Writing an essay is hard enough, but if you want to get people to read it and pay attention to it, then you need a hook. A hook is the first sentence or paragraph of your essay that makes readers stop and ask themselves “What’s this about?” or “Why should I read more?”
An essay hook is meant to be something witty and intriguing, something that will grab their attention and keep them reading on through the rest of your paper. If you do not know how to create a hook, fear not. There are different types of hooks for essays and you can come up with an effective hook for any type of writing assignment right now.
What is a hook in an essay?
A hook is a sentence that draws readers into the essay. It can be used to start or end an essay, but it is most commonly found in the introduction. A good hook will get your reader interested in what you have to say.
A hook is a bait for readers. Hooks are used to grab the reader’s attention and get them interested in reading more about your topic, which is why you should be careful not to overuse them. They can help draw potential readers in, but they should be used sparingly—you need to have a good reason for including a hook.
Before you get started writing your essay, it’s important to establish a hook. A hook is the first sentence or paragraph that introduces the main topic of your paper.
Essay hook types
There are different types of hooks for writing. They often consist of quotes or statistics, and questions:
- Quotes are often used for introductions and conclusions because they are short and easy for readers to process quickly (which is why it is highly recommended to use quotes when possible).
- Statistics are great because they give readers information about something they probably never knew.
- Questions stir up the reader’s imagination. They help the writer to engage the reader.
An essay hook is one of the most important parts of your essay, it should be relevant to the topic, audience, and thesis of your paper. The best hooks are specific and not general; they are based on what you have learned from researching a topic.
How to start a hook for an essay?
To start and choose the perfect hook, you first need to ask yourself certain questions:
- What makes your essay unique?
- What is the most interesting part of your essay?
- What is the most controversial or provocative aspect of your essay?
- What are the key themes in your essay? (Themes may include conflict, character development, arguments, etc.).
Hooks for essays
Below are some essay hook examples you might consider using for your next essay.
College essay hooks
Very often an anecdote is used when writing a college essay. An anecdote is a short story that illustrates a point. It can be a personal experience, or it could be something you heard from someone else. It might even be funny, sad, or scary.
When using an anecdote as a hook, it should relate to the topic at hand. Most writers use their own life experiences as examples of how they feel about the subject being discussed. For example:
- “My grandmother used to tell me stories about when my grandfather was younger…” (complete the story)
- “I read an article about how teenagers are more likely than other generations to get into car accidents.”
- “It began the usual way, in the room of the Cosmos Lodge…” (complete the story)
- “When I was younger…” (complete the story)
Good essay hooks examples
One main hook used by a majority of students is statistics. They are a great hook because they can be used to prove a point, pass information, and show a trend. They can be used in many ways, from the overall statistics of an education system to individual statistics about students.
They are also useful for explaining phenomena such as the economy or behavioral changes in people.
Here are some examples of statistics that you could use as hooks in your essay:
- The average American household has 1.88 cars per U.S Household.
- There are more than 15 billion cell phones in the world today.
- A total of 5.03 billion people have access to the internet.
- There are over 6 million passenger car accidents yearly in the United States.
- In 2017, approximately 880 women experienced maternal mortality due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth.
Remember to use quotes that are relevant to your topic. Furthermore, you must always cite your sources for credibility.
Quotes for Essay Hooks
Quotes are a great way to start an essay, you must learn how to use a quote as a hook, seeing that they are also a great way to introduce a topic. For example:
- “There is no sadder thing than a young pessimist, except an old optimist.” (Mark Twain)
- “Peace begins with a smile.” (Mother Teresa)
Social Media Essay Hooks
A good social media hook can be a thought-provoking question that will make the reader think and analyze deeply.
An example of a thought-provoking question is: “What do you imagine will be your legacy?”
Remember that all types of hooks must align with your essay and the message you intend to pass to your readers.
Conclusion
Hooks are always a great way to start an essay, they help in keeping your readers engaged. The above examples can be useful in helping you generate your hook.
