How to Write a Hook for Essay

A successful essay introduction should include the following elements – background information, thesis statement and, of course, an attention grabber or a hook. It is a wonderful tool, with the use of which you will be able to make your readers want to read on. A hook is like a bridge that will transport your reader into the world of your essay. In the era of excessive information, it is very important to make the first sentences of your paper really catching and exciting. That is why you need a great essay hook.

Types of Hooks and Their Examples

Use the literary quote that inspires you. It is a great choice if the subject of your essay is literature. For example:

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." —Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Make a startling statement. Impress your audience with the unexpected thought. For example:

“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist” or “To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting”

Provide your readers with shocking numbers and statistics. Prove that the issue you are investigating is global in character. For example:

“800 Million people go to beds without eating anything” or “850 Million don’t have access to clean water and 2.5 Billion do not have proper sanitation”

Ask your readers a rhetorical question. Make them think about some problems. For example:

“If humans evolved from apes or chimps, why are the chimps and apes still here?” or “How can you mend a broken heart?”

Use contradictions in your essay to build complexity. For example:

“The same people who assert never to have stolen all their lives, download thousands of dollars worth of pirated software and media over the Internet” or “The same people who've spent more time than most of us flying around the earth are proportionately more likely to insist fossil fuel consumption is a very grave problem”

Use a famous metaphor to make your readers interested in your essay. For example:

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” or “If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it”

Definition can also be a good essay hook. For example:

“Tolerance is a sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own”

Reveal a common misconception to surprise your readers. For example:

“All humans learn in similar ways. There is no evidence that people have different learning styles, nor that different teaching styles improve information retention” or “In addition to sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing, humans can sense at least 20 things including balance, acceleration, position, pain, temperature, pressure, and thirst”

Tips on How to Write a Good Hook for Essay

The type of essay hook you choose should be appropriate and relevant.

Your hook should look natural in the context.

The transition from the hook to the thesis statement should be smooth.

It is important to consider your audience before you decide which type of hook is better for your essay.

Do some planning before writing a strong essay hook.

A good hook should fir your style, tone and writing frame.

Your hook should sound thought-provoking.

You should remember that writing a good hook means writing well from the very start. But what to do if you still have troubles with these attention grabbers? In such cases we recommend you to read essay writer reviews and choose the writing service that would help you make your essay truly interesting and worth reading.

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