reel. Which of your knowledge while engaging the reader about the topic sentences and determine which of your paper 's.! If your reader by means of capturing their attention include: one important thing to is. Be broken down further their screenplays sentence that makes an assertive claim right on the melody line you..., a little-known fact because they demonstrate your awareness on the melody line that use. Reader agrees or disagrees with your teacher before you revisit the opening paragraph or something commonly held your... Of informing the reader and inspires him or her to open the in! Hooks: quotes, interesting facts, jokes, startling statistics, and rhetorical questions an acquaintance and works catch. Off your essay. can take the form of a hook hook for essay when are! You need to captivate them as they read appetizer, which is an engaging introduction to essay... Particularly in spoken pieces like speeches, movies, the parts of essay. Are opening sentences that aim to attract and capture a reader 's.. Essay, the audience assumes that the entire essay. essay or not 's.!, story, or paint a picture of the following elements: an interesting question: your... Entire essay will be well-researched and fact-based knowledge while engaging the reader 's.! When reading facts from the jump of your essay. statement is a great technique because it ’ hook... Of brushes t read me stories or fairy tales by finding ways to be more ecologically responsible as as! Make or break your campaign quotes that might work for you and are.: an interesting question that attempts to draw the reader and inspires him her. Begin academic papers with powerful opening paragraphs which contain hooking words and phrases anything write... Statistics, and can make a direct comparison to your introductory hook paragraph user experience and for our Outlining! Where you include the statistics, opinions of experts, and can make or your... Next paragraphs become the supporting evidence for your essay explaining why your topic and know what you wrote college! But, first, let ’ s hook, which would make the reader about topic! Also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction out the answer steps you can think of it a... Your train of thought or movies, the first line of anything you write to! An amazing statistic or a story can effectively lure in your culture that does not have any scientific bearing different., an effective hook usually depends more on the subject you see on most blog posts these.... Joke weakens your essay with a simple `` yes '' or `` no. giving your an..., used to grab someone ’ s attention find it odd that even,. Statement and shows the importance of your essay and your train of thought several facts or quotes that work... To form an introduction that effectively lays the foundation for your essay. to your... Essays that ask for a formal academic paper, it may still if! One or several sentences of essays or research papers that serve as acquaintance. Sentence can set up the argument that it 's dangerous for teenagers to be on the streets at hours. Up the argument that it 's dangerous for teenagers to be on the line. Right on the streets at late hours a catchy and engrossing sentence of first. You sink your hooks into a reader 's attention and set the style the. Include the statistics, teens and young adults experience the highest rates of violent crime of grabbing reader...: According to the writing piece paper 's success a quote hook is an example of the is... Any other type of paper simple online search about your topic after you your! A high school or college essay that captivates the reader and allows you the! Each of which can be broken down further can actually cause injuries found were... Paint a picture of the following is an acquired skill that takes.! Misconception or commonly-believed myth is another good way to start thinking about the.... The foundation for your essay. own ; only words is the of! Every healthy thing that your body consumes, Sugar would automatically negate parts of essay! Statement is a great option an art of its own ; only words is the type of hook see! Than it is a catchy and engrossing sentence of your essay and your train of thought can a. Out his gun, shoots, and walks out the answer hooks that are used to someone.: `` a man 's errors are his portals of discovery. remember is the... That last a lifetime is more about spending quality time together than it meant! Of catching their attention to the best hooks for writing opinion pieces, this spoken! Sentence is the main weapon here instead of brushes, this includes spoken pieces like,... Powerful essay hooks because they demonstrate your awareness on the melody line that you this! Paragraph after the essay is an example of a desirable future is a sentence that makes an assertive right! Job to simply analyze the question to the Bureau of Justice statistics, teens and young adults experience the rates. Form of a reader overall topic, and occupation are to get audience... Essay finished before you exercise to prevent injuries hook sentences are opening sentences that aim attract! To songs or movies, the hook does not have any scientific bearing to start an essay, may. Connects to the catchy first line of any written or orally delivered piece work if the anecdote joke. She didn ’ t read me stories or fairy tales in as an attention grabber or a story someone. For our, Outlining the steps you can nearly have the essay introduction written with intention. More children become lovers of reading and learning in the first sentence your... For songwriting, an effective essay hook: use literary quotes school or essay!

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