connects the hook to the thesis statement
summarizes the overall claim of the paper
» Opening with a Story (Anecdote)
A good way of catching your reader’s attention is by sharing a story that sets up your paper. Sharing a story gives a paper a more personal feel and helps make your reader comfortable.
This example was borrowed from Jack Gannon’s The Week the World Heard Gallaudet (1989):
Astrid Goodstein, a Gallaudet faculty member, entered the beauty salon for her regular appointment, proudly wearing her DPN button. (“I was married to that button that week!” she later confided.) When Sandy, her regular hairdresser, saw the button, he spoke and gestured, “Never! Never! Never!” Offended, Astrid turned around and headed for the door but stopped short of leaving. She decided to keep her appointment, confessing later that at that moment, her sense of principles had lost out to her vanity. Later she realized that her hairdresser had thought she was pushing for a deaf U.S. President. Hook: a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic.
Transition: connects the hook to the thesis statement
Thesis: summarizes the overall claim of the paper
» Specific Detail Opening
Giving specific details about your subject appeals to your reader’s curiosity and helps establish a visual picture of what your paper is about.
Hands flying, green eyes flashing, and spittle spraying, Jenny howled at her younger sister Emma. People walked by, gawking at the spectacle as Jenny’s grunts emanated through the mall. Emma sucked at her thumb, trying to appear nonchalant. Jenny’s blond hair stood almost on end. Her hands seemed to fly so fast that her signs could barely be understood. Jenny was angry. Very angry. | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
» Open with a Quotation
Another method of writing an introduction is to open with a quotation. This method makes your introduction more interactive and more appealing to your reader.
“People paid more attention to the way I talked than what I said!” exclaimed the woman from Brooklyn, New York, in the movie American Tongues. This young woman’s home dialect interferes with people taking her seriously because they see her as a New Yorker’s cartoonish stereotype. The effects on this woman indicate the widespread judgment that occurs about nonstandard dialects. People around America judge those with nonstandard dialects because of _____________ and _____________. This type of judgment can even cause some to be ashamed of or try to change their language identity.* | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
» Open with an Interesting Statistic
Statistics that grab the reader help to make an effective introduction.
American Sign Language is the second most preferred foreign language in the United States. 50% of all deaf and hard of hearing people use American Sign Language (ASL).* ASL is beginning to be provided by the Foreign Language Departments of many universities and high schools around the nation. The statistics are not accurate. They were invented as an example. | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
» Question Openings
Possibly the easiest opening is one that presents one or more questions to be answered in the paper. This is effective because questions are usually what the reader has in mind when he or she sees your topic.
Is ASL a language? Can ASL be written? Do you have to be born deaf to understand ASL completely? To answer these questions, one must first understand exactly what ASL is. In this paper, I attempt to explain this as well as answer my own questions. | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
Source : *Writing an Introduction for a More Formal Essay. (2012). Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://flightline.highline.edu/wswyt/Writing91/handouts/hook_trans_thesis.htm
The conclusion to any paper is the final impression that can be made. It is the last opportunity to get your point across to the reader and leave the reader feeling as if they learned something. Leaving a paper “dangling” without a proper conclusion can seriously devalue what was said in the body itself. Here are a few effective ways to conclude or close your paper. » Summary Closing Many times conclusions are simple re-statements of the thesis. Many times these conclusions are much like their introductions (see Thesis Statement Opening).
Because of a charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln and because of the work of two men, Amos Kendall and Edward Miner Gallaudet, Gallaudet University is what it is today – the place where people from all over the world can find information about deafness and deaf education. Gallaudet and the deaf community truly owe these three men for without them, we might still be “deaf and dumb.” |
» Close with a Logical Conclusion
This is a good closing for argumentative or opinion papers that present two or more sides of an issue. The conclusion drawn as a result of the research is presented here in the final paragraphs.
As one can see from reading the information presented, mainstreaming deaf students isn’t always as effective as educating them in a segregated classroom. Deaf students learn better on a more one-on-one basis like they can find in a school or program specially designed for them. Mainstreaming lacks such a design; deaf students get lost in the mainstream. |
» Real or Rhetorical Question Closings
This method of concluding a paper is one step short of giving a logical conclusion. Rather than handing the conclusion over, you can leave the reader with a question that causes him or her to draw his own conclusions.
Why, then, are schools for the deaf becoming a dying species? |
» Close with a Speculation or Opinion This is a good style for instances when the writer was unable to come up with an answer or a clear decision about whatever it was he or she was researching. For example:
Through all of my research, all of the people I interviewed, all of the institutions I visited, not one person could give me a clear-cut answer to my question. Can all deaf people be educated in the same manner? I couldn’t find the “right” answer. I hope you, the reader, will have better luck. |
» Close with a Recommendation
A good conclusion is when the writer suggests that the reader do something in the way of support for a cause or a plea for them to take action.
American Sign Language is a fast growing language in America. More and more universities and colleges are offering it as part of their curriculum and some are even requiring it as part of their program. This writer suggests that anyone who has a chance to learn this beautiful language should grab that opportunity. |
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Gallaudet University, chartered in 1864, is a private university for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Copyright © 2024 Gallaudet University. All rights reserved.
800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
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Never underestimate the power of an essay hook . This opening statement is meant to grab the reader’s attention and convince them to keep reading. But how do you write one that’ll pack a punch? In this article, we’ll break this down.
An essay hook is the first thing your audience will read. If it doesn’t hook them right off the bat, they might decide not to keep reading. It’s important that your opening statement is impactful while not being too wordy or presumptuous.
It’s also crucial that it clearly relates to your topic. You don’t want to mislead your readers into thinking your essay is about something it’s not. So, what kind of essay hook should you write? Here are seven ideas to choose from:
Everyone likes a good story. If an interesting story or anecdote relates to your essay topic, the hook is a great place to include it. For example:
The key to a good story hook is keeping it short and sweet. You’re not writing a novel in addition to an essay!
Another great essay hook idea is to lay out a compelling fact or statistic. For example:
There are a few things to keep in mind when doing this. Make sure it’s relevant to your topic, accurate, and something your audience will care about. And, of course, be sure to cite your sources properly.
If you want to get a little more creative with your essay hook, try using a metaphor or simile . A metaphor states that something is something else in a figurative sense, while a simile states that something is like something else.
Metaphors and similes are effective because they provide a visual for your readers, making them think about a concept in a different way. However, be careful not to make them too far-fetched or overly exaggerated.
Asking your audience a question is a great way to hook them. Not only does it make them think, but they’ll also want to keep reading because you will have sparked their curiosity. For example:
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Try to avoid using questions that start with something along the lines of “Have you ever wondered…?” Instead, try to think of a question they may never have wondered about. And be sure not to answer it right away, at least not fully. Use your essay to do that!
Making a bold statement or declaring a strong opinion can immediately catch people’s attention. For example:
Regardless of whether your reader agrees with you, they’ll probably want to keep reading to find out how you will back up your claim. Just make sure your declaration isn’t too controversial, or you might scare readers away!
Laying out a common misconception is another useful way to hook your reader. For example:
If your readers don’t know that a common belief is actually a misconception, they’ll likely be interested in learning more. And if they are already aware, it’s probably a topic they’re interested in, so they’ll want to read more.
You can put your descriptive powers into action with your essay hook. Creating interesting or compelling imagery places your reader into a scene, making the words come alive.
A description can be something beautiful and appealing or emotionally charged and provoking. Either way, descriptive writing is a powerful way to immerse your audience and keep them reading.
When writing an essay, don’t skimp on the essay hook! The opening statement has the potential to convince your audience to hear what you have to say or to let them walk away. We hope our ideas have given you some inspiration.
And once you finish writing your essay, make sure to send it to our editors. We’ll check it for grammar, spelling, word choice, references, and more. Try it out for free today with a 500-word sample !
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Blank screen. Cursor blinks. Clock ticks. Brain freezes.
You stressfully wonder, “How will I ever finish this essay?”
I’ve been there.
Every time you write an essay, you want to catch your readers’ undivided attention from the very first word. The opening hook has to be *perfect* — no compromises.
But, instead of reeling under pressure to come up with this elusively perfect essay hook at the eleventh hour, I’ve found a better way to write great essay hooks.
In this guide, I’ll tell you what it takes to write the most compelling and attention-grabbing hooks. I’ll also break down six awesome types of essay hooks you can experiment with and share examples to inspire your next opening statement.
An essay hook is the opening statement of an essay, written to capture readers' attention and nudge them to learn more about the topic. Also known as a lede or lead, this hook introduces readers to the topic/theme of the essay and piques their curiosity to continue reading.
The hook creates the entire narrative for your essay. It tells readers what to expect from the rest of the essay and creates context around your main argument or thesis statement.
I’ve created this handy list of six different types of essay hooks. You can choose the one that best fits your essay’s context and create a stellar opening statement within minutes.
Lead with evidence and use a powerful fact or statistic as your essay hook. It’s one of the best ways to capture readers’ attention from the start and keep them intrigued throughout your essay.
For example, if you’re writing about the importance of time management for freelancers, you have two options to create your opening sentence:
Generic : “Managing time as a freelancer is no easy feat.”
Impactful : “Nearly 70% of freelancers struggle to effectively divide and manage their time between multiple clients.”
This data point, linked to the original research, sets a strong tone for your essay and draws people in to read more. It communicates
Finding relevant statistics for any topic is one of the hardest parts of the job.
But you don't have to spend hours looking for these data points anymore. Wordtune can do this heavy lifting for you in three easy steps.
When working on an argumentative essay , I always write with the mindset that nobody has the time to read my thoughts from start to finish. So, I have to get to the point quickly and make a solid argument worth people’s time.
That's when opening with a bold claim works best. Condense all your views on the topic into a few thought-provoking lines that would make readers go, hmmm…
But remember, you can't open with a claim that people already know and accept as fact. It has to be something original and unique to make your readers tick, nudging them to dive deeper into your essay.
For example, if you’re writing about water crisis, you have two options to open your essay:
"In some regions, there is not enough clean water for people to use."
"Imagine a world where every drop of water is a battle, a precious commodity fought over by scores of people and animals alike. This can become a reality as early as 2050."
This bold claim presents a convincing argument about the global water crisis. It also emphasizes the urgency of this argument with a research-backed statistic.
Can’t think of a strong opening sentence for your essay? Wordtune can translate your thoughts into a bold claim and create a compelling essay hook.
Open your Wordtune editor and write a few lines related to your topic. These sentences should have a consensus among your audience. Then, choose the 'Counterargument' option from the list of suggestions.
And you’ll have a bold claim for your essay with no effort at all!
In all my years of writing, I’ve noticed how stories have a unique effect on people. A good story can resonate with a bigger audience, pique their curiosity, and deliver a more personal message.
That's why you can cite a personal anecdote or talk about a publicly known story as a good hook for your essay. This hook allows you to play with words and work in more storytelling .
One of my favorite writing tips applies here: enter the scene as late as possible and leave as early as possible. You have to keep it crisp instead of rambling on and on.
Consider these two examples:
Either of these hooks could work fine if we were just writing a personal essay about a move to a new place. But if we’re specifically writing about the sky, the second example is better. It sticks to the point — the sky and the color of the sky — and doesn’t stray into irrelevant details.
I get it—not all of us are natural storytellers. But you can use AI to your advantage to create a concise and exciting story for your essay.
Wordtune can help you write a short story from scratch or trim down your writing into a quick anecdote. Click on the expand or shorten button to edit your story any way you like.
Humans have a tendency to immediately look for answers every time they come across fascinating questions. Using questions as essay hooks can reel people into your essay and feed their curiosity.
But questions are also fairly overused in essays. You don't want to use a generic question that makes people say, " Not another question ."
Instead, think of questions that approach your topic from a fresh angle. This means honing in on what was especially interesting or surprising from your research—and maybe even brainstorming different questions to find the most fascinating one.
For example, if you’re writing about the psychology behind why we buy, you have two options to open your essay:
“Do you know what factors compel us to buy certain things?”
Plugged in :
“Before buying anything, have you ever taken a moment to pause and think about possible reasons driving you to this purchase?”
The latter is more descriptive and creates a realistic scenario for readers to truly think about the topic of the essay.
A descriptive hook works best when writing an explanatory or opinion-led essay. Descriptive hooks, as the name suggests, illustrate a topic in detail to create context for the essay. It's a good way to build awareness for and educate readers on lesser-known themes.
But a descriptive hook can easily become too plain or unexciting to read. To make it work, you have to write an engaging description using imagery, analogies, and other figures of speech.
Remember to make your hook reader-friendly by avoiding passive voice, mainstream cliches, and lengthy sentences.
Consider this example:
Describing a sunset is too cliche, so cross that one off the list. Describing the sky as it is on a normal day wouldn't be shocking or unexpected, so scratch that one, too.
This example creates something unique by using analogies to describe the color of the sky and painting a beautiful picture.
Writing an exciting hook for a boring topic is more challenging than it looks. But Wordtune makes it a breeze with just two steps:
You can also change the tone of voice to make the text more in tune with your theme.
One of my favorite essay hooks is to open with a persuasive metaphor to contextualize the topic. Metaphors can help you approach the topic from a completely different lens and wow your readers with interesting insight.
Metaphors are also super versatile to make your writing more impactful. You can write a one-line metaphor or create a scenario comparing one thing to another and linking it to your topic.
For example, if you’re writing about the experience of working at a startup, you can open your essay with these two options:
Short & sweet: "Joining a startup is like strapping into a rollercoaster: be ready to witness thrilling highs and sinking drops."
Long & descriptive : “Picture a small sailboat navigating the unpredictable winds and tides in a vast ocean. That’s a startup operating in a massive market. And with the right vision, this journey is filled with risks and rewards.”
Writing good metaphors takes up a lot of creative brain power. You can always use Wordtune to find some extra inspiration if you're out of creative ideas.
Type your opening line in the Wordtune editor and click on the 'Give an analogy' option. You can ask for as many suggestions as you want till you find the best one!
Whether you’re writing a research paper on economics, an argumentative essay for your college composition class, or a personal essay sharing your thoughts on a topic, you need to nail down a few things before you settle on the first line for your essay.
Let me break them down for you.
Before you start writing your essay, you need to know your topic — not just in name, but in-depth. You don't have to become a subject matter expert overnight. But you do need to research the topic inside out
Your research will help you:
Your research insights determine your essay’s structure and guide your choice of hook.
After organizing your research in a neat outline, think to yourself: Did you uncover a shocking fact? A compelling anecdote? An interesting quote? Any of those things could be your hook.
⚡ Take action: After finishing your research, review your notes and think through your essay. Mark or make a list of anything compelling enough to be a good lead.
In academic settings, there are generally three kinds of essays:
The type of essay you’re writing is key to choosing the best hook for your piece.
A serious argumentative essay can start with a shocking statistic or a bold claim. And an expository essay can open with a descriptive hook while a metaphor hook would work best for a narrative essay.
⚡ Take action: Go through your list of potential hooks and cross out anything that doesn't fit the type of essay you're writing, whether it's persuasive , argumentative, or any other type.
A best practice I often share with writers is to think of one reader and keep yourself in their shoes . This exercise can tell you so much about your audience — what kind of tone they like, what matters the most to them, what topics interest them, and so on.
You can use these insights to create a compelling essay hook. Here’s how:
⚡ Take action: Look at your list. Can you write these potential hooks in a tone that suits your subject and audience?
Are you writing a 10-page paper or a three-page reflection? Or is this your senior thesis, pushing over 100 pages?
If you’re writing a shorter paper, you’ll want to keep your hook quick and snappy.
Readers are expecting a quick read, and they don’t want to spend five minutes only going through the introduction.
In contrast, you can approach a longer essay — like a senior thesis or a term paper — with a longer hook. Just make sure your hook relates to and supports the core point of your essay. You don’t want to waste space describing a scene that ultimately has nothing to do with the rest of your piece.
⚡ Take action: If you write out the items on your list, how long will they be? A sentence or paragraph? Perfect. Two to five paragraphs? Unless your essay is on the longer side, you may want to save that information for later in the piece.
Now that you know the basic facts about what you’re writing, let’s look at some approaches you could use to catch those readers — and reel them in.
I’ve read hundreds of essays — enough to recognize lazy writing from the first few words. It’s equally easy for readers to discard your essays as ‘poorly written’ just by reading the first line.
So, I made a list of three types of essay hooks you want to avoid at all costs because these hooks can only disappoint your readers.
Quotes are probably the most overused type of hook in any form of writing. What's even worse is rinsing and repeating the same old quotes from Abraham Lincoln or Nelson Mandela in your essays.
No matter how powerful a quote sounds, you shouldn’t slap it at the opening of your essay. It doesn’t give readers the excitement of reading something original and looks lazy.
For example, if you’re writing an essay on productivity, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:
“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work” – Stephen King
Did you know that consuming 100 gms of sugar can slash your productivity levels by over 50% in a day?
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines a hook as "a thing designed to catch people's attention."
If I opened my article with this dictionary definition of a hook, you’d have either dozed off or left this page long back to find something more interesting.
Here's the thing: definitions put people to sleep. Readers don't want to see a formal, jargon-heavy definition of a topic as the very first line of an essay. Your opening statement should have some personality in it to show readers they're in for an exciting read.
For example, if you’re writing about happy hormones, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:
Happy hormones are known to boost the happiness levels in your body by creating positive feelings.
Ever wondered why cat videos make you instantly happy, and ice creams give you an extra dose of energy? It's all about how happy hormones control our brain chemistry.
Opening your essay with "Imagine this" used to be an interesting way to put your readers in a scenario and set the context for your essay. But now, it's far too cliched and just another lazy attempt to write an essay hook.
You can create a relatable scenario for users without asking them to imagine or picture it. Use the descriptive hook format with an interesting choice of words to convey the same ideas more creatively.
For example, if you’re writing an essay on preparing for higher studies abroad, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:
Imagine this: You’ve been applying to multiple universities, writing SOPs, and preparing for exams without guidance. Everything can go south any minute.
College application season is officially here. But with each passing day, you’re under more and more stress to apply to your chosen colleges and tick all the items off your list.
This opening statement can make or break your entire essay. While I’ve broken down my best tips to create the best essay hooks, here’s a surefire way to write compelling openings :
Go through your notes and either outline your essay or write the whole thing. This way, you’ll know the central thread (or throughline) that runs throughout your piece.
Once your essay or outline is complete, go back through and identify a particularly compelling fact, claim, or example that relates to that central thread.
Write up that fact, claim, or example as the hook for your essay using any of the methods we’ve covered. Then revise or write your essay so the hook leads smoothly into the rest of the piece and you don’t repeat that information elsewhere.
Does your hook spark curiosity in you?
Did that fact surprise you in the research stage?
Chances are, your readers will have the same reaction.
And that’s exactly what you want.
Looking for fresh content, thank you your submission has been received.
A thesis statement is:.
...ask yourself a genuine, difficult question about the topic (usually a “how” or “why” question), and state your response, even if you are not sure why you want to give that answer. Your response may very well be a workable thesis, and the pursuit of proving that answer may reveal to you more about your sources of evidence.
...think of a strong statement or observation you have made about the subject beginning with the words “In this essay, I will...” Then ask yourself why this observation is important, or “So What?” 1 Answer the question with “I believe this is because...” In the draft stage you might phrase a working thesis as the following:
In this essay, I plan to explain how Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn contrasts his river and shore scenes. I believe Twain is telling us that in order to find America’s true democratic ideals one must leave “civilized” society (the shore) and go back to nature (the river).
Then revise out the “I” statements. A revised version of this thesis might look like this:
Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Mark Twain’s Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.
Keep in mind that thesis statements vary depending on the purpose of the assignment (or type of essay), and also by discipline. Here are a few notes on the thesis statements and the purpose of writing in a few different disciplines. 2
English: “A thesis is an interpretive argument about a text or an aspect of a text. An interpretive argument is defined as one that makes a reasonable but contestable claim about a text; in other words, it is an opinion about a text that can be supported with textual evidence."
Sciences (Biology): “A well-written scientific paper explains the scientist’s motivation for doing an experiment, the experimental design and execution, and the meaning of the results... The last sentences of the introduction should be a statement of objectives and a statement of hypotheses.”
Business: “When you write in business courses, you will usually write for a specific audience. Your goal will be to communicate in a straight-forward manner and with a clear purpose." 3
History: “In historical writing, a thesis explains the words or deeds of people in the past. It shows cause and effect; it answers the question why?... A thesis must change a reader’s mind to be of value. If it presents only facts or an obvious finding, it will merely confirm what the reader already believes.”
1. This strategy comes from Writing Analytically by Jill Stephen and David Rosenwasser.
2. The following statements on writing in the disciplines have been borrowed from the Writing Guides found at the Writing Across the Curriculum website at http://wac.gmu.edu/guides/GMU%20guides.html .
3. From A Writer’s Reference, 6th Edition, with Writing in the Disciplines, by Diana Hacker.
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Part Two Paragraph Writing Skills and Essay Introduction
Learning Objectives
Read the following paragraph and essay. Discuss the questions that follow.
Places in Making American Friends
There are three places to make friends in the United States. The first place is in the neighborhood. When I visited the U.S. as a child ten years ago, I met an American girl whose house was near mine. We were shy in the beginning but soon started riding our bikes in the neighborhood. We chased [1] each other and had a good time. A few months later, her family moved to another state. I have fond [2] memories of her and think that we will be able to reconnect and renew our friendship if we meet again. Secondly, going to an American school provides an opportunity to make friends. I attended an American elementary school for about six months. I was very nervous about being the only one who looked different. However, some classmates and teachers were kind enough to approach me. They were very understanding even though I did not always understand them. Some of them even helped me with school work and in the gym class. As a young girl in a foreign country, I was very grateful for their friendship. Now I am in America again. I need and value friendship as much as when I was a child. I go to a church once a week and attend a Bible study class where I meet many young adults. There, I have made some friends with whom I talk about not only God but also different cultures. For example, some of them are interested in Japanese music and Anime, so I share some of my favorite music and Anime with them. Sometimes I teach Japanese to them, and they teach English to me. Exchanging information with each other is a good way of establishing and strengthening [3] the relationship. I have learned from my experiences in the neighborhood, school, and church in America over the years that with an open and sincere heart, I am able to find good friends.
By M. Ohbayashi (student), ESL Writing III, Harper College. U sed with permission.
When I was a child, I had an opportunity to come to the United States a few times to visit my grandmother, uncle, and aunt, who were living in the U.S. Many years later, in January 2020, my mother and I were able to immigrate here. Since I was not an outgoing type of person, I had just a few friends in Japan. However, I have met a lot of Americans and have been able to make friends with some of them. The three places to make friends in the U.S. for me are my neighborhood, school, and church.
The first place is in the neighborhood. When I visited the U.S. as a child ten years ago, I met an American girl whose house was near mine. We were shy in the beginning but soon started riding our bikes in the neighborhood. We chased each other and had a good time. I also went to the pool with my grandmother and her family in summer. Although the pool was deep and I was scared, she and her family helped me enjoy swimming without fear. Besides riding bikes and swimming, we both loved dogs. We each had one. Even the dogs became friends as we played with them with balls. A few months later, her family moved to another state. I have fond memories of her and think that we will be able to reconnect and renew our friendship if we meet again.
Secondly, going to an American school provides an opportunity to make friends. I attended an American elementary school for about six months. I was very nervous about being the only one who looked different. I also did not know how to behave differently in an American school. However, some classmates and teachers were kind enough to approach me. They spoke slowly and patiently with simple English words. They were very understanding even though I did not always understand them. Some of them even helped me with school work and in the gym class. As a young girl in a foreign country, I was very grateful for their friendship. Thanks to them, school became wonderful to me.
Now I am in America again. I need and value friendship as much as when I was a child. I go to a church once a week. One day I met a girl who was studying Japanese. We began to talk with each other. She invited me to a Bible study class, and there I met many young adults. In the beginning, I felt nervous and shy just like the time when I attended the American elementary school for the first time many years before. However, as time went by, I started to like the Bible study class and made some friends with whom I talk about not only God but also different cultures. For example, some of them are interested in Japanese music and Anime, so I share some of my favorite music and Anime with them. Sometimes I teach Japanese to them, and they teach English to me. Exchanging information with each other is a good way of establishing and strengthening the relationship.
Fortunately, I have met many kind Americans who have become my good friends. Though my shyness sometimes stands in the way, I have been trying hard to overcome it by initiating conversations with as many people as possible. I have learned that with an open and sincere heart, I am able to find good friends.
By M. Ohbayashi (student), Writing III, Harper College. U sed with permission.
Discussion Questions:
You have learned and practiced how to write well-organized, well-developed paragraphs. Now it is time to expand your writing expertise [4] to essays!
In Unit 3 Parts and Characteristics of a Good Paragraph, you learned that a paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea . ( Open Unit 3 here . )
In this unit, you will learn that an essay is a group of paragraphs about one main idea . An essay can be as short as three paragraphs but as long as many paragraphs that span [5] multiple pages.
Here is a summary of similarities and differences between a paragraph and an essay:
Similarities | Paragraph | Essay |
---|---|---|
√ | √ | |
√ | √ | |
√ | √ | |
√ | √ | |
√ | √ | |
√ | √ |
Differences | Paragraph | Essay |
---|---|---|
topic sentence, usually in the beginning | thesis statement, usually at end of introduction | |
some details | more details | |
one paragraph | three or more paragraphs (In this course, we are studying five-paragraph essays.) | |
shorter time | longer time |
Essay assignments are very common in college courses. In this course, you are going to learn only the basic concepts and organization of essays that contain five paragraphs. There are other ways of writing built on this basic model, and you will learn them in future semesters.
As you already have much experience writing paragraphs, a good start with essays is to expand [6] an existing paragraph, as you have seen in the beginning of this unit. Below is a structural comparison between a paragraph and an essay.
Read the following paragraph and then the essay. Compare the two by answering the questions that follow.
My Joy in Baking
Baking is my favorite hobby. When I was a child, I like d sweets a lot, especially pastry. Since my mom could not bake, I always went to my friend Natalia’s house to learn baking because her mom was excellent in it. Though t he learning process was not that easy , I enjoyed it . I tried and ruined [7] a lot of ingredients, but I did not lose hope. Then I started to get better and better. I tried cupcakes and cookies. It gave me confidence and excitement to think that I could bake for myself. Now I am an adult with a family of my own, and this hobby has not changed. It relaxes me to bak e. When I have a n exhausting day or feel stressed out, the idea of crea ting something sweet and fresh makes me feel relaxed . I also like to share the fruit [8] of my hobby with my family and friends. Baking for them gives me joy. To have a happy moment together on any occasion [9] with sweet treats makes my relationship with them stronger. These are all the reasons why baking is my favorite hobby. I would recommend it to anyone who loves sweets and is looking for ways to bring happiness to other people.
By N . Mamurova (student), ESL Writing III, Harper College. Used with permission.
A hobby is a regular activity performed for enjoyment during spare time. People can choose any hobbies that are right for them: music, sports, cooking, sewing, gardenin g , and so on. As a child, I like d sweets a lot, especially pastry. This is why baking became and has always been my favorite hobby.
Though the learning process was not easy, I enjoyed it . Since my mom could not bake, I always went to my friend Natalia’s house to learn baking because her mom was excellent in it. I tried and ruined a lot of ingredients, but I did not lose hope. After a few months, I started to get better and better. On Natalia’ s 10 th birthday, I made pretty cupcakes, even with yellow and pink icings on them. Her mom was very impressed. It gave me confidence and excitement to think that I could bake by myself and bring more happiness to an already joyful event.
Now I am an adult with a family of my own, and this hobby has not changed. It relaxes me to bake. When I have an exhausting day or I am stressed out, the idea of creating something sweet and fresh makes me feel relaxed. Being a mom and a student, my schedule is full. However, nothing else relieves my stress more than baking after a difficult examination at the college: the aroma of butter and sugar, the slowly forming cookies in the oven, and the pleasant and crunching sound as I bite into my creations – all eases the tension of my whole being.
Most importantly, sharing my baking has strengthened my relationship with my family and friends. Enjoying a happy moment together on any occasion with sweet treats gives me joy. Once a friend of mine was sick, but she immediately got much better when I brought her a home-baked, mouth-watering apple pie. I have learned that helping others does not have to be a huge endeavor [10] . Small acts of kindness are just as valuable and meaningful.
A hobby takes time to perfect but brings joy in the process. I am so glad that I have found my pleasure in baking, and I intend to enjoy it for many more years to come. I would recommend it to anyone who loves sweets and is looking for ways to bring happiness to other people.
By N . Mamurova (student), ESL Writing III, Harper College. Used with permission.
Questions | Paragraph | Essay |
---|---|---|
The word “hook” may remind you of a piece of plastic or metal on the wall on which you can hang your coat. The hook holds the coat and prevents it from falling to the floor. In the same way, a hook in the beginning of an essay aims to hold the readers’ attention so that they keep reading. The main purpose of a hook is to introduce the topic and to get the readers interested.
There are different ways to write a hook. The most common ones are introducing the background or discussing some general information related to the topic.
Discuss the hook in the essays “Places in Making American Friends” and “My Joy in Baking”. Does it introduce the topic and get you interested in reading the essay?
Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is a sentence that contains the main idea of the entire essay.
The rules for the topic sentence also apply to the thesis statement.
Exercise 1. Use the expressions below to develop thesis statements.
surprises / U.S.
Thesis statement: I encountered some surprises in my first few weeks of living in the U.S.
1. children / parents’ influence
2. marriage / fights
3. dream job / hard work
4. self-discipline / success
5. bilingual / benefits
6. money / problems
7. government / assisting college students
8. personality / happiness
Exercise 2. Study the introductory paragraph in “Places in Making American Friends” and “My Joy in Baking”. Then choose two of the thesis statements from Exercise 1 to write two introductory paragraphs.
The principles for the transitions, supporting ideas, and conclusion in a paragraph also apply to an essay. In an essay, there are more supporting details than in a paragraph.
Study and discuss the following outline developed from the example thesis statement in Exercise 1.
Parts of an Essay | Outline ideas |
---|---|
Introductory Paragraph | |
Hook | my background of coming to the U.S. and love travelling |
Thesis Statement | I encountered some surprises in my first few weeks of living in the U.S. |
Supporting Paragraphs | |
Topic sentence 1 | surprise about nature |
Details 1 | from airport to house, saw trees, flowers, squirrels, geese, cardinal, not in my country |
Topic sentence 2 | surprise about customs |
Details 2 | no air dry laundry outside, dandelions not ok, clean lawn |
Topic sentence 3 | surprise about friendly people |
Details 3 | friendly to strangers, parks, stores, smile, not in my country, afraid of getting hurt, teach children |
Concluding Paragraph | three good surprises about nature, customs, people. Like US, second home. |
Exercise 3. Use the above outline as an example. From the two topics you worked on in Exercise 1 and Exercise 2, write an essay outline for each.
Parts of an Essay | Outline ideas |
---|---|
Introductory Paragraph | |
Hook | |
Thesis Statement | |
Supporting Paragraphs | |
Topic sentence 1 | |
Details 1 | |
Topic sentence 2 | |
Details 2 | |
Topic sentence 3 | |
Details 3 | |
Concluding Paragraph |
Read the two essays below. The first one is developed from an earlier outline. As you read, discuss the questions:
Now you are ready to write your own essay! As you have learned in Unit 2 The Writing Process ( Open Unit 2 here ), the best way to plan a paragraph is to follow the proper steps.
An Essay Writing Assignment
Purpose : To show your understanding of planning and writing an essay. Use the writing process to help you.
Topic : You have three choices from below.
Brainstorm and Outline : Brainstorm for ideas. Then organize the ideas by using the outline template below to make an outline. Your outline is due on _________. Bring it to class.
Essay : Your essay should have a title, an introductory paragraph with a hook and a thesis statement, 3 supporting paragraphs each starting with a topic sentence followed by lots of details, and a concluding paragraph. Use appropriate transitions to connect the supporting paragraphs. There should be a total of 5 paragraphs in the essay.
Format : Type your essay, double spaced, font size 12, with 1-inch margins on four sides of the page. Type your name, class, and date on the upper right-hand corner of the page. The first line of each paragraph should be indented. Save your essay in a Word file.
Self Checklist : When you finish writing, use the Self Checklist below. Put a checkmark beside each item if you think you did a good job in that area. Otherwise, improve your essay until you can check off the item. Save your work again.
Submission : Submit your essay on the Blackboard. Go to your Blackboard course site and follow the instructions there. Due by __________.
You have three choices for your topic.
Choice 1:
Choose one of the paragraphs you have written in this course and expand it into an essay.
Choose one of the thesis statements, introductory paragraphs, and outlines in Exercise 1, 2, and 3 in this unit. Then write an essay based on your outline.
Choose one of the following new topics. If you plan to have a different one, please talk with your professor first.
Essay Outline Template
Essay Self Checklist
1 | Is my essay clear to understand? | |
---|---|---|
2 | Do I have an interesting hook and a clear thesis statement? Is the thesis statement located at the end of the introductory paragraph? | |
3 | Did I begin each supporting paragraph with a topic sentence? Did I include lots of details in each paragraph? | |
4 | Did I connect the supporting paragraphs with appropriate transitions? | |
5 | Did I include a concluding paragraph? | |
6 | Did I try my best to use correct sentence structure (simple, compound, complex)? | |
7 | Did I try my best to use correct grammar such as nouns, pronouns, word form, word order, and others? | |
8 | Did I try my best to have correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization? | |
9 | Did I follow the proper paragraph format? |
Note: #6 – #8 may include more specific aspects of grammar depending on how many editing units you have already studied.
NSNT Practice
Go to The NSNT Free Writing Approach and Additional Weekly Prompts for Writing in Appendix A. ( Open Appendix A here. ) Choose two topics that you have not written about. You may start with the NSNT approach. Then revise and edit at least one of them into an essay. You are encouraged to share your writing with your partner and help each other improve.
Vocabulary Review
The words here have appeared in this unit. The best way to learn them is to guess the meaning of each word from the context. Then hover your computer mouse over the number beside each word to check its meaning and part of speech. These words are also listed in the footnote area at the end of each unit.
Here, you can use the flashcards below to review these words.
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An essay hook is the first one or two sentences of your essay that are used to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into your discussion.
It is called a hook because it “grabs” the reader and doesn’t let them go! It should have something in there that makes the reader feel curious and intrigued, compelling them to continue reading.
Here are a few techniques that you can use to write a good essay hook:
Below, I’ll present some examples of hooks that you could use as inspiration when writing your own essay hook.
These examples might help stimulate your thinking. However, keep in mind that your essay hook needs to be unique to your essay, so use these as inspiration but write your own essay hook that’s perfect for your own essay.
An essay about yourself can be personal, use “I” statements, and include memories or thoughts that are deeply personal to you.
A reflective essay often explores personal experiences, feelings, and thoughts. So, your hooks for reflective essays can usually be more personal, intriguing, and engaging than other types of essays. Here are some examples for inspiration:
Essay hooks for argumentative essays are often the hardest. This type of essay tends to require the most formal type of academic writing, meaning your hook shouldn’t use first person, and should be more based on fact and objectivity, often at the expense of creativity. Here are some examples.
A compare and contrast essay examines two issues, looking at both the similarities and differences between them. A good hook for a compare and contrast essay will immediately signal to the reader the subjects that are being compared and why they’re being compared. Here are sine ideas for hooks for a compare and contrast essay:
See Here for my Guide on Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay
Writing an engaging hook for a psychology essay involves sparking the reader’s interest in the human mind, behavior, or the specific psychology topic you’re discussing. Here are some stimulating hooks for a psychology essay:
Writing an engaging hook for a sociology essay involves sparking the reader’s interest in social behaviors, cultural phenomena, or the specific sociology topic you’re discussing. Here are ideas for hooks for a sociology essay:
A college essay is a personal statement where you can showcase who you are beyond your grades and resume. It’s your chance to tell your unique story. Here are ten potential hooks for a college essay:
As I wrap up this article, I want to share a few last tips on qualities that a good essay hook should have. Keep these tips in mind when writing your essay hook and using the above essay hook examples:
First, relevance . A good hook should be directly relevant to the topic or theme of your essay. The hook should provide a preview of what’s to come without giving too much away.
Second, Intrigue. A great hook should make the reader want to continue reading. It should create a question in the reader’s mind or present a fascinating idea that they want to know more about.
Third, uniqueness. An effective hook should be original and unique. It should stand out from the many other essays that the reader might be going through.
Fourth, clarity. Even though a hook should be captivating and original, it should also be clear and easy to understand. Avoid complex sentences and jargon that might confuse the reader.
Fifth, genre conventions. Too often, my students try to be so creative in their essay hooks that they forget genre conventions . The more formal an essay, the harder it is to write the hook. My general approach is to focus on statistics and facts, and avoid rhetorical questions , with more formal essay hooks.
Keep in mind that you should run your essay hook by your teacher by showing them your first draft before you submit your essay for grading. This will help you to make sure it follows genre conventions and is well-written.
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Basics of thesis statements.
The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper. Specific means the thesis deals with a narrow and focused topic, appropriate to the paper's length. Arguable means that a scholar in your field could disagree (or perhaps already has!).
Strong thesis statements address specific intellectual questions, have clear positions, and use a structure that reflects the overall structure of the paper. Read on to learn more about constructing a strong thesis statement.
This thesis statement has no specific argument:
Needs Improvement: In this essay, I will examine two scholarly articles to find similarities and differences.
This statement is concise, but it is neither specific nor arguable—a reader might wonder, "Which scholarly articles? What is the topic of this paper? What field is the author writing in?" Additionally, the purpose of the paper—to "examine…to find similarities and differences" is not of a scholarly level. Identifying similarities and differences is a good first step, but strong academic argument goes further, analyzing what those similarities and differences might mean or imply.
Better: In this essay, I will argue that Bowler's (2003) autocratic management style, when coupled with Smith's (2007) theory of social cognition, can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover.
The new revision here is still concise, as well as specific and arguable. We can see that it is specific because the writer is mentioning (a) concrete ideas and (b) exact authors. We can also gather the field (business) and the topic (management and employee turnover). The statement is arguable because the student goes beyond merely comparing; he or she draws conclusions from that comparison ("can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover").
This thesis draft repeats the language of the writing prompt without making a unique argument:
Needs Improvement: The purpose of this essay is to monitor, assess, and evaluate an educational program for its strengths and weaknesses. Then, I will provide suggestions for improvement.
You can see here that the student has simply stated the paper's assignment, without articulating specifically how he or she will address it. The student can correct this error simply by phrasing the thesis statement as a specific answer to the assignment prompt.
Better: Through a series of student interviews, I found that Kennedy High School's antibullying program was ineffective. In order to address issues of conflict between students, I argue that Kennedy High School should embrace policies outlined by the California Department of Education (2010).
Words like "ineffective" and "argue" show here that the student has clearly thought through the assignment and analyzed the material; he or she is putting forth a specific and debatable position. The concrete information ("student interviews," "antibullying") further prepares the reader for the body of the paper and demonstrates how the student has addressed the assignment prompt without just restating that language.
This thesis statement includes only obvious fact or plot summary instead of argument:
Needs Improvement: Leadership is an important quality in nurse educators.
A good strategy to determine if your thesis statement is too broad (and therefore, not arguable) is to ask yourself, "Would a scholar in my field disagree with this point?" Here, we can see easily that no scholar is likely to argue that leadership is an unimportant quality in nurse educators. The student needs to come up with a more arguable claim, and probably a narrower one; remember that a short paper needs a more focused topic than a dissertation.
Better: Roderick's (2009) theory of participatory leadership is particularly appropriate to nurse educators working within the emergency medicine field, where students benefit most from collegial and kinesthetic learning.
Here, the student has identified a particular type of leadership ("participatory leadership"), narrowing the topic, and has made an arguable claim (this type of leadership is "appropriate" to a specific type of nurse educator). Conceivably, a scholar in the nursing field might disagree with this approach. The student's paper can now proceed, providing specific pieces of evidence to support the arguable central claim.
This thesis statement uses large or scholarly-sounding words that have no real substance:
Needs Improvement: Scholars should work to seize metacognitive outcomes by harnessing discipline-based networks to empower collaborative infrastructures.
There are many words in this sentence that may be buzzwords in the student's field or key terms taken from other texts, but together they do not communicate a clear, specific meaning. Sometimes students think scholarly writing means constructing complex sentences using special language, but actually it's usually a stronger choice to write clear, simple sentences. When in doubt, remember that your ideas should be complex, not your sentence structure.
Better: Ecologists should work to educate the U.S. public on conservation methods by making use of local and national green organizations to create a widespread communication plan.
Notice in the revision that the field is now clear (ecology), and the language has been made much more field-specific ("conservation methods," "green organizations"), so the reader is able to see concretely the ideas the student is communicating.
This thesis statement is not capable of development or advancement in the paper:
Needs Improvement: There are always alternatives to illegal drug use.
This sample thesis statement makes a claim, but it is not a claim that will sustain extended discussion. This claim is the type of claim that might be appropriate for the conclusion of a paper, but in the beginning of the paper, the student is left with nowhere to go. What further points can be made? If there are "always alternatives" to the problem the student is identifying, then why bother developing a paper around that claim? Ideally, a thesis statement should be complex enough to explore over the length of the entire paper.
Better: The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction may be a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy, as argued by Baker (2008), Smith (2009), and Xavier (2011).
In the revised thesis, you can see the student make a specific, debatable claim that has the potential to generate several pages' worth of discussion. When drafting a thesis statement, think about the questions your thesis statement will generate: What follow-up inquiries might a reader have? In the first example, there are almost no additional questions implied, but the revised example allows for a good deal more exploration.
If you are having trouble getting started, try using the models below to generate a rough model of a thesis statement! These models are intended for drafting purposes only and should not appear in your final work.
When drafting your thesis statement, avoid words like explore, investigate, learn, compile, summarize , and explain to describe the main purpose of your paper. These words imply a paper that summarizes or "reports," rather than synthesizing and analyzing.
Instead of the terms above, try words like argue, critique, question , and interrogate . These more analytical words may help you begin strongly, by articulating a specific, critical, scholarly position.
Read Kayla's blog post for tips on taking a stand in a well-crafted thesis statement.
Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .
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An eighth grader asked me for help writing a school-assigned essay. Her teacher had given the class a fill-in-the-blanks organizer. It was incredibly detailed. In the introduction area was a blank with the word “hook,” and below it another blank with the word “thesis.” For each of the two body paragraph areas were the words “citation, “explanation,” “citation,” and “explanation.” At the end was the word “conclusion.”
“I don’t buy it,” I said.
I asked her what she had written first, the hook quotation or the thesis. “The hook,” she said.
Of course. This student was making three mistakes that I see over and over in student essays.
First, she did not write the thesis first. In an essay, the most important sentence is the thesis. That is the first sentence to write. Every other sentence needs to support the ideas in that thesis sentence. If you don’t know what ideas are in the thesis, how can you write about them?
Second, she wrote the hook first, thinking (as her teachers may have told her) that the hook is where the essay begins. The hook is where the reader begins reading an essay. But it is not where the writer begins writing an essay. A good essay is thought though and written out of order. The proper sequence in which to write an essay (after you have organized it) is
The third mistake my student made was perhaps the most serious of all: she didn’t recognize that her chosen hook did not introduce the ideas of her thesis. She thought that her hook was so clever (and it was) that it didn’t matter if it was related to the ideas of her thesis. It does matter.
Over and over, I work with students who focus on the structure of an essay rather than the substance of the essay. Their essays are like Academy Award winning actresses in gorgeous gowns, sparkling jewelry, and splendid coifs whose speeches are either hollow or off-topic.
I asked my student to rewrite her hook. She did because she wants a good grade, and I’m a teacher, so I probably know what I am advising her. But I wonder if she understands that her original hook was irrelevant to the main idea of her essay.
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You may think revising means finding grammar and spelling mistakes when it really means rewriting—moving ideas around, adding more details, using specific verbs, varying your sentence structures and adding figurative language. Learn how to improve your writing with these rewriting ideas and more. Click on the photo For more details.
Comical stories, repetitive phrasing, and expressive illustrations engage early readers and build reading confidence. Each story includes easy to pronounce two-, three-, and four-letter words which follow the rules of phonics. The result is a fun reading experience leading to comprehension, recall, and stimulating discussion. Each story is true children’s literature with a beginning, a middle and an end. Each book also contains a "fun and games" activity section to further develop the beginning reader's learning experience.
Furia--Quick Study Guide is a nine-page text with detailed information on the setting; 17 characters; 10 themes; 8 places, teams, and motifs; and 15 direct quotes from the text. Teachers who have read the novel can months later come up to speed in five minutes by reading the study guide.
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Effective introductions and thesis statements, make them want to continue reading.
Writing an effective introduction is an art form. The introduction is the first thing that your reader sees. It is what invests the reader in your paper, and it should make them want to continue reading. You want to be creative and unique early on in your introduction; here are some strategies to help catch your reader’s attention:
Your introduction also needs to adequately explain the topic and organization of your paper.
Your thesis statement identifies the purpose of your paper. It also helps focus the reader on your central point. An effective thesis establishes a tone and a point of view for a given purpose and audience. Here are some important things to consider when constructing your thesis statement.
The thesis is often located in the middle or at the end of the introduction, but considerations about audience, purpose, and tone should always guide your decision about its placement.
Sometimes it’s helpful to wait to write the introduction until after you’ve written the essay’s body because, again, you want this to be one of the strongest parts of the paper.
Example of an introduction:
Innocent people murdered because of the hysteria of young girls! Many people believe that the young girls who accused citizens of Salem, Massachusetts of taking part in witchcraft were simply acting to punish their enemies. But recent evidence shows that the young girls may have been poisoned by a fungus called Ergot, which affects rye and wheat. The general public needs to learn about this possible cause for the hysteria that occurred in Salem so that society can better understand what happened in the past, how this event may change present opinion, and how the future might be changed by learning this new information.
By Rachel McCoppin, Ph.D. Last edited October 2016 by Allison Haas, M.A.
Essay Writing Guide
Hook Examples
Last updated on: Jun 28, 2024
By: Nova A.
15 min read
Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.
Published on: Feb 19, 2019
Tired of getting poor grades on your high school or college essays? Feeling lost when it comes to captivating your professor's attention?
Whether you're a high school or college student, the constant stream of essays, assignments, and projects can be overwhelming. But fear not!
There's a secret weapon at your disposal: hooks.
These attention-grabbing phrases are the key to keeping your reader hooked and eager for more. In this blog, we'll explore powerful essay hook examples that will solve all your essay writing concerns.
So let’s get started!
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An essay hook is the opening sentence or a few sentences in an essay that grab the reader's attention and engage them from the very beginning. It is called a " hook " because it is designed to reel in the reader and make them interested in reading the rest of the essay.
The purpose of an essay hook is to:
Check out our complete guide on how to start an essay here!
The opening lines of your essay serve as the hook, capturing your reader's attention right from the start. Remember, the hook is a part of your essay introduction and shouldn't replace it.
A well-crafted introduction consists of a hook followed by a thesis statement . While the hook attracts the reader, the thesis statement explains the main points of your essay.
To write an effective hook, consider the following aspects:
Keep in mind that the hook should be directly related to the main topic or idea of your writing piece. When it comes to essays or other academic papers, you can employ various types of hooks that align with your specific requirements.
Learn more about Hook Statements in this informative Video!
To give you a better understanding of the different types of essay hooks, we will be discussing essay hook examples.
Starting your essay by asking a thought-provoking question can be a good way to engage the reader. Ask your reader a question that they can visualize. However, make sure to keep your questions relevant to the reader's interest. Avoid generalized, and yes or no questions.
Rhetorical questions make up good hooks.
A quotation from a famous person is used to open an essay to attract the reader's attention. However, the quote needs to be relevant to your topic and must come from a credible source. To remove any confusion that the reader might have it is best to explain the meaning of the quote later.
Here are the quotes you can use to start your essay:
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Here you use statistical data such as numbers and figures, percentages, etc. to hook the reader. This is mostly used in informative writing to provide the reader with new and interesting facts. It is important to mention the source.
An anecdote is a short story relevant to the essay topic, illustrated to gain the reader’s attention. This story can be derived from a personal experience or your imagination. Mostly, an anecdote is humorous; it makes the reader laugh and leaves them wanting to read more.
It is mostly used when writing narrative or descriptive essays.
If you are a non-English speaker and call the support department or the helpline and hear:
Here are some more anecdotal hook examples:
Starting with a personal story is the right way to go when writing a personal narrative or admissions essay for College.
There is no such rule that the story has to be yours. You can share your friends' story or someone you know of.
Remember that such hooks aren't suitable when writing a more formal or argumentative piece of writing.
In the next section we will be discussing hook examples for different kinds of essays.
A surprising statement hook is a bold and unexpected statement that grabs the reader's attention and piques their curiosity. It challenges their assumptions and compels them to delve deeper into the topic. Example:
The opening paragraph of an argumentative essay should be similar to the opening statement of a trial. Just as a lawyer presents his point with a logical system, you must do the same in your essay.
For example, you are writing about the adverse effects of smoking, and arguing that all public places should be turned into no smoking zones. For such essays, good hook examples will be statistical such as:
“According to the World Health Organization consumption of tobacco kills about five million people every year, which makes it more than the death rate from HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria altogether.”
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The main idea or aim for writing a persuasive essay is to convince and persuade the reader to do something. It is also written to change their beliefs and agree with your point of view.
Hook sentences for such essays are a shocking revelation that the reader is curious to learn more about.
“On average each year, humans release 38.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide approximately. Due to this, the level of carbon dioxide has increased significantly, more than it has been in centuries. If you think climate change is nothing to worry about then you are highly mistaken.”
Simply put, a narrative essay is just like a story. In other types of essays you need to pick a side, argue and prove your point with the help of evidence. A narrative essay gives you a freehand to tell your story however you may please.
It can be a story inspired by your life, something you may have experienced. If you feel like it isn’t exciting enough you can always transform it using your imagination.
Examples of a hook sentence for a narrative essay can be something like:
“I was riding the bus to school; the other kids were making fun of me thinking I couldn’t understand them. “Why are his eyes like that?” “His face is funny.” A Chinese kid in America is probably like a zoo animal.”
Here are 20+ interesting hook examples across various subjects:
In conclusion, these were some catchy hook examples just to give you an idea. You can make use of any one of these types according to your paper and its requirements. Generate free essays through our AI essay writer , to see how it's done!
The key to making your essay stand out from the rest is to have a strong introduction. While it is the major part, there’s more that goes into writing a good essay.
If you are still unable to come up with an exciting hook, and searching “ who can write my essay ?”. The expert essay writers at 5StarEssays.com are just a click away. Reach out to our essay writer today and have an engaging opening for your essay.
What is a visual hook.
The visual hook is a scene that captures the audience's interest by encapsulating something about the movie. It usually occurs around 15 minutes into it, and can be found in marketing or reviews of movies.
As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.
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Creating an Effective Introductory Paragraph for an Essay
Learning Objectives: |
LESSON The introduction is the first thing that readers will encounter when they begin reading your essay A short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. . Just as you want to make the best impression when you first meet someone, you want to make sure that your introduction draws your reader in from the start. In this lesson, you will learn four things that a good introductory paragraph should do: hook In writing, a device used to grab a readers' attention, often in the form of interesting, surprising, or provocative information. the reader, introduce the topic The subject of a reading. , set the tone The feeling or attitude that a writer expresses toward a topic. The words the writer chooses express this tone. Examples of tones can include: objective, biased, humorous, optimistic, and cynical, among many others. , and present the thesis An overall argument, idea, or belief that a writer uses as the basis for a work. .
Hook the Reader
Creating an interesting hook is essential for grabbing your reader's attention. Here are several techniques that you can use to appeal to your readers:
Surprising facts or statistics
Another technique to hook the reader is to ask a question. However, think about this option carefully before using it; many writers overuse this technique and ask questions that are too simple and not provocative Describes something that causes interest, debate, argument, or deeper thought. enough. You will often find that replacing an introductory question with another hook technique will be more engaging for your reader.
You may find it challenging to create a hook because some topics are not as interesting as others. However, try your best to engage your reader's attention by trying different techniques until you find the right angle for your introduction.
Below are examples of three different techniques used to create three distinct hooks for the following thesis:
Thesis: The United States needs to develop more nuclear energy plants in the next ten years to combat global warming.
Surprising facts or statistics: In his film, An Inconvenient Truth, former Vice President Al Gore claims that if the glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica continue to melt at their current rate, global sea levels will rise by 20 feet by the year 2050. If sea levels actually rise this much, large populations of people will be displaced as their homes are flooded. In fact, over half of Florida and much of Manhattan in New York will be covered with water.
A pop-culture reference: In the movie Waterworld , starring Kevin Costner, Earth is completely covered in water after polar ice caps have melted due to global warming. Although it was set in the distant future, scientists say the effects of global warming could actually submerge parts of the United States in as little as forty years.
An historical reference: In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located in the Soviet Union (now known as Ukraine) melted down, exploded, and released massive amounts of radioactive material into the air. It was the first Level 7 nuclear disaster in history. A second occurred in 2011 in Japan at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant, which melted down after it was flooded by a tsunami—a giant wave created by the most powerful earthquake that Japan had ever experienced.
Introduce the Topic
As you can see in the examples above, the topic can often be introduced as part of the hook. Sometimes, though, a clarifying statement needs to be included so that the reader is clear on the direction you plan on taking in your particular essay. This is most noticeable in the third example where the historical references seem to imply that the essay will be about the dangers of nuclear power plants. A transitional sentence introducing the benefits of nuclear energy as the topic would need to work as a bridge from the hook to the thesis.
Set the Tone
If you have ever received an invitation to an event like a wedding, you will notice that it sets the tone for the event. In the same way, an introduction sets the tone for the rest of your essay. Use the introduction to let your readers know whether they will be reading an academic, sarcastic Describes a way of speaking or writing that occurs when your words to mean the opposite of what you really feel. This is done to be insulting, make a point, or express humor. , ironic Describes something that is funny or odd because it is not what is expected. , or sincere piece. Formal writings tend to use third-person pronouns and avoid slang, contractions A word that is a shorter form of a longer word or group of words that is made by leaving out sounds and/or letters. Example: can't is a contraction for cannot . , and jargon Technical language pertaining to a specific activity and used by a particular group of people. . What is appropriate for a blog A website that hosts a series of articles, photos, and other postings, sometimes by a single writer (blogger) or by a community of contributors. entry or a text message may not be appropriate for an essay.
An essay outlining the necessity of more nuclear power plants in the U.S. is a fairly serious subject. In light of a relatively recent nuclear reactor meltdown, some of your audience may be turned off if you begin your essay in a lighthearted way, so you may want to avoid using humor in such situations. Understanding your audience and subject will allow you to make the best choices as you create your introduction.
Present Your Thesis
The thesis statement is the controlling idea The specific idea that controls a paragraph, including the purpose, subject, and the writer's point of view. of your essay and should always be explicitly A clear statement that is made known without leaving any room for doubt. stated in your introduction unless the assignment tells you to do otherwise. It includes both the topic you are discussing and the point you are making about it. Here is an example thesis:
In a shorter essay, you will often combine the hook, introduce your topic, and present your thesis all in one paragraph A selection of a writing that is made up of sentences formed around one main point. Paragraphs are set apart by a new line and sometimes indentation. . One paragraph is often enough as each element may only require a sentence or two. However, longer pieces of writing generally require a longer hook, introduction of the topic, and thesis. In fact, you may devote multiple paragraphs to each. Also, keep in mind that you may choose to create the introduction after you complete your essay, as you will see what you have written and know what fits best in the introduction.
In the job application process, employers first "meet" potential employees through their cover letters A letter that is sent along with a resume that provides context and more information for the reader. and resumes A brief written history of a person's education, work, and volunteer experience, submitted for the purpose of obtaining a job. . If those documents do not represent you in the best possible manner, you may not be called in for an interview, even if you are the most capable person for the position.
Your introduction to an essay or business report is equally essential. Your instructors generally have to read your essay no matter how poorly it starts, but a strong introduction will increase the likelihood of you receiving a good grade since the instructor will approach the rest of the essay with good expectations. However, in the professional world, your boss and clients do not need to read your writing if they do not want to. When you ensure that your writing begins as strongly as it can, you increase the odds that it will be read.
Read the paragraph below, and then consider the answers to the questions that follow.
In October 2013, the federal government was shut down for 16 days. During that time, large numbers of government employees were not allowed to report for work, and national parks were closed. The public was quick to blame anyone and everyone for the shutdown, from the Republicans to the Democrats and everyone in between. Of course, the president was not exempt from criticism. In one instance, a national TV news host announced as fact inflammatory information about the president that she had received from a website. Unfortunately for her, the information came from a parody news website, an organization that creates fake news stories, and the information reported was not true. The journalist's mistake demonstrates that if even experienced journalists have difficulty deciphering truth from fiction, then it is equally easy for students to use unreliable materials. High school and college writing instructors must work together to equip their students with the tools to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources and to understand the importance of using accurate information.
1. What strategy does the writer use to hook the reader?
Historical reference
2. How does the writer introduce the topic/set the background?
By demonstrating the widespread problem of untrustworthy sources.
3. What tone does the writer set?
The author uses an academic tone, third-person point of view.
4. What is the author's thesis?
High school and college writing instructors must work together to equip their students with the tools to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources and to understand the importance of using accurate information.
Now, using the same thesis as the paragraph above, notice how an effective hook is developed using a different technique.
Thesis: High school and college writing instructors must work together to equip their students with the tools to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources and to understand the consequences of using inaccurate information.
Hook using a personal anecdote:
When I was in high school, one of my friends often used Wikipedia as a resource for her essays. She then doctored her papers with fake citations and bibliographies. I couldn't understand how our teachers never figured out that she used counterfeit sources. However, I recently heard that she was removed from her college for academic dishonesty. She will be able to return next term, but only on the condition that she never conducts herself so unethically again.
Read the paragraph below, and then answer the following questions.
In the United States, wind turbines are responsible for the deaths of between 100,000 to 400,000 birds per year. If wind turbines continue to be built at the same rate as they are today in 2013, the American Bird Conservancy estimates that over a million birds per year will die due to wind turbines; however, with coal-fired power plants using nonrenewable fuel to power them and the recent meltdown of nuclear reactors in Japan, many believe that we must adopt wind power in order to continue to power our nation. Despite the problems with wind energy, the federal government must provide the wind energy sector with the same subsidies as they have historically given the oil and gas industry if we want to be an energy-independent nation.
By introducing the issues with our two main energy sources.
The author uses an informative, persuasive, and knowledgeable tone.
Despite the problems with wind energy, the federal government must provide the wind energy sector with the same subsidies as they have historically given the oil and gas industry if we want to be an energy-independent nation.
Now, develop an effective hook for the same thesis used in the paragraph above using a different technique.
Sample Answer
Historical Reference:
Wind turbines are popping up all over the nation. Whether you are on the coast of New England or on the plains of Texas, wind farms are increasingly more common. While they may seem like a fairly recent invention, the first wind turbines ever recorded were used well over 2,000 years ago in Iran. With blades made of sails, they were used to grind grain and draw water up for both drinking and irrigation. Windmills continued to be used in a similar fashion until the late 1800s when they aided in the production of electricity.
I generally like to begin my writing with a personal story because it is easiest for me to relate new ideas to my own experiences.
I like beginning my essays with questions; however, I realize that sometimes the questions I use are not thought provoking and compelling. Another technique may better engage my readers in the future.
Copyright ©2022 The NROC Project
COMMENTS
4 Anecdote. Anecdotes are often used as hooks in personal essays. A personal story makes the essay relatable, creating familiarity with the reader that makes them want to read more. An example of an anecdote hook is a persuasive essay about rerouting traffic on campus that starts with a personal story of a vehicular close call.
A hook is the first sentence or two of your essay that grabs your reader's interest and curiosity. It can be a question, a quote, a statistic, a story, or anything else that relates to your topic ...
At the same time, it helps to highlight the absurdity of this particular problem by highlighting the obvious possible solution. This helps to get the reader on your side as you passionately argue for solving the issue. Hook vs lead-in transition to the thesis. As you can tell, writing a hook for an essay can be challenging enough on its own.
The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons: It gives your writing direction and focus. It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point. Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.
Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
Writing a hook sentence and introducing a thesis statementIn this lesson, you will learn how to begin your response by first hooking the reader and then tell...
Thesis vs. Hook: Understanding the Key Differences • Thesis vs. Hook: Key Differences • Discover the crucial disparities between a thesis and a hook in writi...
Determine the effect you wish to accomplish before selecting a hook. Choose a hook at the end of the writing process. Even though it should be the first sentence of your paper, it doesn't mean you should write your hook first. Writing an essay is a long and creative process. So, if you can't think of an effective hook at the beginning, just ...
Here's an example of the steps you can follow that help you outline your essay. First paragraph: Establish the thesis. Body paragraphs: Supporting evidence. Last paragraph: Conclusion with a restatement of the thesis. Revisit the first paragraph: Find the best hook. Obviously, the first step is to determine your thesis.
1) Hook: Description, illustration, narration or dialogue that pulls the reader into your paper topic. This should be interesting and specific. 2) Transition: Sentence that connects the hook with the thesis. 3) Thesis: Sentence (or two) that summarizes the overall main point of the paper. The thesis should answer the prompt question.
Here are seven ideas to choose from: 1. Story. Everyone likes a good story. If an interesting story or anecdote relates to your essay topic, the hook is a great place to include it. For example: In January 2023, two children were playing outside in a Los Angeles neighborhood.
2. Bold claim hook. When working on an argumentative essay, I always write with the mindset that nobody has the time to read my thoughts from start to finish.So, I have to get to the point quickly and make a solid argument worth people's time.. That's when opening with a bold claim works best. Condense all your views on the topic into a few thought-provoking lines that would make readers go ...
For the reader, the thesis statement: Serves as a "map" to guide the reader through the paper. In the same way the thesis helps you organize your paper, the thesis helps organize the reader's thinking. Once a solid thesis is presented, the reader will understand that all of the evidence presented is in service of proving the thesis.
In the same way, a hook in the beginning of an essay aims to hold the readers' attention so that they keep reading. The main purpose of a hook is to introduce the topic and to get the readers interested. ... Essay: Your essay should have a title, an introductory paragraph with a hook and a thesis statement, 3 supporting paragraphs each ...
How to write a thesis statement for persuasive essays. Similar to argumentative essays, persuasive essays follow many of the same guidelines for their thesis statements: decisive language, specific details, and mentions of subtopics. However, the main difference is that, while the thesis statements for argumentative and expository essays state facts, the thesis statements for persuasive essays ...
Conclusion: The Qualities of a Good Essay Hook. As I wrap up this article, I want to share a few last tips on qualities that a good essay hook should have. Keep these tips in mind when writing your essay hook and using the above essay hook examples: First, relevance. A good hook should be directly relevant to the topic or theme of your essay.
The essay introduction is the first part of an essay, and it contains a hook, a bridge, and a thesis.It also functions to provide an overview of the rest of the essay. It might not be the most ...
The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper.
The hook is where the reader begins reading an essay. But it is not where the writer begins writing an essay. A good essay is thought though and written out of order. The proper sequence in which to write an essay (after you have organized it) is. Thesis, first; body paragraph topic sentences, second;
If that's the case, then you're hooked! You have read an introduction that has a good "hook.". The "hook" is the writer's way to attract your attention. It's not an empty hook. It is something that pulls you around to follow what the author wants you to follow closely, i.e., without you consciously knowing that you were ...
Cite a dramatic fact or statistic. Your introduction also needs to adequately explain the topic and organization of your paper. Your thesis statement identifies the purpose of your paper. It also helps focus the reader on your central point. An effective thesis establishes a tone and a point of view for a given purpose and audience.
A well-crafted introduction consists of a hook followed by a thesis statement. While the hook attracts the reader, the thesis statement explains the main points of your essay. ... Just as a lawyer presents his point with a logical system, you must do the same in your essay. For example, you are writing about the adverse effects of smoking, and ...
Strong Bridge: Connects Hook to Thesis. According to the Dalai Lama, "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.". Yet in Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg believes that his prime purpose is to take care of himself. Though he is occasionally friendly to his classmates, Greg only helps others when it benefits him. By ...
Hooks Should Be Specific and Relevant to the Thesis. Hooks are attention-grabbing statements that writers use to start their essays. A hook can be a claim that connects to the essay's thesis statement and theme, or big idea, through disagreement.
A transitional sentence introducing the benefits of nuclear energy as the topic would need to work as a bridge from the hook to the thesis. Set the Tone. If you have ever received an invitation to an event like a wedding, you will notice that it sets the tone for the event. In the same way, an introduction sets the tone for the rest of your essay.