7 Sensational Essay Hooks That Grab Readers’ Attention
by Suzanne Davis | Jul 14, 2022 | Writing Essays and Papers | 12 comments
Do you want people to feel excited when they read your essay?
The secret is to get them interested in reading your essay by making the first part of your introduction intriguing. The best way to do that is by using attention-grabbing essay hooks.
So, what is a hook? It’s a piece of writing at the beginning of your essay that engages your reading audience. Usually, a hook is a sentence or group of sentences that draw people into reading your essay or research paper. A hook sparks a person’s curiosity. You want whoever reads your essay to wonder what happens next. Hooks also make an introduction stand out (which raises your chance of getting a high grade on your essay).
If you want to see all the elements of great introductions for research papers check my post, How to Write a Strong Introduction to a Research Paper at https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/how-to-write-a-strong-introduction-to-a-research-paper/.
When you write essay hooks that make your rea ders curious, you’ve taken the first step toward making them fall in love with your writing. Let’s dive in and look at essay hooks that will elevate your writing style!
7 Types of Essay Hooks
Here are 7 writing hooks that make readers want to find out what you will say in the rest of your essay.
- Interesting Question Hook
- Strong Statement/Declaration Hook
- Fact/Statistic Hook
- Metaphor/ Simile Hook
- Description Hook
- Quotation Hook.
1. The Interesting Question Hook
An interesting question hook is when you ask a question that relates to your essay or paper. And the only way a person can know the answer to that question is by reading your writing.
People are inquisitive. When we hear or read a question we want to know the answer. If we don’t have an answer then we need to find out.
So, when you start your essay with a question hook, this signals to your readers that if they keep reading you’ll give them the answer.
Here’s an example of an interesting question hook on the topic of succeeding in college:
What is the difference between successful college students and unsuccessful college students?
The goal of this essay hook is to make you want to learn what students who succeed in college do, and what college students who don’t succeed in college do wrong.
2. The Strong Statement/Declaration Hook
A strong statement hook is a sentence that makes an assertive claim about your topic. It connects to the thesis statement and shows the importance of your essay or paper.
A strong statement is a great technique because it doesn’t matter if your reader agrees or disagrees with your statement. They will want to see how you support your statement.
This is an example of a strong statement on the topic of the vegan diet.
Vegans are the healthiest group of people in the world.
This statement either supports your point of view about the vegan diet, or it makes you want to argue against it (especially if you love meat). Either way, you are curious about what the writer says.
3. The Fact/ Statistic Hook
Facts and statistics hook your reader because they give real information about a topic. You can impress your reader with your knowledge and evidence from the very beginning of your essay. But, you need to include facts that are accurate, interesting, and reliable. Evaluate your information and make sure it comes from a credible source. Some places to visit for statistics are The Pew Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/ , and The CIA World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/.
Here’s an example of a factual hook about an essay on gun ownership in the United States.
Almost two-thirds of American adults at some point in their life lived in a home with at least one gun.
The Pew Research Center, “America’s Relationship With Guns: An In-Depth Look at the Attitudes and Experiences of US Adults” http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2017/06/22/americas-complex-relationship-with-guns/
4. The Metaphor / Simile Hook
The metaphor/simile hook engages your readers because it makes them think about a topic in a different way. Your audience wonders what you mean and how you compare a topic to something that seems unconnected.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares one thing to another, but these two things seem unrelated. An example of a metaphor is: Her boyfriend is a rat. The boyfriend is not really a rat, but he behaves like one.
If your essay topic is on business blogging you could write the metaphor hook:
A business blog is a magnet pulling clients to a company.
A simile is like a metaphor. Both compare two unrelated things to each other, but a simile uses the words like or as to connect them. A simile is less strong than a comparison in a metaphor. An example of a simile is : Writing a research paper is like running a marathon when it’s 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
A simile hook for the essay about business blogging could be:
A business blog is like a magnet that pulls clients to a company.
5. The Story Hook
This is a hook where you begin with a short story or episode that relates to your topic. Readers love stories, especially a well-written story that is memorable. The key to a great story hook is making sure the story directly connects to your essay or paper topic. Your story can be personal or someone else’s story.
Here’s an example of a story hook for an essay about the differences between British and American English. I used my own story about a trip to England.
I got off the train and pulled my luggage behind me. A cab pulled up to the curb, and the driver got out. He lifted my luggage and said, “Miss, I’m just going to put your stuff in the boot.” I didn’t know what he meant until I saw him open the car’s trunk. Then I realized the boot means car trunk. I got in the cab, wondering how many other words would be different in England.
You’ll see this sto ry hook is longer than other types of essay hooks. That’s okay. Your hook can be longer, but it shouldn’t be a large part of your essay or paper. Compare the length of your hook to the length of the essay.
Also, consider your audience (especially an academic audience). Ask yourself, “Will a story hook be acceptable in this course?” If you’re unsure you can ask your teacher or professor or you could select a different type of hook.
6. The Description Hook
This is a hook where a vivid description of a scene draws your readers into your writing. A good description hook will make your reader want to know what comes next in your writing. It’s most popular in narrative essays, but you can use a description hook with any type of writing (yes even academic papers). But, like the story hook ask yourself, “Will this description hook be acceptable in this course?”
Here’s an example of a description hook for a personal narrative essay about saving a dog:
The dog howled in pain and limped along the side of the road. His leg was cut and blood streamed down his leg.
Doesn’t this scene make you curious about what will happen to the dog?
7. The Quotation Hook
This is a hook where you begin your essay with a quotation. The quotation could be from a famous person, but it doesn’t have to be. You can quote anyone if it connects to what you’re writing about.
If you write an essay on the topic of education you could start
Nelson Mandela said, “ Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world .”
If you want to use a quotation for a hook, make sure you quote the words exactly. Choose quotations where the words are striking, powerful, and/ or memorable.
Writing Challenge: Write 2 Essay Hooks
Essay hooks are a great way to intrigue all your readers. Select your favorite 2 types of essay hooks. Then write a hook for each kind you choose. Comment below and share your favorite one!
Have fun and be creative.
Photo by Bram Naus on Unsplash
I find that switching it up makes my content better. My favorite is to start with a question or a strong statement. I love this infographic. Well done!
Thanks Joanne! Question and strong statement hooks are great for getting readers to wonder what’s in your essay. I’m so glad you liked the infographic.
This is a great article, showing the variety of openings you can use in writing. Thank you for the tips!
I’m glad you liked it. I think hooks are great for writing.
[…] For more information about essay hooks see-https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/7-sensational-types-of-essay-hooks/ […]
Very good blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..
Any suggestions? Many thanks!
Hi Cindy, Those are great questions about blogging. I think the beginning point with starting a blog is determining your niche/focus, goals and your ideal readers. The next piece of advice is to really learn the style of writing blog posts. It’s a craft, so you should really start with a good grasp of the formatting, style, and techniques, etc. Since I don’t know your blog’s focus I can’t offer you more specific advice.
If you can afford it, I suggest paying for a domain name and hosting. There are free ones like WordPress.com etc. These will get you started, but if you want to use your blog for a business I really recommend starting with a paid option. I hope this helps you. Good luck blogging!
Thank you for this informative Eda’ya. My favorite hooks are question, strong statement and the fact. I think these are the best for an academic paper. Your infographic is excellent and memorable. Thank you! ??
Mehmet, Those are all great hooks! I think they would each be a great way to begin an academic paper too. I’m glad the infographic is useful to you. Thank you for the compliment.
These are great. I’ll have to file this away for my next writing student (and my next blog post!). For research papers, I used to use the fact/statistic hook a lot.
Beth, I’m glad you liked these essay hooks. I like the fact/statistic hook a lot too, and you’re right it is a great one for research papers.
I like question hooks & metaphoric ones…
I need to write to essays for tomorrow at English (preparing for Baccalaureate) & I’ll choose “success is not about luck” & “the importance of music in our lives” …
For the first one I’ll choose the first type of hook (for me it’s the easiest): “How can you be sure that when it comes to success, luck isn’t so important” or sth like this.
But for the second essay I’ll choose a metaphoric hook “music is the spot of light who makes shine in gray tones” or sth like this.
For the first one I was also thinking about sth statistically but idk not a kind of statistics about luck help in success or sth like this…
Ik, you can’t give me advices till tomorrow but I’ll be OK. Thx for this gorgeous inform. God bless you. All the best!
I think those are 2 great hooks to use with those essays. I love the metaphoric hook you came up with–it’s beautiful. I hope you do well with your essays. Good luck!
Tutorpreneur Hero Award
http://becomeanonlinetutor.com/tutorpreneur-hero/
SSL Certificate Seal
Session expired
Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.
Privacy Overview
- Words with Friends Cheat
- Wordle Solver
- Word Unscrambler
- Scrabble Dictionary
- Anagram Solver
- Wordscapes Answers
Make Our Dictionary Yours
Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get:
- Grammar and writing tips
- Fun language articles
- #WordOfTheDay and quizzes
By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .
We'll see you in your inbox soon.
20 Compelling Hook Examples for Essays
- DESCRIPTION hook examples for essays
- SOURCE Copyright YourDictionary / Owned by YourDictionary
The key to writing a great hook begins with brainstorming a compelling opening statement or question that will capture the attention and interest of readers. No matter what the essay topic is, it’s possible to craft a compelling hook. Use these hook sentence examples to get some ideas.
10 Hook Sentence Examples
The most important job of a hook is to entice readers to want to read your essay, so it is often the first sentence in your introduction.
- Creating family memories that last a lifetime is more about spending quality time together than it is about spending money.
- Growing a vegetable garden provides food security, meeting an important need for modern families in these uncertain times.
- Owning a dog can have a positive impact on your health, happiness and safety.
- Mastering the art of finding work in the gig economy makes it possible for people to work to live rather than living to work.
- Spending time in different parts of the world can provide people with unique insights on cultural differences and a deep appreciation for ways of life other than their own.
- Being required to pay a federal income tax without having representation in the federal government is a reality of life for residents of Washington, D.C.
- Wildfires rage each year in California destroying many homes and leaving vast swaths of fire-ravaged acreage in their wake.
- For many foster children, everyday reality includes nearly constant transitions as they’re moved from home to home and family to family in a seemingly endless cycle.
- With daily sugar intake reaching an average of 25 teaspoons per person, the United States leads the world in per capita consumption of added sugar.
- People can’t live without sufficient water, yet one-third of the worldwide population does not have access to clean drinking water .
These hooks make an assertion intended to engage readers so they’ll want to continue reading to find out what you have to say. Whether a reader’s first thought is to agree with the hook or to question the content of the hook, the person will want to learn more. It’s up to you to write an essay that effectively supports your assertions.
10 Hook Question Examples
Sometimes the best hook for an essay is a question rather than a sentence. What better way to entice readers to want to see what you have to say?
- Just how much screen time is too much for elementary school-aged children?
- How important is it for YouTubers to use search engine optimization (SEO) strategies?
- Will we see record-breaking voter turnout in this year’s presidential election?
- Would your family have enough food to eat if commercially processed food became unavailable for an extended period of time?
- Is online learning an effective option for K-12 education?
- Do jobs that require degrees really have better earning potential than skilled trades?
- Did you realize that women are two times more likely to experience clinical depression than men?
- How much sugar do you really consume in a day?
- Are your evening habits keeping you from getting quality sleep?
- Just how difficult would your daily activities be if you had to do them with chronic, neverending joint pain?
The key to writing an effective hook in the form of a question lies with considering what you can ask that will make readers want to learn more. It can be helpful to relate your topic to surprising statistics, current events or other subject matter that your audience members are likely to feel strongly about. Your goal should be to write a question that will draw readers in so they want to continue reading to discover what else you have to say.
Properly Source Your Assertions
While the purpose of a hook is to draw in readers, you should only do so with accurate information. Be sure there is a factual basis for any assertions you make or statistics you cite . Include credible sources backing up such information in the body of your essay.
Engage Readers
The hook you use to start your essay has to be specific to the subject matter and audience. Now that you have reviewed examples of hooks, spend some time learning how to write a great hook . What you learn will help you master strategies to engage readers .
Preparing to Write an Effective Essay
Once you’ve mastered the art of crafting an effective hook, turn your attention to what’s involved in creating a strong introduction paragraph . You may also want to review some essay examples before you begin writing your own.
Essay Writing Guide
Hook Examples
Last updated on: Feb 8, 2023
Hook Examples: How to Start Your Essay Effectively
By: Nova A.
Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.
Published on: Feb 19, 2019
Tired of getting poor grades on your high school or college essays?
Not sure how to make your writing interesting enough for the professor?
Students are always busy with essays, assignments, and projects on a regular basis. Whether they're in school or college, students are always looking for new ways to get their point across.
One way that's becoming increasingly popular is using hooks. Hooks are attention grabbing phrases that prompt the reader into further reading.
They intrigue them enough to stay interested in what you have to say next. Essay writing is based on how well you explain your main points and engage the readers.
They can be placed anywhere in your essay. But typically they come at the beginning of sentences or paragraphs.
Check out the essay hook examples discussed in this blog to solve all your concerns.
On this Page
What is an Essay Hook?
Imagine this; you are at a bookstore looking for interesting books to buy. How will you decide which one to go for?
You skim through the introduction if it catches your attention, you decide to buy it. Even if the book was well-written, if the introduction was dull, you wouldn’t want to continue reading it.
Similarly, when your professor is reading your essay, they judge it based on the introduction. If the introduction fails to impress them, they are less likely to keep reading it further. Even if they do decide to give it a quick read, they wouldn't find it too interesting.
To combat this issue, writers make use of a term called a “hook.” A hook sentence is the opening sentence of your essay. And it is written with the intention of grabbing the reader's attention.
An effective essay hook has the ability to keep the reader interested and motivate them to finish reading the entire essay.
It is better to start your essay with a hook. It provides an idea about your overall topic and the questions that are addressed.
It is important to have an interesting opening statement. And it is important for the rest of the text to be engaging as well. Here is a complete guide to describe how to start an essay to keep your audience engaged.
In this article, we are going to address the basics of writing a hook and the different types of hooks.
How to Write a Hook?
The opening lines of an essay is your hook, which acts as an attention grabber. Remember that the hook statement is part of your essay introduction. It isn’t written to replace the introduction itself.
An introduction consists of a hook followed by a thesis statement. A hook is written to attract the reader. The purpose of a thesis statement is to explain the main points of the essay. To learn more about it, head on to this detailed blog of writing a thesis statement .
In order to write a good hook, you must be aware of the following aspects:
- The nature of the literary work
- Understanding of the audience
- Reason for writing the essay
Remember, that the hook should be related to the main topic or idea of the piece of writing.
When you write essays, research papers, or other academic papers you can use different types of hooks relevant to your requirements. Some of the different attention grabbing hooks are:
Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!
Hook Sentence Examples
To give you a better understanding of the different types of essay hooks, we will be discussing essay hook examples.
Question Hook
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.
“How are successful college students different from unsuccessful college students?”
“What is the purpose of our existence?”
“Have you ever wondered whether Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters would have been still together if he didn't die of cancer?”
Quotation Hook
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.
When writing about Education, you can use the quote by Nelson Mandela:
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
If your topic is related to hard work and making your own destiny, you can start by quoting Michael Jordan.
“Some people want it to happen; some wish it would happen; others make it happen.”
And further, explain how he talks about people who dream for a certain thing. But they never achieve it because they don’t put in the efforts. Simply wishing, dreaming and praying isn’t enough. It is only those dreamers who take it upon themselves to work hard to make it as a professional basketball player.
Statistic Hook
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.
Here is an argumentative essay hook example, if you're writing about gun laws. You can use the following statistics:
“Reports have shown that almost two-thirds of adults in the United States of America have lived in a place with at least one gun, at some point of their life.”
Another persuasive essay hook example about people's psychology and lying is mentioned below:
“It is noted by Allison Komet from the Psychology Today magazine that people lie in every one out of five conversations that last for at least 10 minutes.”
Anecdotal Hook
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:
“If you want instructions in English, press 1. If you don't understand English, press 2.”
“ An elderly person came to buy a TV, asked the shopkeeper if they had colored TVs. When told that they are available, he asked to purchase a purple one.”
Personal Story
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.
“My father was in the Navy; I basically grew up on a cruise. As a young boy, I saw things beyond anyone's imagination. On April 15, 2001…”
In the next section we will be discussing hook examples for different kinds of essays.
Argumentative Essay Hook Examples
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.”
Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!
Persuasive Essay Hook Examples
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.”
Narrative Essay Hook Examples
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.”
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. 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. Continue reading and you can find the basics guidelines of essay writing.
If you are still unable to come up with an exciting hook, you can always ask our professional essay writer online for help. The expert essay writers at 5StarEssays.com are just a click away. Reach out to them today and have an engaging opening for your essay.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Was This Blog Helpful?
Keep reading.
- How to Write an Essay - A Complete Guide with Examples
- Interesting Thesis Statement Examples for Your Essay
- Writing a 500 Word Essay - Easy Guide
- What is a Topic Sentence – Easy Guide with Examples
- A Complete Essay Outline - Guidelines and Format
- 100 Best Transition Words for Essays
- Essay Format: Detailed Writing Tips & Examples
- How to Write a Conclusion - Examples & Tips
- Essay Topics: 100+ Best Essay Topics for your Guidance
- How to Title An Essay in 5 Minutes
- How to Write a Perfect 1000 Word Essay
- How To Make An Essay Longer - Easy Guide For Beginners
- Learn How to Start an Essay Effectively with Easy Guidelines
- Types of Sentences With Examples
- Essay Writing Tips - 10+ Essential Tips and Techniques
- Thesis Statement - A Detailed Writing Guide & Examples
- Art Topics - Brilliant Ideas to Begin With
- Writing Conventions and Tips for College Students
People Also Read
- research paper topics
- write character analysis
- scholarship essay examples
- rhetorical precis writing
- synthesis essay topics
Burdened With Assignments?
Advertisement
© 2023 - All rights reserved
2000+ SATISFIED STUDENTS
95% Satisfaction RATE
30 Days Money-back GUARANTEE
95% Success RATE
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us
© 2022 5StarEssays.com. All rights reserved.
LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
SIGN UP TO YOUR ACCOUNT
- Your phone no.
- Password Password must be minimum 8 characters.
- Confirm Password
- I have read Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms and Conditions .
FORGOT PASSWORD
- SEND PASSWORD
How to Write a Hook
- Writing Studio
- Handout Guides
- Current: How to Write a Hook
A hook is an opening statement (which is usually the first sentence) in an essay that attempts to grab the reader’s attention so that they want to read on.
It can be done by using a few different types of hooks, which are a question, quote, statistic, or anecdote. Be mindful that the hook has to be related to the overall topic of the paper. Here are a few examples of each type of hook.
Question Hook
A question hook is when you ask the reader something that they can visualize and try to think of in their own minds. Then, the writer answers the question.
- Example: Have you ever watched the high-flying, jump shooting, slam dunking, ankle breaking players that play in the NBA? Every time I catch a game on television and I witness the thrill of the game, I can’t help but watch another one.
Quotation Hook
A quotation hook is when a quote is used and explained that has relevance to the topic at hand. Make sure this quote comes from a credible source. Also, talk about the quote’s meaning afterwards to ensure that the reader isn’t confused.
- Example: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen” said Michael Jordan, arguably the best player to ever play in the NBA. Here, Jordan talks about how people want, dream, wish, and pray that they will one day make it to the big stage. These are usually the people that never make it. It is only when these dreamers and wishers take matters into their own hands and strive to be the best that they actually get to play professional basketball in the NBA.
Statistic Hook
A statistic hook can be used for more informational pieces of writing. The writer uses a quote from a source that relates to the main idea of the paper, but the quote must have some type of statistics, such as numbers, decimals, or and/or percentages. The meaning and relationship of the quote to the paper needs to be explained afterwards just in case the reader does not quite understand
- Example: “Just 0.00545 percent of the 550,000 boys playing high school basketball each year in the United States become a first-round draft pick — 1 in 18,333” stated Jeff Rabjohns, a writer for The Indianapolis Star, in an article titled “Prep players face long odds of making it to NBA.” Basically, only a few high school players will make it to the NBA. Even though there are many that strive, play, train, practice, and fight to be great, a huge majority of them do not make it.
Anecdotal Hook
When a writer uses a short story to relate to the topic and gain the reader’s attention, they are using an anecdote. This story can be a short, personal story or one that is a figment of your imagination. Make sure that it relates to the main idea of the paper. Show the relevance that it has to the topic of the paper.
- Example: When I was in high school, I remember playing in an AAU basketball league. We had to travel to downtown Philadelphia on the weekends for basketball practice. Each and every time we had basketball practice (which was at 8 a.m.), there was a boy around my age in the gym by the time we arrived. He was always covered in sweat, throwing up shots, practicing his layups, practicing his dribbling, and running laps around the gym. He was in such great shape. One day, I mustered up the courage to ask his about his ambitions, and he told me that he gets up at 5:30 a.m. to go to the gym and practice hard until my team comes in for practice. A few years later, this guy was entering the NBA draft from high school. When I saw him get drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, I knew exactly why. All that hard work had paid off for him. This is the hard work ethics and mindset that everyone that wants to make it to the NBA should have.
Have more questions? Visit the Writing Studio, and we’ll be happy to help!
Contact Information
Top 100 Essay Hook Examples
Introduction.
Teacher: “I will never forgive you for the essay you submitted.”
Student: “What’s wrong with it? I can see you gave me an A already.”
Teacher: “My dinner got burned because I just couldn’t get myself to stop reading it.”
Do you get the clue?
Polish your essay introduction if you want to wow your teacher. Add something shocking, funny, or interesting.
Right from the start, build an emotional connection. An essay hook should be your reader’s bait.
You can write persuasive essay hooks in several ways.
What is an Essay Hook?
You will use a hook when you want to encourage or intimidate your audience in reading your essays.
A hook is the first sentence that appears in your introductory paragraph. Its average length is 3-7 sentences, but it depends on the essay topic.
The hook will show your readers that the content of the essay is worth reading. Some writers will even make the hook go up to several pages.
Though, it would be best if you kept it as a sentence or a short paragraph.
Remember, the hook does not replace is not an essay introduction. It is an opening line for an introduction.
The essential components of the introduction of an essay are the thesis statement and the hook.
[rml_read_more]
Writing a Good Essay Hook
To write a good essay hook, you need to follow these steps:
- Understand the literary work
- Craft an outline
- Know your audience
- Know your writing intent
Let us discuss each in detail.
Understand the Literary Work
Have in mind a clear vision of the literary work for your essay. You will need to describe the techniques used in supporting the arguments of the given essay type.
Craft an Outline
Have an outline to organize your information and highlight the relevant points to your essay.
Know Your Audience
Choose how you intend to develop your work and know your target audience. Use simple language if you are targeting children. If it is for professionals, use appropriate language.
Know Your Writing Intent
Your choice of the hook should fit your essay. Know the purpose of the research paper you want to write. If you have an interesting essay topic choice, your hook should be funny.
Have a normal hook if you want to write a conference paper.
Why You Need a Good Essay Hook
- When done right, it heats your reader’s interest, and they end up reading the entire essay.
- The right hook will present your expertise in the field and show off your skills.
- Only the readers you intend to reach will read your content because it attracts the target audience.
- The reader dies to find out more because of your use of intriguing questions to keep the tension levels right.
- A good essay hook gives an excellent introduction to your essay.
Types of Hook Sentences
Different types of hooks exist for different kinds of papers, such as research papers and essays.
- Personal story
- Simile/Metaphor
- Description
- Statistical facts
- Literary quotes
- Common misconception
- Thesis statement
1. Question Hook
When you want to grab your audience’s attention, you can ask an intriguing question that they have an interest in answering.
Question hook examples include:
- What would our lives be if we had to go about our daily lives experiencing chronic joint pain?
- Are your day-to-day activities keeping you from achieving your lifelong dreams?
- How much sugar can one consume in a day?
- Did you know that studies show that women are more predisposed to clinical depression than men?
- Do jobs that require you to have a college education earn you more than those with skilled trades?
- Does online learning offer a better option for K-12 education?
- If commercially processed food was unavailable for long periods, would your family still have enough to eat?
- In this year’s elections, will we experience a record-breaking voter turnout?
- Is the use of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies important to YouTubers?
- Just how much television watching time is too much for school-going kids?
- What would be the difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful person?
- What is love?
- What would you define kindness to be?
- What do you live for?
- What motivates you to wake up and go to work every day?
Think about what the reader would be eager to learn or what they are interested in before posing the question.
Do not make the questions Yes or No or generalized. Tailor them to fit your reader’s needs. Making use of rhetoric is always an excellent way to grab the reader’s attention.
2. Anecdote
We live lives full of strange, interesting, or funny happenings. So, why not attract the attention of your reader using such stories?
An anecdote may be something you have imagined or a personal story. Ensure the story remains relevant to your essay topic.
Examples of an anecdote hook:
- Last night my cousin Harriet went clubbing with red lipstick all over her teeth. I didn’t feel anything about not telling her until everyone started laughing…
- You know, as a child, my cat was my best friend. My childhood was exciting because of her.
- That reminds me of a crazy night we had with my best friend before he got swept off his feet by his girlfriend Sandy.
- I was a vampire last Halloween – it was the real deal.
- Is that a pink rose? Wow! I adore them. My great grandfather had a vast rose garden, with over 300 species. Every Wednesday, he would go and clip many of them and make my great granny a bouquet. Does this kind of love exist anymore?
- Oh, I love Paris! I have visited France six times this year. Have you seen the Eiffel Tower? It’s the most iconic attraction in Paris.
- I once had a Chihuahua: She was adorable. Every morning, I would open the door, and she would run and pick up the newspaper for me.
- Successful college students write a story meant to give a brief account of their favourite Christmas holiday.
- A mother is telling her kids about a childhood holiday she loved.
- In a conversation about experiencing amusement parks, a child talks about their experience in Disney Land.
- At the start of an essay on fire safety, the writer gives a short cautionary story about a severe injury happening due to a failure in following protocol.
- During the Christmas morning breakfast, children and parents talk about the Christmas holidays they’ve enjoyed together.
Ideally, an anecdote makes the reader laugh and gives them more interest in reading your essay further.
3. Quotes
You can use quotes from famous people to explain the relevance of your essay topic . Ensure you elaborate the quote for the reader’s understanding.
4. Statistical Facts
A statistical hook works when you intend to provide your reader with information. These facts are, in most cases, used in informative or process essays.
Statistical facts are also quotes from famous people, only that, in this case, they present a percentage, number, or figure.
5. Personal Story
When writing a college application essay or a narrative essay , it is best to start it with a short personal story.
It could be something that happened to a relative or a friend. It doesn’t have to be something you have experienced firsthand.
6. Description Hook
When writing your essay, you will want to get the reader’s attention. A description hook describes a scene vividly to the readers to want to read more and more.
It is in most cases used in narrative essays but can be used with other types of essays .
7. Simile/Metaphor Hook
A simile/metaphor gives your readers a different way to look at an essay topic. A metaphor makes a comparison between two unrelated things.
An example would be:
“I have a five-year-old baby – my fashion business was founded in 2017.”
8. Literary Quotes
Literary quotes are best in a book review. Keep in mind that they may not be appropriate for use with persuasive and expository essays.
An example of a literary quote:
You can use literary quotes in a compare & contrast essay in the works of William Shakespeare: “Less than kind and a little more kin” (Hamlet, Act 2, and Scene 2)
9. Common Misconception
It shows your reader that what they believe in may not be accurate. Then, make a connection with your thesis statement. This will force the reader to study further because this hook example aims at creating a disturbance.
“Fortune cookies aren’t Chinese,” “The Buddha wasn’t fat.”
Use this type of hook to depict that sometimes things are not what they seem to be. They are most appropriate for reflection or explanation essays.
10. Scenes
In most cases, people can efficiently process and remember visual information. As human beings, we quickly transform words into pictures in minds. Scenes are, in most cases, used in descriptive or narrative essays.
“Imagine sitting by the fire sipping some wine with the love of your life by your side.”
11. Thesis Statement
A different way to begin your introduction without using the tricks is to go straight to the main statement. You don’t need to put a lot into just a couple of sentences.
Essay Hook Examples
Below are examples of essay hooks used in writing the different types of essays:
1. Argumentative Essay Hook Examples
In an argumentative essay , the opening paragraph should be similar to that of a trial. You are supposed to claim persuasively and logically. This comes after you have provided some background information, just like a lawyer begins by presenting an issue.
For example, when arguing that all public places should be turned into no-smoking zones because of the adverse smoking effects, use an excellent statistical hook as follows:
“According to the World Health Organization, tobacco consumption kills more than 5 million people yearly. This makes the death rate more than would be from Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB combined.”
You may also want to check argumentative essay topics
2. Persuasive Essay Hook Examples
A persuasive essay persuades the reader to take a specific action or agree with you by changing their beliefs.
The hook sentence in this essay will create curiosity in the reader by making a shocking revelation or stating statistics.
For instance, you can choose to write about the seriousness of the climate change issue and its threat to the world. Start your essay by giving facts concerning the atmosphere:
“On average each year, the human population emits approximately 39.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide. More than it has been in the past centuries, the carbon dioxide levels have significantly increased. You are highly mistaken if you think there’s no need to worry about climate change.”
3. Narrative Hook Examples
A narrative essay is more like a story. It gives you the freedom to tell your story just the way you want. This is unlike other types of essays where you need to argue and choose a side.
“I am not sure whether it is just something that became solid over time or it is a real memory. I can’t tell whether at one point my neighbour tried to murder me.”
You can also check comprehensive narrative essay topics !
4. Examples of Hooks in Speeches
You may also want to check speech attention grabbers
5. Examples of Hooks in Literature
How to Choose a Good Hook
You might be wondering what it takes to choose the right hook. There exists no single formula in choosing the best hook for your essay.
That said, you will need to keep the following in mind when choosing your hook:
- The type of essay
- Your audience
Knowing your audience and the type of essay you intend to write plays an essential role in selecting the hook.
So, it is crucial to identify the appropriate hook for your essay and audience.
Final Word – Get High-Quality Essay from Experts
We have provided you with the ultimate essay writing guide to create the best introduction to your essay. You may still find it to be challenging to grab the reader’s attention in your introductory line.
Thus, remember that we will provide you with the ultimate solution for all your essay writing problems.
Take advantage of our professional essay writing service if you find it challenging to develop a relevant hook; just click the green button below!
Similar Posts
Top 4 Examples of Informative Essays
In an informative essay, you are trying to inform the reader about a topic. This is done by objectively presenting facts and details. Do not try to persuade your audience with this type of essay as they are purely for information…
How to Write a Good Conclusion (With Examples)
Do you always wonder how you will best conclude your essay? To some students, this is by far the most challenging part of the essay. They find it even more difficult than choosing a great essay topic, stating a thesis, or even writing a good essay outline. But don’t worry, we will guide you…
Attention Getters for Speech that Actually Work
Attention getters are used in speeches to capture the attention of the audience and keep them engaged throughout. The best ones are often quick, memorable, and presented with enthusiasm. Attention getters can be anything from a startling statement or joke to something as simple as an action that gets people on their feet. The most important thing is that they work…
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay – With Examples
When you start writing your rhetorical analysis, you will need to begin with reading and then analyze the text assigned…
How to Write 1000-word Essays- With Examples
Essay writing is an exercise that every student has to undertake at some point in their school days. A regular academic paper is anywhere between 500 to 2500 words. A thousand words may seem like a small number for an essay. However, it requires extensive research on the subject matter and a coherent flow of…
Definition Essay: Guide and Examples
There are many types of essays. In fact, there is a whole book devoted to the subject matter on what differentiates 50 different kinds of essays from each other. However, this article will focus on one specific type-the definition essay. What is a Definition Essay? Definition Essay: A definition essay is an informative piece where…
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
- Essay Writers
- How It Works
- Prices & Discounts
How to Write a Hook for an Argumentative Essay
Table of contents
Whether it’s your first time working on an essay that defends your position on an issue or you’re doing your first round of revision because your instructor didn’t find your initial introduction compelling, you’ll find this post helpful.
It's not easy to come up with a good start for an argumentative essay. You'll find yourself writing and re-writing the introduction more times than you remember. When your hard work pays off, you'll probably be too tired to finish the rest of the essay.
We’ll show you how to write good hooks without trying too hard. So if you want to introduce your professor to a persuasive essay that’s irresistible to read, continue reading to learn more.
What is a Hook in Essay Writing
A hook in an argumentative essay is the assignment's introductory sentence. A hook appears in the very first sentence of the argument and is often one or two sentences long.
This paragraph may make or break an essay. Your teacher will not bother reading beyond the thesis statement if you insert arbitrary sequences of words in the introduction.
However, if you create a compelling hook, your teacher may naturally develop an interest in reading your argument in the subsequent paragraphs.
A hook isn’t an essay’s introduction. It’s a part of it. When writing the hook, put on your creative hat and write in a style that piques your audience's attention and compels them to read the rest of the essay.
How Should You Write a Hook for an Argumentative Essay
We’ve been writing persuasive essays for years, and, from our experience, there’s no one right way to write a hook for an argument. Here are good hook techniques for your argumentative essays.
1. Ask a Question
Questions are practical because they instantly capture a reader's attention and can pique their interest in a topic to the point where they feel compelled to continue reading. However, this is only possible provided the question is not too broad.
Let’s you’re writing about social media.
Questions like "Is social media bad?" sound somewhat ambiguous. Everyone is already aware of the specifics. So such a question will not do anything to grab the reader's interest.
Therefore, write extremely engaging questions that encourage critical thinking instead of creating questions that need Yes or No responses. In other words, consider rhetoric as your hidden weapon if you wish to begin a hook with a question.
Consider the following example question : “Should children have social media accounts before attending college?”.
In addition to being rhetorical, the question immediately captures the reader's attention, not to mention there’s room for an argument.
2. Use Statistics
Statistics are beneficial because they stimulate inquiry. If employed in persuasive writing, statistics may present readers with previously unknown facts and information. That might do much to pique their interest in reading your essay from beginning to end.
As you want your essay to be as credible as possible, you should conduct research and verify the stats before adding them to your essay. Don't forget to specify the source from which you got the statistics.
After all, even your instructor will require the source of the data you present in your argument as a reference.
3. Start with a Quote
We do not advocate beginning essays with quotations. However, if the citation is within the context of an argument, it might serve as an excellent hook for the paper. Again, you must ensure that the quotation is pertinent to the topic and consistent with your thesis statement.
Educators frequently discourage students from beginning argumentative essays with quotations for at least two reasons. First, quotations represent the ideas of another author, not your own. Second, citations tend to inhibit self-expression and innovation.
Despite this, you may utilize a quotation to attract your audience's attention if it is not too vague or overused. You will need to do more research to locate an uncommon but pertinent quotation.
4. Tell a Story
Some writers argue that stories only work best for narrative and descriptive essays. However, we’ve tested and found them to be just as compelling to start an argumentative essay .
Understand that you have little time to captivate the audience with a narrative, so ensure your story is concise, clear, and direct to the point. More importantly, the story you share should be 100% relevant to the essay’s primary theme.
Since arguments must be utterly devoid of personal feelings, don’t infuse the hook of your argument with such sentiments. In other words, unless instructed otherwise, avoid using first-person pronouns in the argumentative essay.
5. Use a Common Misconception
Given that a strong hook should capture the audience's attention, what could be a better method to compose it than to include a common misconception?
A common misconception is a belief held by many people, but it’s, in fact, false. When you develop a hook that incorporates a misunderstanding, you not only surprise your readers but also instantly grab their attention.
Final thoughts
A hook alone won’t get you an A+ for an argumentative essay , but it’s a great starting point. In any case, you want to make sure you can grab the reader's attention first before you can structure and write the rest of the essay.
So take any of the options we’ve shared in this guide and grab the attention of your target audience with your argument.
Useful links:
Writing an Introduction for an Argumentative Essay: 10 Do's and Don'ts How to Write a Strong Conclusion Paragraph in an Argumentative Essay What are Good Argumentative Essay Topics: 5 Tips to Make the Right Choice (+ 15 Topic Ideas) Rebuttal in Argumentative Essay: What It Is and How to Write One? How Significant Are Opposing Points of View in an Argument?
Last edit at Sep 25 2022
Stefani Holloway
Stefani is a professional writer and blogger at Writers Per Hour . She primarily contributes articles about careers, leadership, business, and writing. Her educational background in family science and journalism has given her a broad base from which to approach many topics. She especially enjoys preparing resumes for individuals who are changing careers.
What does your service do?
We write original and plagiarism-free papers from scratch. Please take a look at how it works.
Do you have free essay samples?
Yes, we have free essay samples, and you can check them out here.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on several factors you can check our prices and discounts.
How to order my essay?
To start your order, please go here and fill out the form online.
Share this article
Sign up and get 20% off on a custom paper
By entering your email above you agree to receive our periodical marketing emails. We do not sell or share your personal information.
Thanks for the subscription!
You’ve just made a terrific decision. Please make sure to check your inbox for the discount code.
- Paper Editing
- IB ToK Essay
- Pay to Write My Paper
- Write My Thesis
- Buy College Paper
- Analysis Papers
- Biology Papers
- Ph.D Papers
- IB Internal Assessment
- Personal Statement
- Write My Speech
- Research Proposal
- Write Me Assignment
- Write my Book Report
- Do My Powerpoint
- Buy Capstone Project
- Buy Coursework
- Do My Research Paper
- Write my Discussion Post
- Write My Annotated Bibliography
- Argumentative essay writer
- Dissertation Writer
- Pay to Do Term Paper
- Extended essay
- Fast essay writer
- Write My Literature Review
- Write My Essay
Top 100 Compelling Essay Hook Examples
Apr 21, 2022 | 0 comments
Apr 21, 2022 | Blog | 0 comments
The article will discuss essay hook examples and how they are used in essays.
Hook statements are used in essays to draw readers’ attention and engage them. A hook is a catchy statement or question that makes the reader think and sets up an expectation for the essay to follow. It creates an interest in the topic of your essay, making your main points more interesting.
The essay hook is not just great lead-ins, it is a critical part of the essay, and every essay needs one.
The main purpose of a good hook is to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read further. There are many ways to accomplish this goal, but one method often works is creating a surprising statement. The more surprising or intriguing the statement is, the better chance you have of getting your reader interested in learning more. A great hook will also set up a question for your readers that they want to be answered – so they will continue reading to find out what it is.
Different Types of Hooks
There are different hooks that you can use depending on what you’re writing. The more good essay hooks you use, the mor is that your reader will stay interested.
- Personal story
- Simile/Metaphor
- Description
- Statistical facts
- Literary quotes
- Common misconception
- Thesis statement
Here is a list of 100 essay hook examples. I have compiled this list below to include all the most common examples of each type of hook
1. Question Hook
A question hook is a sentence at the beginning of a paragraph that makes the reader want to keep reading in order to find the answer to the question. The question can be implied, or it can be stated directly.
The most common form of question hooks is rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions are simply asked and not answered; they are designed to encourage the reader to think about an issue and come up with his or her own answer. For example: “Why do we laugh at jokes?” “Is it immoral to eat meat?”
Another way to use a question hook is to combine it with an anecdote, as in this example: “When I was growing up my mother often told me that it was rude to stare, but now that I am older I have noticed that many situations call for staring…”
Sometimes, instead of phrasing a statement as a question, you can simply ask your audience if they agree.
Interesting question hook examples include:
- What is love?
- What do you live for?
- What would you define kindness to be?
- How much sugar can one consume in a day?
- What motivates you to wake up and go to work every day?
- Does online learning offer a better option for K-12 education?
- Just how much television watching time is too much for school-going kids?
- In this year’s elections, will we experience a record-breaking voter turnout?
- Are your day-to-day activities keeping you from achieving your lifelong dreams?
- Is the use of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies important to YouTubers?
- What would be the difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful person?
- What would our lives be if we had to go about our daily lives experiencing chronic joint pain?
- Did you know that studies show that women are more predisposed to clinical depression than men?
- Do jobs that require you to have a college education earn you more than those with skilled trades?
- If commercially processed food was unavailable for long periods, would your family still have enough to eat?
2. Anecdote Hook
One of the best ways to hook your readers is through a short anecdote or a short story. But if you are not an experienced writer, it is also one of the most difficult things to write. Even professional writers have a hard time writing an effective anecdote hook, especially if they are writing on a topic that is new to them or if they need to crank out content quickly.
The good news is that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to writing an anecdote hook. Just take a look at this list of anecdote hooks examples and pick one that will be appropriate for your essay topic.
- I was a vampire last Halloween – it was the real deal.
- A mother is telling her kids about a childhood holiday she loved.
- You know, as a child, my cat was my best friend. My childhood was exciting because of her.
- In a conversation about experiencing amusement parks, a child talks about their experience in Disney Land.
- Successful college students write a story meant to give a brief account of their favorite Christmas holiday.
- That reminds me of a crazy night we had with my best friend before he got swept off his feet by his girlfriend Sandy.
- During the Christmas morning breakfast, children and parents talk about the Christmas holidays they’ve enjoyed together.
- I once had a Chihuahua: She was adorable. Every morning, I would open the door, and she would run and pick the newspaper for me.
- Oh, I love Paris! I have visited France six times this year. Have you seen the Eiffel Tower? It’s the most iconic attraction in Paris.
- At the start of an essay on fire safety, the writer gives a short cautionary story about a severe injury happening due to failure in the following protocol.
- Last night my cousin Harriet went clubbing with red lipstick all over her teeth. I didn’t feel anything about not telling her until everyone started laughing…
- Is that a pink rose? Wow! I adore them. My great grandfather had a vast rose garden, over 300 species. Every Wednesday, he would go and clip many of them and make my great granny a bouquet. Does this kind of love exist anymore?
3. Quotes
You can begin your paper with an interesting quotation or phrase. The main thing is to make sure that the quote will have a positive impact on your work. Quotation hooks sometimes seem like clichés; however, they can be used effectively if the author says something new about the topic.
Examples of quotation hook:
- “All men by nature desire to know”, – Aristotle
- “They know enough who know how to learn”, – Henry Adams
- “Every artist was at first an amateur”, – Ralph W. Emerson
- “Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned”, ― Mark Twain
- “The learning process continues until the day you die”, – Kirk Douglas.
- “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”, said Benjamin Franklin
- “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”, – John Dewey.
- “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read” – Mark Twain.
- “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows”, – Sydney J. Harris
- “You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward”, – Conrad Hall
- Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela
- “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow”, – Anthony J. D’Angelo.
- “Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves”, – Ernest Dimnet
- “I agree that a love of reading is a great gift for a parent to pass on to his or her child.”– Ann Brashares
- “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” ― Walter Cronkite
- “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”, wrote Malcolm X.
- “The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss.
- “Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing worth knowing can be taught,” wrote Oscar Wilde.
- “Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self-esteem. That is why young children before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily”, – Thomas Szasz
4. Statistical Facts
Statistics are everywhere, but people often don’t realize it until they’re faced with a particular problem. This is why statistics hooks are so powerful. They provide relevance to your reader by describing a situation everyone is familiar with. It’s easy to relate to one of these situations since it’s something you’ve probably seen or had to happen in your own life.
A statistics hook will give you an opening paragraph that will grab the attention of your reader and make him or her want to read more of your essay.
Examples of statistics hook include:
1. “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.”
2. “Statistics show that on average Facebook users have 155 friends, but will only ask 4 of them for help in case of a crisis.”
3. “Reports have shown that almost two-thirds of adults in the United States of America have lived in a place with at least one gun, at some point of their life.”
4. “It is noted by Allison Komet from the Psychology Today magazine that people lie in every one out of five conversations that last for at least 10 minutes.”
5. Cigarettes are the primary cause of cancer.
6. Fifty percent of marriages end up in divorce. (If the fact is undisputed and widely known and accepted, you do not have to cite a source.)
7. “Seventy-two percent of Canadians have been directly related to a person, or persons, killed during WWII” (Source to follow here).
8. Around 25% of dreams blind people have are nightmares compared to only 6% of nightmares others have.
9. According to the National Soft Drink Association, the annual consumption of soda by U.S. citizens is 600 cans.
10. Even though we live in the 21st century, there still are around 3 billion people living in poverty.
11. “The average iceberg weighs over 100,000 metric tons.”
Essay Hook Examples
The following are examples of essay hooks used in writing the different types of essays .
1. Argumentative Essay Hook Examples
An argumentative essay should have a similar opening paragraph to a trial. You’re trying to persuade and logically convince your reader as you present some background information, just like a lawyer presents the issue in a trial.
For example, when arguing against smoking in public places, use an excellent statistical hook like this:
“According to the World Health Organization, tobacco consumption kills more than 5 million people yearly. This makes the death rate more than would be from Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB combined.”
2. Persuasive Essay Hook Examples
Persuasive essays are types of essays that describe a particular subject and provide a strong, logical argument for your position on that subject. Persuasive essay hooks are used to grab the reader’s attention right away. Here are some examples:
1. “I’m the youngest person ever to do this.”
3. “Some people love me, but most people hate me.”
4. “Here is a new way of looking at this problem.”
5. “You’re not going to believe this, but…”
6. “If you do something everyone else thinks is crazy, you will achieve success.”
7. “Everyone says this is impossible, but I will prove them wrong.”
8. “Things were bad for me until I learned about … .”
9. “The experts say this will never work, but I want to show them that they’re wrong.”
10. “This might sound crazy, but what if…”
11. “Everyone knows this is true, even though it isn’t true at all!”*
3. Narrative Essay Hook Examples
Narrative hooks are the tools writers use to capture their readers’ attention. If you’re looking to start writing your story, try using the following essay hooks:
- The man with the knife had a knife in his hand; it was shiny, and it shone like silver in the morning sun as he raised his arm to strike again…
- When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a good day, but then I got out of bed and put on my shoes… and then I knew it would be…
- A mosquito buzzed around my head; it landed on my arm, then flew off again…
Final Word – Get High-Quality Essay from Experts
The essay writing service that we are offering is the best one on the web. We have a standby essay writer who is capable of doing your college essays excellently. Having worked with us, you will never be able to doubt our abilities again.
We have highly qualified writers who can write a perfect hook or provide excellent hook examples for your essay. You can check it out from their samples. They know how to do the paper properly and make it truly worth your attention, not to mention that our writers are professionals in terms of academic writing so you will get a grade-worthy paper from them.
I’m a brand manager. That means I take knowledge from various fields – marketing, computer science, linguistics – and I synthesize it into solutions for my customers. I use my knowledge, skills, and experience to develop helpful solutions for students and make their study paths more productive and fun.
People also read
- Top 100 Diversity Essay Topics
- Top 100 LGBT Essay Topics
- Top 100 Environmental Issues Essay
- Top 100 Beloved Essay Topics
- Top 100 Legal Essay Topics
Most Popular Articles
Racism thesis statement example, how to rephrase a thesis statement, capstone project topic suggestions, how to write an abortion essay, should students wear school uniforms essay, list causal essay topics write, respect essay, signal words, great synonyms, informative speech examples, essay writing guide, introduction paragraph for an essay, argumentative essay writing, essay outline templates, write an autobiographical essay, personal narrative essay ideas, descriptive essay writing, how to write a reflective-essay, how to write a lab report abstract, how to write a grant proposal, point of view in an essay, debate topics for youth at church, theatre research paper topics, privacy overview.
List of Interesting Essay Hook Examples
Table of Contents
Essays are usually written to educate, persuade and entertain the audience. But in essay writing, the real challenge lies in attracting the target readers inside the essay and making them read the entire content. Currently, are you looking for effective ways to invite the readers to learn about your essay topic? If yes, then formulating an engaging introduction is the only way. The essay introduction is the opening paragraph of an essay where your readers decide whether to continue reading or not. In order to impress the audience, beginning the essay introduction with a hook sentence is the best way. The essay hook is the starting sentence in the essay introduction that gives life to your work.
Here, in detail, let us learn about essay hooks and their types. Also, for your better understanding, we have explained how to write a catchy essay hook and have suggested some interesting essay hook examples.
Keep on reading this blog post to know more about essay hook.
What is an Essay Hook?
An essay hook is a strong opening sentence of an essay introduction that is aimed to grab the attention of the readers. You can use the hook in almost all kinds of essay types without any limitations. But remember, the hook is not an introduction or replacement for an introduction. It is a standalone sentence that is typically written to enhance the introduction section and eliminate boredom.
Never confuse hooks with an introduction. The hook is just a part of an essay introduction that is written along with the background information of the topic and a thesis statement. Mostly, it appears in the very first sentence of the essay introduction. After you have opened the introductory paragraph with an essay hook, you can include the topic information and thesis statement.
In general, there is no fixed length for a hook. You can also write essay hooks in the form of a short paragraph or even as a sentence. But usually, the average length of an essay hook varies within a range of 3 to 7 sentences depending upon the essay topic,
Whenever you write an essay hook, craft it in a way that is interesting, intriguing, or impressive to the readers. Mainly, it should ignite the curiosity within the readers and naturally drive them to read the entire content.
Remember, the essay hook is the only effective tool that has the power to make your essay introduction stand out in the crowd and engage with the readers. Especially for writing a catchy introduction, there are several types of essay hooks available. So, based on your essay types, use any appropriate essay hooks.
Your hook is said to be good only if it makes your readers curious.
The Purpose of an Essay Hook
The hook is basically included as the opening sentence of the essay introduction for the following reasons.
- To develop the reader’s interest.
- To grab the reader’s attention and hook them to your essay.
- To give a catchy and interesting start to an essay.
- To inform the readers about the essay topic in an attractive and creative way.
- To keep the curiosity and tension of the readers at the top level.
- To show off to your readers that you are an expert in that particular field.
Types of Essay Hook
As said earlier, the essay hooks are of different types. Here, let us learn about some common types of essay hooks that can be used for writing academic essays and research papers with examples.
Question Hook
Anecdotal hook, quotation hook, fact/ statistical hook, description hook, metaphor/simile hook, statement hook, common misconception.
It is a hook type in which as a writer you can draw your reader’s attention towards your essay by asking a rhetorical question to them. The question hook is useful because to find answers to your topic question, the readers will have to read the entire essay.
Usually, when you throw a thought-provoking question at the beginning of an essay, then almost everyone will take an attempt to look for answers in your essay. So, in this way, you can engage your readers and make them read your whole work.
But before preparing your question hook, search and find your reader’s interest and the topic they would love to learn about. If you use a question hook matching your reader’s interest, then you can easily grab your reader’s attention.
For a question hook, using a rhetorical question is the best way to engage the readers. Never use generalized questions or simple ‘yes or no’ questions because it won’t make your readers think about it.
Question Hook Examples
- What would have happened if Romeo and Julie didn’t commit suicide?
- What is the purpose of your life?
- How much sugar a person can consume in a day?
- What if I told you the Earth has an unlimited amount of energy resources?
- Are the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies necessary for YouTubers?
- Why do toddlers cause so much grief for parents?
- What would you do if you play the role of God?
- What is the difference between success and failure?
- Do you know how much plastic waste you produce every year?
- Is a college education necessary to become an entrepreneur?
- What would you do if you discover a secret?
- Do you know how many people take aspirin daily?
- What is more valuable than gold?
An anecdote is a short story or a product of your imagination. When writing an essay introduction, you can use an anecdote that is relevant to your essay topic as a hook to attract your target readers.
Basically, an anecdote is a funny statement. So, using the anecdotal hook in your essay would make your readers laugh and will also tempt them to read further. For writing an anecdotal hook, you can use your personal story or rely on any imaginative stories.
The anecdotal hook is predominantly used when writing descriptive essays or narrative essays.
Anecdotal Hook Examples
- You know, my dog was my best friend during my childhood days. He made my life more exciting at that time.
- A mother is telling her kids about the life she loved to live.
- I stopped fighting my inner demons because we are on the same side.
- That reminds me of a crazy night I had with my best friend.
- Last night my sister went to a party with pink lipstick splattered across her teeth. I didn’t regret not telling her until people started staring.
- I like talking to myself. At times, I have seemingly clever and long conversations. Hardly, I have a clue what I’m discussing.
A quotation hook is a type of essay hook in which as a writer you can use a quote from a famous person to attract your reader’s attention. It is one of the most popular essay hooks that are widely used in many kinds of academic essays.
If you are in plan to use a quotation hook in your essay introduction, then make sure to refer to credible sources and pick a powerful quote that is relevant to your essay topic. In case, you have used a quotation hook in your work, then for a better understanding of your readers, give an explanation to the quote later in your essay.
Also, at the time you use quotation hook in your essay introduction, remember to quote the exact words. Paraphrased quotes will not be treated as a quotation hook.
Quotation Hook Examples
- “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”, said Nelson Mandela.
- “A little more than kin and less than kind” (Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2) – William Shakespeare.
- “Some people want it to happen; some wish it would happen; others make it happen,” said Michael Jordan.
- “Any achievement in business is never accomplished by a single person; a team of skilled members from diversified fields is always needed.” -Steve Jobs
- Writer Dave Gentry once said, “True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable”.
- “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”, said Benjamin Franklin.
- Baltasar Gracian said, “Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit.”
- “The learning process continues until the day you die said”, Kirk Douglas.
- Hilary Clinton once said that “there cannot be true democracy unless women’s voices are heard.”
- “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” These wise words from John Kennedy proved…
- Steve Jobs explains the business in the finest words, “Great things in business are never done by one person. A team of people does them.”
For an essay introduction, you can use facts and statistics as a hook. In general, facts and statistics will provide actual and accurate information about an essay topic. Therefore, using them as an essay hook would be helpful for you to motivate your readers and make them read your essay.
Note that, if you use facts or statistical hook in your essay, then definitely your target audience will be impressed by your knowledge and the information that you have provided them. So, make sure to use this type of hook in process or informative essays and research papers. Also, try to add the statistical hook in the academic essays where factual information is required.
The statistical data you present as a hook can be in the form of numbers, figures, or percentages. But when you use any statistics or facts as a hook, remember to mention the source. Avoid frequently discussed statistics that your readers are aware of. Give preference to new and unknown interesting facts relevant to the essay topic.
Fact/ Statistical Hook Examples
- The Pew Research Center reports have shown that almost two-thirds of adults in the United States of America have lived in a place with at least one gun, at some point in their life.
- It is noted by Allison Komet from Psychology Today magazine that people lie in every one out of five conversations that last for at least 10 minutes.
- The longest war in the world was between the Netherlands and Sicily and waged from 1651 to 1986.
- According to the National Soft Drink Association, the annual consumption of soda by U.S. citizens is 600 cans.
- Statistics show that on average Facebook users have 155 friends, but will only ask 4 of them for help in case of a crisis.
- If the temperature continues to rise, Singapore and New York may be underwater by 2050.
- Around 25% of dreams blind people have are nightmares compared to only 6% of nightmares others have.
It is a type of essay hook in which an incident, a short story, or a personal story relevant to the essay topic can be presented. Typically, many readers love listening to exciting stories. So, beginning an essay with a story hook is one of the best tricks to hold the reader’s attention and make them read the whole essay.
Whenever you write a story hook, make sure to keep your target audience in mind because some readers will not like stories related to the essay topic.
You can use story hooks when writing a college application essay or a narrative essay. Remember, it is not necessary to share your own experience as a story hook. You can use the real stories of your relative or a friend too.
On the whole, the story hook you write should be simple, short, and interesting. Therefore, avoid elaborating the story. Also, never use this type of hook in a formal or argumentative piece of writing.
Story Hook Examples
- Daisy was 8 when she lost her father. Watching him die changed the meaning of life for her forever.
- My father was working in a coal mine; I basically grew up on a tent near the mine. As a young girl, I saw things beyond anyone’s imagination. On November 20, 2003…
It is an essay hook type in which a vivid description of an event, a scene, or a character is presented to pull the reader’s attention towards an essay.
Basically, when you give a satisfactory explanation related to the topic, the readers will quickly get impressed and they will develop their interest to read the entire essay. So, based on your essay topic and essay type, you can use a catchy description hook in the introductory paragraph of any essay type. But mostly, the description hooks are used in the narrative essays.
Description Hook Examples
- Yesterday evening I watched my brother leave the house with a mark of soap bubble gleaming on his left chin. I enjoyed seeing him like that until he stepped out of the house.
- The dog howled in pain and limped along the side of the road. His leg was cut, and blood streamed down his leg.
If you want to showcase an essay topic to your readers in a different way, then you can very well use a metaphor or simile hook in your essay introduction. This hook type is appropriate for informal writing and can also be used in formal writings too.
Note that, using a metaphor or simile hook is one of the best ways to keep hold of your reader’s attention. Because, when you use a simile or metaphor hook in your essay introduction, the majority of your readers will start exploring the meaning and content of your hook and in turn will stay connected with the essay.
Metaphor/Simile Hook Examples
- A business blog is a magnet pulling clients to a company.
- Writing a research paper is like running a marathon blindfolded.
- Digital marketing has made life as easy as butter.
For opening an essay, you can create a hook in the form of a simple and strong statement. Usually, a powerful statement hook may shock the readers at first. But they will keep on reading your work to know how you have planned to back up your claims.
It is one of the best hook types that are extensively used in serious and formal writings. Even if your readers agree or disagree with your statement hook, out of curiosity they will read further to understand your point of view.
Statement Hook Examples
- In-person college classes are more effective than online college classes.
- The effects of global warming are irreversible unless we act now.
- The constitution is not a contextual document but a living document that needs to reflect contemporary America.
- Humans need to invest more time and money into space exploration because Earth is on a certain path to destruction.
- Some imaginary friends can cultivate independence in a child.
- Android app development will die out in the next twenty years.
In general, people are more visually-oriented. So, depending upon your essay type, you can draw a scene as a hook to help your readers visualize a clear picture in their minds. The scenes are widely used in descriptive as well as narrative essays.
Scenes Examples
- “Imagine sitting by the fire sipping some wine with the love of your life by your side.”
- “Think yourself as an angel with wings”.
You can start your essay introduction with a statement about a popularly accepted truth that is false. Using the misconceptions as a hook will intrigue your audience and motivate them to read your essay further.
Common Misconception Examples
- Fortune cookies aren’t Chinese.
- Most coffee addicts would tell you their favorite drink comes from a bean, but they are wrong. Coffee is made from a seed called a bean.
- The Buddha wasn’t fat.
- Most Americans mistakenly believe that all rice is essentially the same.
How to Write an Essay Hook?
Writing an essay hook is a tedious process that is extremely challenging. Similar to essay topic selection, you need to invest more time and effort to identify a good essay topic. Most importantly, the essay hook you prepare should captivate your readers, and match your essay topic or idea.
Remember, when it comes to selecting an essay hook, you need to concentrate on more factors like essay type, target audience, etc. In general, there are many essay hook types available. So, based on your essay, research paper, or any other academic paper writing requirements, you can select and use any essay hook or attention grabbers in your introduction section.
Currently, do you want to write a thought-provoking hook for your academic essay introduction? If yes, then make sure to keep the following tips in mind.
Find the kind of literary work
First, have a clear idea about the literary work you have decided on for your paper. Mainly, here, you should describe what your essay type demands and what type of techniques you need to prove the main arguments in your essay. Finally, you should pick an essay hook depending on that.
Prepare an outline
To get an idea about how to organize the information in a better way and which points need to be highlighted, create an outline. Then, based on the prepared outline relevant to the topic, find an essay hook that has the power to grab the attention of the readers.
Identify to whom you are writing
Search and find the target audience for your essay. Once you have found out the target audience group, try to write a great essay hook matching the interest of your target audience. Remember, the essay hook statement you prepare should be according to your target audience and the essay topic. If your target audience is children, then use simple language. But when writing for professionals, take the specific language into consideration.
Know the reason for writing your essay
The hook statement you create should be relevant to the purpose of your essay. So, get to know the real reason behind writing that essay and then select a hook that fits your academic paper. You can use funny hooks for informal writing. But for a research paper or conference paper, your hook statement should be more formal.
Essay Hook Examples for Different Essay Types
Basically, academic essays are classified into different types. In particular, when writing the essay introduction, you can’t use one particular type of essay hook for all the essay types. Based on your essay type, purpose, and writing requirements, you need to choose an appropriate essay hook.
Say, for example, if your essay is scientific, then you can very well use an unknown fact as a hook to spike your reader’s interest. On the other hand, it is not a good idea to start an essay introduction with a story in professional essay types.
So, it is significant to take the essay type into account, while you are writing an essay hook.
For your better understanding, here we have explained how to use essay hooks for different types of essays with examples.
Argumentative Essay Hook
In an argumentative essay, the introductory paragraph should be similar to a trial. So, when writing the argumentative essay introduction, the hook statement should be logical. For instance, suitable to your essay topic, you can use any statement, or fact as an essay hook in the essay types that are argumentative.
Argumentative Essay Hook Examples
- “According to the World Health Organization, tobacco consumption kills more than 5 million people yearly. This makes the death rate more than would be from Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB combined.”
- There are thousands of dams around the world. Dams are used for water supply, irrigation, flood defenses, and hydroelectric power. Despite these good elements, however, there are some bad elements related to dams.
Narrative Essay Hook
A narrative essay is more like a story. When it comes to writing a narrative essay, you have the freedom to narrate the story on your own. But it is not the case with other essay types where you have to argue and prove your point with valid evidence.
As a narrative essay is completely creative and less formal, while writing a narrative essay introduction you can very well use a story hook, anecdotal hook, scenes, or description hook based on your essay topic.
Narrative Essay Hook Examples
- “I am not sure whether it is just something that became solid over time or it is a real memory. I can’t tell whether at one point my neighbor tried to murder me.”
- 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.
Persuasive Essay Hook
The ultimate aim of a persuasive essay is to persuade the readers or convince them to accept your arguments of an essay topic. So, when writing a persuasive essay, in order to hold the reader’s attention, you should use a shocking revelation or statistics as a hook statement.
Persuasive Essay Hook Examples
- “On average each year, the human population emits approximately 39.2 billion tons in carbon dioxide. More than it has been in the past centuries, the carbon dioxide levels have significantly increased. You are highly mistaken if you think there’s no need to worry about climate change.”
- “You probably have no idea how bad it is to use disposable water bottles. Plastic bottles are dangerous to use and there is a solid justification of why it is better to avoid using disposable water bottles.”
Final Words
We hope you are now clear on how to write a catchy essay hook. If you have any doubts, then have a look at the essay hook examples suggested above, it would give you an idea of how to use the attention grabbers in your essay introduction.
In case, you need help writing an essay hook, then reach out to us. We have professional essay writers to prepare a hook statement for almost all kinds of essays, research papers, and academic papers.
Just send your requirements to us through the order form. We will work as per your requirements and will send you the necessary documents on time at an affordable price.
Are looking for online essay help ? Do you need assistance to write a top-notch hook statement for your academic paper introduction? Call us now! We will provide a quick fix for all kinds of academic paper writing issues you experience.
Related Post
How to Write a Coursework?
10 Essential Poetry Writing Tips For Beginners
150 Captivating Child Development Research Topics To Consider
About author.
Jacob Smith
I am an Academic Writer and have affection to share my knowledge through posts’. I do not feel tiredness while research and analyzing the things. Sometime, I write down hundred of research topics as per the students requirements. I want to share solution oriented content to the students.
Comments are closed.
- Featured Posts
140 Impressive Funny Speech Topics and Ideas To Consider
225 captivating world history topics to consider for writing academic papers, 160 excellent ap research topics that will boost your scores, top 120 geology research topics and ideas to consider, 170 top trending group discussion topics and ideas, literary techniques | improve your writing skills to gain good grades, what is criminology | is it the right career choice for aspirants, bachelor of arts in australia | find the best career opportunities, english techniques | the most helpful techniques to learn in australia, poetic devices | know the secrets of poems with poetic examples, get help instantly.
Raise Your Grades with Assignment Help Pro
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
How to Write a Good Hook for Your Essay
Last updated: July 2019
“You have to make choices even when there is nothing to choose from.” ― Péter Zilahy
And you have to find a perfect hook for your essay even when you don’t know what to write.
Strategies for writing an essay hook:
- Use literary quotes.
- Write a quote from a famous person.
- Surprise with a misconception.
- Write an anecdote.
- Tell a personal story.
- Use statistical data.
- Ask a question.
- Share a fact or a definition.
- “Draw” a scene.
- Start with a thesis statement.
The #1 prejudice most students have on essay writing: it’s time-consuming, difficult, and bo-o-oring .
When teachers ask you to write an essay, they don’t want to ban your creativity. An essay shouldn’t be boring or too formal but make readers want to check its every word. And your task is grabbing and keeping their attention throughout your writing.
An essay hook is that particular instrument you need to meet this challenge.
image: Gratisography
What is an Essay Hook?
“An essay hook is 1-2 opening sentences of your paper. They serve to capture readers’ attention and help them decide if they want to continue reading your text.
We call it a “hook” because it reminds a shiny lure that fishermen use to catch a fish. And, depending on the fish they want to catch, they will use different hooks.
Do not confuse hooks with introductions ! An essay hook opens your introduction rather than substitutes it. Once you’ve hooked readers, be sure to introduce your essay topic and thesis.
- A hook. Write a strong opening sentence capturing readers’ attention.
- A topic. Tell readers about the focus of your essay.
- A thesis. State your opinion on the topic.
Essays and college papers are not alone in hooks. Fiction writers, copywriters, bloggers, screenwriters, and other men of letters use this instrument to gain our interest and influence our decisions. Did you hear about David Ogilvy and his timeless lessons to writing and standing out? He’s a true genius of hooks and persuasion!
Essay hooks can be difficult to generate, especially if you are still in the process of thesis clarification . The first step toward writing an eye-catching opening for your essay would be answers to these questions:
- What is the type of your essay?
- What writing style and tone do you need to use?
- Who is your intended audience?
- What text structure do you need to establish?
A PRO TIP: Write a hook and introduction after you’ve finished the whole essay. It will help to clarify a thesis and understand what type of hooks would fit your work better.
To get a better idea of what a terrific introduction looks like, watch the video tutorial from James , who defines essay hooks as grabbers.
Essay Hooks Ideas
So, what types of opening lines can you use as a good hook for an essay?
1) Literary Quotes
This type of hooks works for essays about writers , literature phenomena , books , and essay makers . Start your essay with a quote from books you review , and it will establish your authority as a writer .
2) Quotes From Famous People
To support your argument and create a lip-smacking hook for your essay, start it with a quote from famous people. But make sure it’s relevant to your topic and thesis.
That’s all well and fine but…
Some teachers consider this type of essay hooks too general and overused. They discourage college papers started or finished with words of influencers, not students themselves. So, if you decide to use such a hook, find a rare yet relevant quote. Don’t copy-paste the first available saying from top quotations websites.
3) Common Misconception
You may start your introduction with a statement about a commonly accepted truth being false. That will intrigue your audience and encourage them to keep on reading.
- “Most Americans mistakenly believe that all rice is essentially the same.”
- “Most coffee addicts would tell you their favorite drink comes from a bean, but they are wrong. Coffee is made from a seed called a bean.”
4) Anecdotes
“An anecdote is a little story designed to illustrate a point you are trying to make.
This hook is appropriate to use if you write narrative or descriptive essays. Don’t be afraid of writing funny openings, as it doesn’t mean your essay has to be humorous too. A little humor helps to grab readers’ attention and spark their interest in the topic.
Your anecdote should be short and to the point. Make sure it relates to the main idea of your essay.
Remember that most essay assignments don’t allow to write from the first person. Be sure to check the requirements before using “I” in your writing.
5) Personal Stories
This hook is perfect for personal narratives or college application essays, though you would hardly use it for argumentative or too formal persuasive papers. Ask your professor if you can use personal pronouns in your writing, and hook readers with a personal story which not necessarily should be yours.
You can tell the story of your friend, relative, or president. Why not, after all?
But please, don’t start your essay with a hook like “I was thinking about what to write for this essay and came up with this.”
Teachers hate it! Sure, this hook is better than no hook at all, but it will never distinguish your work from the crowd.
6) Statistics
Use statistical data to hook readers with new facts they might not have been known. Be sure to include the source.
- “People lie in 1 out of 5 conversations lasting more than 10 minutes, according to Allison Komet from the Psychology Today magazine.”
- “70% of all jobs found today were got through different networking strategies.”
- “Fifty percent of marriages end up in divorce.”
- “The average iceberg weighs over 100,000 metric tons.”
Do research to find data on your topic. Refer to sources your teacher would consider reliable.
7) Questions
This type of hooks can help you create a reader’s personal interest in your essay and wish to continue reading it. But don’t make your question too general.
Let’s say you write an essay about smartphones. Asking a question a la “Do you have a smartphone?” will hardly grab readers’ attention because it doesn’t engage them in critical thinking.
So, try to avoid questions expecting simple Yes or No answers.
Rhetorical questions could be a good idea for essay hooks.
As well as quotes from famous people, they are easy to create and, therefore, overused too. You’ll need to wind up your brain to impress a reader and make that question catchy.
8) Fact/Definition
This hook can surprise a reader with something they might not have known. Interesting facts about what you are going to discuss in your essay will intrigue your audience and make them want to learn more.
- “Spain, though hardly a literary juggernaut, translates more books in one year than the entire Arab world has in the past one thousand years.”
- “Amiable is the best way to describe Elizabeth’s personality: she was friendly and caring.”
Be careful with definitions! Your professor will hardly like your essay opening if you copy it from a dictionary. So, if you decide to start an essay with a definition related to your topic, avoid something like this:
- “Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘truth’ as ‘the state of being the case; factual; the body of real things, events, and facts’.”
A bold pronouncement, outrageous statement, or exaggeration will help you hook readers, too.
- “If you say you’ve never told a lie, then you’re lying.”
- “Cigarettes are the primary cause of cancer.”
- “If the government cuts any more money from education, the entire country will crumble.”
People are visually-oriented. Depending on the type and length of your essay, “draw” a scene in your hook to help readers “see” a clear picture in mind.
Decide on a scene that would appeal to senses and set the mood for your essay.
10) Thesis Statement
There is no harm in getting right to the point. Start with your argument and support your point of view throughout the essay. If you have an interesting take on a subject, readers will want to see where you came up with your idea.
- “It is time to reveal the truth about Thanksgiving, and the truth is that Thanksgiving is not such a terrific holiday…”
- “Humans need to invest more time and money into space exploration because Earth is on a certain path to destruction.”
So many hooks, so many essays. The logical question appears: how do you know what type of openings in the introduction would fit your paper best?
Well, you might ask our writers to help you or continue reading this post to get more tips on writing hooks for your essay.
How to Choose a Good Hook for Your Essay
With so many types of essay hooks, you wonder how to choose the right one for your particular paper. The problem is, there’s no single formula here. To know what hook to consider, keep in mind the following:
- Your audience
- Your essay type
Depending on who reads your essay, one and the same message will speak in different ways to them.
It’s clear that a hook you use to attract a college girl would hardly help you spark the interest of a college admission counselor. So, the first question to answer before going on the writing road is:
- Who is my audience? Whom do I want to target with my essay?
Then, try to figure out what matters to your readers and what they expect to get from the essay .
- Do they read it to solve a problem?
- Do they want to learn interesting facts about you?
- Do they need distinctive information on the topic?
- Do they want to see that you understand a subject?
Once you’ve nailed it down, you’ll know what types of hooks will work for this particular writing.
Source: Giphy
The type of hooks that would fit your paper best depends on the essay type, either.
For example, anecdotes don’t work for writing a critical précis , but they would catch readers of dialectic essays. Quotes and questions are perfect hooks for novel critiques or persuasive essays , while facts or statistics fit argumentative essays best.
Don’t start your essay with a great hook simply because it’s great. It should be relevant to your topic, thesis, and purpose of your paper.
Questions to answer before choosing an essay hook:
- How do I want my readers to feel?
- What do I want my readers to learn?
Depending on feelings you want to evoke, an essay hook may be some shocking statistics, a romantic personal story, a funny anecdote, a motivational quote, etc.
Depending on the purpose of your writing, make an essay hook reflect it. Common misconceptions or outrageous statements may encourage readers to learn something new, while catchy questions would engage in critical thinking or motivate.
Essays are many. Narrative, persuasive, argumentative, or descriptive – they all need hooks, aka grabbers to attract readers to your writing. These grabbers are many, either. To choose the best one for your paper, consider a type of your essay, its audience, and their needs.
And remember:
No matter how strong they are, hooks alone can’t guarantee A+ grades for your writing assignments. State a thesis, organize research on the topic, and outline your essay before choosing a grabber for it. Opening lines lead the way of your papers and make them worth reading.
Our Writing Guides
69 thoughts on “ how to write a good hook for your essay ”.
This article has helped me a lot understanding how to write an attractive HOOK ! Thanks a lot for this good methods 🙂
This helped a lot! I was sitting trying to think of a hook for 2 hours until I found this.
Yeah, me too I WAS! stuck on thinking for a hook until I found this website! Thanks for this website its is now going to be easy for me to write this down. The book Im going to make a hook on is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 🙂
I could’t see what it was then i saw and it was awsome
ya this helped me too. im just burned out since i basically write a essay every week since school started over online.
A good hook doesn’t use you. You need to stay in 3rd person instead of trying to tell a reader what to do and yes or no questions are to easy for readers. They can easy shy away from your essay. Just a few up to date tips 😉
Now that depends on the type of essay you write. I’m currently writing one and “you” and “I” are big factors and elements in this. To hook a reader, personally, I think that facts won’t do the trick. You need to show them what you think and thats what the supporting paragraphs are for.
Don’t say i think, i believe, or anything that basically begins with i. saying that makes you sound not decided on your topic.
I think your website is ok but you didn’t really explain how to create a good hook step by step.
You are wrong
It is perfect.
helped a lot espaicially for descibtive essays as the example of facts or deffiniton
I don’t start my essays with a question because some teachers think it is a childish way of beginning an essay, but definitions often make a great hook. Just make sure to cite where you got the definition.
This was extremely helpful, not only for my current essay but also for future references
Thanks this helps me a lot for my English final!
This was actually really helpful for my essay at school.
So I found this as good information but I am going in to Honors 9 English this following year and I have certain requirements for this essay. I am not allowed to use a question or quote for my introduction. I think that maybe you could go more in depth with the steps. I think that these were some really good ideas and techniques. Thank you for the information.
IT IS VERY USEFUL TO ALL THE STUDENTS who are going to sit for sp or tp3 exams ..Tq …
Part of the question hook was wrong. You can not ask the reader a question directly, for they can not answer it. This weakens an otherwise strong hook. For example, if you state “have you ever wondered, whether Anna Karenina still loved Alexei if she hadn’t decided to commit a suicide” you should say “would Anna Karenina still love Alexei if she hadn’t decided to commit a suicide” instead.
?s like that are rhetorical
I disagree with the Grammar Soldier that one cannot ask the reader a direct question in a hook. A rhetorical question is one way to get the reader’s attention if it is posed well. It works because it draws the reader into becoming an interactive participant. Rhetorical questions are recognized as being useful, especially in the art of persuasive speaking and writing.
My teacher told me to write a hook with an anecdote but I have no idea on what to write. The topic is What makes an individual powerful?
Well summarised article on hooks, but cheated by using a drawing as a hook. Just felt the need to put it out there. No offence intended
This is a fantastic article! Even though I do not agree with some of the ways to start an essay, this made me think of some great hooks!
You didn’t really explain how to write a hook step by step, you only gave examples. But it’s still helped me a lot, so it’s ok.
This has been a great help! I was stuck on what were writing hooks because our teachers never really mentioned it yet until now! I could have made better essays if i had known earlier. 😉
this really helped to write a good hook for my essay thank you for the examples
This Helped A Lot, Thanks!
it would be super helpful if you made a post similar to this for CONCLUSIONS! I’m always stuck on conclusion hooks since in our essays we aren’t allowed to use 1st person
This will help a lot for my scholarship application.!!!!!!!!!
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
Ɗo you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as ⅼong as I provide credit and sоurces back to your webpɑge? My blog site is in the exact same niche as yours and my νisitors would truly benefit from a lot of the information you proᴠide here. Please let me know іf this alright with you.
Appreciate it!
I have also stuck in this kind of situation but thanks to your service it became much easier!
Thank you so much! It really helped for my essay!
Thank you so much!!! I sat on my couch for 3 days trying to think of a hook.
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!! I was so stuck thanks to this website… I had best essay in class, and I don’t know what I would of done without this website.
It was helpful…thanks for what you wrote.
This helped a lot I was thinking of a hook for 2 hours
I have to write about two pages for creative writing. Do you have any ideas that I could use, or a topic for by paper? Thank you!.
It’s really important to grab attention of the reader and it can be achieved only first few sentences. If first sentences didn’t interest the reader, he won’t read the essay till the end.
What if I’m writing about medicine, IT or engineering paper? Will these essay tricks also apply?
This really answered my problem, thank you!
Hello, I read your blog on a regular basis. Your story-telling style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
First of all I would like to say terrific blog!I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing.
I have had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts ouut there. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints? Many thanks!
Thanks for publishing this awesome article. I’m a long time reader but I’ve never been compelled to leave a comment. I subscribed to your blog and shared this on my Facebook. Thanks again for a great article!
This helped a lot, I spent a very long time thinking on how to start my essay before I saw this! Like some others, my teachers do not approve of using a question to start writing pieces because it seems too childish. Other than that, I think this article was great!
I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Kudos!
When someone writes an article he/she maintains the thought of a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it. Thus that’s why this piece of writing is amazing. Thanks!
thanks for sharing this information..have shared this link with others keep posting!
Does a hook have to be one or two sentences or can it be like three or four.
I’d recommend keeping it short. Three or four sentences – it’s a kinda half of your essay introduction already 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing a great information. I appreciate your time and effort in your work. Keep posting.
I just like the helpful information you provide for your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check once more here frequently. I’m somewhat certain I will be informed many new stuff proper here! Good luck for the following!
Hey! I’m at work browsing your blog!Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!
Is it right for a writer to use second person in a hook?
I was told by my high school teacher that I was wrong because I used a hook in my essay that had “you” and “your”. I am skeptical of this because I had previously learned otherwise.
Hi Cat, and thanks for the question!
So many teachers, so many rules 🙂 Seriously though, there are some guidelines on the web saying you can’t use ‘you’ and ‘your’ in essays, because it’s not okay to address a reader in formal writing to avoid confusion. However, it all depends on what type of essay you write:
– a personal essay: sure, you can you ‘you’ and ‘I’ – persuasive or narrative essay: ‘you’ is still okay, though you can try to avoid it, if necessary – reviews, research, precis, and other TOO FORMAL academic writings: you better don’t use the second person.
How to omit ‘you’? Just don’t write it or use ‘one’ instead. Examples:
– “Don’t text while you drive,” vs. “Don’t text and drive.” – “You shouldn’t disrespect the rules,” vs. “One shouldn’t disrespect the rules.”
thank you for the information it was a huge help
I really think this was some good hook ideas, but you didn’t go in-depth on how to think of one. I believe if you included some advice on how to start one, it would’ve increased the article’s ‘ego’ drastically. Thank you for the info anyway!
This article really helped me to better understand the purpose of a hook and what to do when in distress. I sat for an entire class period trying to find my hook. Thanks so much!
I like this a lot! It helps me as a student. I do suggest this to others!
I’ve searched so many sites to find how to write a hook, and non of them gave real legit examples. Thank you!
Thank you for this! I can use these tips to my blog content. Great stuff!
Good post, Thanks for sharing the information with us.
Thanks for such an interesting blog! The content is extremely good and useful for me. Please keep posting, I’ll definitely share with my friends. 🙂
Any plans to update this with new examples or any additional hooks? The post is super but I’d like to see more recent examples
Thanks for your comment! We’re working on the guide to writing hooks for informative essays right now. There will be tons of examples and practical tips. It will go live this month.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.
Tips on the Hook Statement in Persuasive Writing
Michael stratford, 26 sep 2017.
The "hook" statement in persuasive writing is the phrase that grabs your readers and keeps them engaged in the argument you present. There are a number of hooks you can use in persuasive essays; all are engaging, and all are attention-getting. However, before selecting one, you should carefully consider the audience you want to persuade.
Explore this article
- The Serious Hook: Your Words
- The Serious Hook: Another's Words
- Lighter Hooks
- Your Introduction
1 The Serious Hook: Your Words
The audience you are addressing decides in large part what kind of hook you will use to grab attention. It's important that the tones of your hook and essay match, and that your hook supports your main argument. With a persuasive piece that addresses a serious problem, with no room for light humor, the hook should be a startling fact or statistic: "Twenty innocent children died in the horrific killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and yet not one new gun control law has been enacted as yet." Your sober, serious topic is clear and inescapable.
2 The Serious Hook: Another's Words
If your audience will respond to a person of authority, a serious quote or statement from another is an excellent hook if it connects well to your persuasive thesis. For example, you might begin, "Derek Bok once said, 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.'" If you follow this quote with a thesis that explores the deplorable physical state of schools nationwide, and you offer solutions to the problem, your readers are likely to be hooked. You have presented them with a simple formula -- education versus ignorance -- that will be easy for a wide range of audiences to understand.
3 Lighter Hooks
An excellent all-purpose hook, particularly if you're not sure of your audience, is an engaging question: "If your computer were permanently shut off tomorrow, would you do something else with your life or just stare at the screen?" Your essay's thesis can then discuss excessive Internet use in people's lives. Hyperbole -- that is, exaggeration -- works well as a hook too: "Do you hear the scraping, the groaning, the sounds of stumbling hooves, the moos and bleats? It's our student body, heading to a too-short, too-crowded lunch." Now your essay can discuss school lunch problems.
4 Your Introduction
The use of a hook simplifies the construction of your introductory paragraph. The hook immediately sets the tone of the essay and points the way to the problem your essay will address. Your thesis should follow in the next sentence if possible. This two-sentence opener will be brief and engaging, and it will draw the reader into the body of your essay, your argument.
- 1 Portland Public Schools: Hooks and Leads in Persuasive Writing
- 2 Purdue Online Writing Lab: Argumentative Essays
- 3 Purdue Owl Engagement: Organizing the Essay
About the Author
Michael Stratford is a National Board-certified and Single Subject Credentialed teacher with a Master of Science in educational rehabilitation (University of Montana, 1995). He has taught English at the 6-12 level for more than 20 years. He has written extensively in literary criticism, student writing syllabi and numerous classroom educational paradigms.
Related Articles
Ways to Write a Closing Argument for a Classroom Debate
Tips for High School Students on Creating Introductions...
How to Write an Introduction Paragraph in a Persuasive...
How to Write an Essay That Stands Out
Beginning an Informative Essay
What is a Clincher Statement?
5 Types of Attention Getters in Essays
How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay Introduction
How to Create a Strong and Insightful Conclusion Paragraph
How to Write an Evaluation Essay on TV Shows
Attention Grabbing Techniques for Essay Writing
How to Develop a Problem Statement
How to Write a Fantastic Introduction to a Personal...
How to Write a Five-Paragraph Essay About a Story
How to Organize an Expository Essay
How Can I End My Relationship with My Boyfriend?
How to State an Argument in an Essay
How to Write a Conclusion in My Nursing Paper
How to Write Academic Persuasive Papers
Good Ways to Start an Essay
Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers.
- Accessibility
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Copyright Policy
- Manage Preferences
© 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. See disclaimer .
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
A strong statement hook is a sentence that makes an assertive claim about your topic. It connects to the thesis statement and shows the
10 Hook Sentence Examples · Creating family memories that last a lifetime is more about spending quality time together than it is about spending money. · Growing
“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
A hook is an opening statement (which is usually the first sentence) in an essay that attempts to grab the reader's attention so that they want to read on.
2. Anecdote · Last night my cousin Harriet went clubbing with red lipstick all over her teeth. · You know, as a child, my cat was my best friend. · That reminds me
A hook in an argumentative essay is the assignment's introductory sentence. A hook appears in the very first sentence of the argument and is
Different Types of Hooks ; What is love? What do you live for? What would you define kindness to be? ; I was a vampire last Halloween – it was the
Persuasive Essay Hook Examples. “On average each year, the human population emits approximately 39.2 billion tons in carbon dioxide. More than
Essay Hooks Ideas · 1) Literary Quotes · 2) Quotes From Famous People · 3) Common Misconception · 4) Anecdotes · 5) Personal Stories · 6) Statistics.
The hook immediately sets the tone of the essay and points the way to the problem your essay will address. Your thesis should follow in the next