73 Essay Hook Examples
Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
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An essay hook is the first one or two sentences of your essay that are used to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into your discussion.
It is called a hook because it “grabs” the reader and doesn’t let them go! It should have something in there that makes the reader feel curious and intrigued, compelling them to continue reading.
Techniques for Good Essay Hooks
Here are a few techniques that you can use to write a good essay hook:
- Use a Quotation : Sometimes, a relevant quotation from a well-known author or expert can help establish the context or theme of your essay. Next time you’re conducting research for an essay, keep an eye out for a really compelling quote that you could use as your hook for that essay.
- Start with a Statement that is Surprising or Unusual: A surprising or unusually statement will draw a reader in, making them want to know more about that topic. It’s good if the statement contradicts common knowledge or reveals an insight about your topic that isn’t immediately obvious. These can be particularly good for argumentative essays where you’re putting forward a controversial or compelling argument as your thesis statement .
- Tell a Brief Anecdote : A short, interesting story related to your topic can personaize the story, making it more than just a dry essay, and turning it into a compelling narrative that’s worth reading.
- Use Statistics or Facts: Interesting, surprising, or shocking facts or statistics work similarly to surprising statements: they make us want to know more about a topic. Statistics and facts in your introductions are particularly useful for analytical, expository , and argumentative essays.
- Start with a Question: Questions that make the reader think deeply about an issue, or pose a question that the reader themselves has considered, can be really effecitve. But remember, questions tend to be better for informal and personal essays, and are generally not allowed in formal argumentative essays. If you’re not sure if you’re allowed to use questions in your essays, check with your teacher first.
Below, I’ll present some examples of hooks that you could use as inspiration when writing your own essay hook.
Essay Hook Examples
These examples might help stimulate your thinking. However, keep in mind that your essay hook needs to be unique to your essay, so use these as inspiration but write your own essay hook that’s perfect for your own essay.
1. For an Essay About Yourself
An essay about yourself can be personal, use “I” statements, and include memories or thoughts that are deeply personal to you.
- Question: “Have you ever met someone who could turn even the most mundane events into a thrilling adventure? Let me introduce myself.”
- Anecdote: “The smell of freshly baked cookies always takes me back to the day when I accidentally started a baking business at the age of nine.”
- Intriguing Statement: “I’ve always believed that you haven’t truly lived until you’ve read a book upside down, danced in the rain, or taught a parrot to say ‘I love pizza.'”
- Quotation: “As Mark Twain once said, ‘The secret of getting ahead is getting started.’ That’s a philosophy I’ve embraced in every aspect of my life.”
- Humorous Statement: “I’m a self-proclaimed ‘professional chocolate tester’ – a title that’s not only delicious but also requires extreme dedication.”
- Start with your Mission Statement : “My life motto is simple but powerful: be the person who decided to go for it.
- Fact or Statistic: “According to a study, people who speak more than one language tend to be better at multitasking . As a polyglot, I certainly live up to that statistic.”
- Comparison or Metaphor: “If my life were a book, it would be a blend of an adventurous novel, a suspense thriller, and a pinch of romantic comedy.”
- Personal Revelation: “Ever since I was a child, I’ve had an uncanny ability to communicate with animals. It’s an unusual skill, but one that has shaped my life in many ways.”
- Narrative: “The day everything changed for me was an ordinary Tuesday. Little did I know, a single conversation would lead me to discover my true passion.”
2. For a Reflective Essay
A reflective essay often explores personal experiences, feelings, and thoughts. So, your hooks for reflective essays can usually be more personal, intriguing, and engaging than other types of essays. Here are some examples for inspiration:
- Question: “Have you ever felt as though a single moment could change your entire life? This essay is going to explore that moment for me.”
- Anecdote: “I was standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, looking at the vast emptiness, and for the first time, I truly understood the word ‘perspective’.”
- Bold Statement: “There is a part of me that is still trapped in that room, on that rainy afternoon, holding the letter that would change everything.”
- Personal Revelation: “The first time I truly felt a sense of belonging wasn’t in a crowded room full of friends, but in the quiet solitude of a forest.”
- Intriguing Statement: “In my life, silence has been a teacher more profound than any words could ever be.”
- Quotation: “Einstein once said, ‘The only source of knowledge is experience.’ Now, looking back, I realize how profound that statement truly is.”
- Comparison or Metaphor: “If my life is a tapestry, then that summer was the vibrant thread that changed the entire pattern.”
- Narrative: “As the train pulled out of the station, I realized I wasn’t just leaving my hometown, I was leaving my old self behind.”
- Philosophical Statement: “In the theater of life, we are both the actor and the audience, playing our part and watching ourselves simultaneously.”
- Emotive Statement: “There is a sort of sweet sorrow in remembering, a joy tinged with a hint of sadness, like the last notes of a beautiful song.”
For an Argumentative Essay
Essay hooks for argumentative essays are often the hardest. This type of essay tends to require the most formal type of academic writing, meaning your hook shouldn’t use first person, and should be more based on fact and objectivity, often at the expense of creativity. Here are some examples.
- Quotation: “Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.’ If Jefferson were alive today, he would likely feel that this meed for a well-informed citizenry is falling well short of where he would aspire.”
- Provocative Statement: “Despite what romantic films may portray, love at first sight is merely a myth perpetuated by society. This essay will prosecute the argument that love at first sight is a myth.”
- Statistical Fact: “According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading psychological disability worldwide. Yet, mental health is still stigmatized and often overlooked. This essay will argue that depression should be seen as a health issue, and stigmatization of depression causes serious harm to society.”
- Comparison: “Much like an unchecked infection, climate change, if left ignored, can spread far beyond what it is today, causing long-term economic and social problems that may even threaten the longevity of humanity itself.”
- Contradiction : “While we live in an era of unprecedented technological advancements, millions around the world are still denied basic internet access.”
- Bold Declaration: “Animal testing is not only ethically unacceptable, but it also undermines the progress of medical research.”
- Challenging Belief: “Despite popular belief, the automation of jobs is not a threat but an opportunity for society to evolve.”
- Quotation: “George Orwell wrote in ‘1984’, ‘Big Brother is Watching You.’ In our modern society, with the advancement of technology, this is becoming more of a reality than fiction.”
- Intriguing Statement: “Despite countless diet fads and fitness trends, obesity rates continue to rise. This argumentative essay will argue that this is because medical practitioners’ approaches to health and weight loss are fundamentally flawed.”
- Statistical Fact: “Research reveals that over 90% of the world’s plastic waste is not recycled. This alarming figure calls for a drastic change in social attitudes towards consumption and waste management.”
- Challenging Assumption: “Society often assumes that progress and growth are intrinsically good, but this is not always the case in the realm of economic development.”
- Contradiction: “Western society upholds the value of freedom, yet every day, members of society cede personal liberties in the name of convenience and security.”
- Analogy: “Like an overplayed song, when a news story is repeated too often, it loses its impact. In the era of digital media, society is becoming desensitized to critical issues.”
- Relevant Anecdote: “In a village in India, the arrival of a single computer transformed the lives of the residents. This small anecdote underscores the importance of digital inclusion in today’s world.”
- Call to Rethink: “In a world where success is often equated with financial wealth, it is time for society to reconsidered what truly constitutes a successful life.”
For a Compare and Contrast Essay
A compare and contrast essay examines two issues, looking at both the similarities and differences between them. A good hook for a compare and contrast essay will immediately signal to the reader the subjects that are being compared and why they’re being compared. Here are sine ideas for hooks for a compare and contrast essay:
- Quotation: “As Charles Dickens wrote in his novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’. This could equally apply to the contrasting dynamics of urban and rural living.”
- Provocative Statement: “Despite popular belief, cats and dogs have more in common than society tends to think.”
- Comparison: “Comparing being an only child to growing up with siblings is like contrasting a solo performance with an orchestral symphony.”
- Contradiction: “While many view classic literature and contemporary fiction as worlds apart, they are more akin to two sides of the same coin.”
- Bold Declaration: “Android and iPhone may compete in the same market, but their philosophies could not be more different.”
- Statistical Fact: “Statistics show that children who grow up reading books tend to perform better academically than those who do not. But, the jury is out on how reading traditional books compares to reading e-books on screens.”
- Quotation: “As Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote, ‘Sooner or later, we all sit down to a banquet of consequences.’ This statement can be used to frame a comparison between short-term and long-term thinking.”
- Provocative Statement: “Democracy and dictatorship are often seen as polar opposites, but are they are not as different as they seem.”
- Comparison: “Climate change and plastic pollution are two major environmental issues, yet they demand different approaches and solutions.”
- Contradiction: “While traditional classrooms and online learning are seen as separate modes of education, they can often blend into a cohesive learning experience.”
- Bold Declaration: “Though both based on merit, the structures of capitalism and socialism lead to vastly different societal outcomes.”
- Imagery: “The painting styles of Van Gogh and Monet can be contrasted as a stormy sea versus a tranquil pond.”
- Historical Reference: “The philosophies of the Cold War-era – capitalism and communism – provide a lens to contrast economic systems.”
- Literary Comparison: “The dystopian societies portrayed in George Orwell’s ‘1984’ and Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’ serve as contrasting visions of the future.”
- Philosophical Question : “Individualism and collectivism shape societies in distinct ways, but neither one can truly exist without the other.”
See Here for my Guide on Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay
For a Psychology Essay
Writing an engaging hook for a psychology essay involves sparking the reader’s interest in the human mind, behavior, or the specific psychology topic you’re discussing. Here are some stimulating hooks for a psychology essay:
- Rhetorical Question: “How much control do we truly have over our own actions?”
- Quotation: “Sigmund Freud once said, ‘Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.’ This essay will explore whether this is universally true.”
- Provocative Statement: “Contrary to popular belief, ‘venting out’ anger might actually be fueling the fire of fury.”
- Comparison: “Just as an iceberg reveals only a fraction of its bulk above water, conscious minds may only be a small piece of who humans truly are.”
- Contradiction: “While it may seem counterintuitive, studies show that individuals who are more intelligent are also more likely to suffer from mental health issues.”
- Bold Declaration: “Despite advances in technology, understanding the human brain remains one of the final frontiers in science.”
- Statistical Fact: “According to a study by the American Psychological Association, nearly one in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness. Yet, mental health continues to be a topic shrouded in stigma.”
For a Sociology Essay
Writing an engaging hook for a sociology essay involves sparking the reader’s interest in social behaviors, cultural phenomena, or the specific sociology topic you’re discussing. Here are ideas for hooks for a sociology essay:
- Quotation: “As Karl Marx once noted, ‘Social progress can be measured exactly by the social position of the fair sex.’ Sadly, society has not made much progress in gender equality.”
- Provocative Statement: “Social media, initially created to connect people, is ironically leading society into an era of unprecedented isolation.”
- Comparison: “Comparing society to a theater, where each individual plays a role, it is possible to start to see patterns and scripts embedded in daily interactions.”
- Contradiction: “While people often believe that technology is bringing society closer together, evidence suggests that it’s actually driving a wedge between people, creating ‘digital divides’.”
- Bold Declaration: “Human societies are constructed on deeply ingrained systems of inequality, often invisible to those benefiting from them.”
- Statistical Fact: “A recent study found that women still earn only 81 cents for every dollar earned by men. This stark wage gap raises questions about equality in the workforce.”
For a College Application Essay
A college essay is a personal statement where you can showcase who you are beyond your grades and resume. It’s your chance to tell your unique story. Here are ten potential hooks for a college essay:
- Anecdote: “At the age of seven, with a wooden spoon as my baton, I confidently conducted an orchestra of pots and pans in my grandmother’s kitchen.”
- Provocative Statement: “I believe that life is like a game of chess. The king might be the most important piece, but it’s the pawns that can change the entire course of the game.”
- Personal Revelation: “It wasn’t until I was lost in a foreign city, armed with nothing but a map in a language I didn’t understand, that I truly discovered my love for adventure.”
- Intriguing Question: “Have you ever wondered how it feels to be part of two completely different cultures, yet wholly belong to neither?”
- Bold Declaration: “Breaking a bone can be a painful experience. Breaking stereotypes, however, is an entirely different kind of challenge.”
- Unusual Fact: “I can recite the periodic table backwards while juggling three tennis balls. It’s a strange talent, but it’s a perfect metaphor for how I tackle challenges.”
- Quotation: “As Albert Einstein once said, ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’ This quote has defined my approach to learning.”
- Narrative: “It was a cold winter’s day when I first discovered the magic of turning a blank page into a world full of characters, stories, and ideas.”
- Metaphor: “Like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, my high school years have been a period of profound metamorphosis.”
- Humorous Statement: “Being the youngest of five siblings, I quickly learned that the best way to be heard was to become the family’s unofficial lawyer.”
Conclusion: The Qualities of a Good Essay Hook
As I wrap up this article, I want to share a few last tips on qualities that a good essay hook should have. Keep these tips in mind when writing your essay hook and using the above essay hook examples:
First, relevance . A good hook should be directly relevant to the topic or theme of your essay. The hook should provide a preview of what’s to come without giving too much away.
Second, Intrigue. A great hook should make the reader want to continue reading. It should create a question in the reader’s mind or present a fascinating idea that they want to know more about.
Third, uniqueness. An effective hook should be original and unique. It should stand out from the many other essays that the reader might be going through.
Fourth, clarity. Even though a hook should be captivating and original, it should also be clear and easy to understand. Avoid complex sentences and jargon that might confuse the reader.
Fifth, genre conventions. Too often, my students try to be so creative in their essay hooks that they forget genre conventions . The more formal an essay, the harder it is to write the hook. My general approach is to focus on statistics and facts, and avoid rhetorical questions , with more formal essay hooks.
Keep in mind that you should run your essay hook by your teacher by showing them your first draft before you submit your essay for grading. This will help you to make sure it follows genre conventions and is well-written.
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Free Social Skills Worksheets
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups
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How To Write An Essay
Hook Examples
200+ Creative Hook Examples: Ready, Set, Hook
27 min read
Published on: Mar 22, 2023
Last updated on: Nov 21, 2024
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As a student, you know how important it is to grab your reader’s attention right away.
Stories without strong starts can leave readers feeling uninspired and bored—and that's not what we want! After all, compelling stories require creative hooks to seal the deal.
That's why we're here!
To avoid a bland start, it's important to craft a clever and memorable hook . With the use of effective hooks, you can leave a lasting impression on even the most discerning of readers.
Join us now as we jump into different types of hooks, from intriguing questions to vivid imagery – let's get started!
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Question Hook Examples
If you're stuck in the creative hook-writing process, a question hook can be a good way to start an essay .
Questions hook readers and make them think about what’s being asked. You can also use a fact statistic too.
They also immediately draw attention to the topic at hand and make readers more likely to continue reading.
Let's look at some examples :
- "What if I told you that a single dream could change your life?"
- "Who can inhabit a place where the past and the present intersect?"
- "How would you respond if you had to choose between love and ambition?"
- "Where does one draw the line between passion and obsession?"
- "Can humanity survive in a world of conflicting values?"
- "What if our dreams became reality?" - John Steinbeck
- "How do you explain something that cannot be explained?"
- "Is it possible to find true love in an imperfect world?"
- "Do we control our destiny, or does fate have a hand in it?"
- "How much can power corrupts us before we become monsters?"
Need an engaging hook? Let our experts write for you!
Statistic Hook Examples
Numbers don't lie, and sometimes they can be the most powerful way to make a point.
Here are some examples of statistic hooks that can grab your readers' attention:
- "Did you know that over 50% of adults in the United States are single?"
- "According to recent studies, over 70% of high school students report feeling overwhelmed and stressed on a daily basis."
- "In the United States, the average household debt is over $90,000."
- "Over 80% of Americans believe that climate change is a serious problem, but what are we doing to address it?"
- "According to recent polls, only 20% of Americans trust the government to do what is right always or most of the time."
- "In the last decade, the use of social media has skyrocketed, with over 3 billion users worldwide."
- "Studies show that women still earn only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in the United States."
- "Over 40% of food produced in the United States is wasted each year, while millions of people go hungry."
- "Recent research has found that over 90% of plastic waste in the ocean comes from just 10 rivers in Asia and Africa."
- "Despite advances in medical technology, the United States has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the developed world, with over 700 deaths per year."
Metaphor / Simile Hook Examples
Metaphors and similes can be powerful tools for engaging your reader and making your writing more vivid.
Here are ten examples to inspire your own metaphorical hooks.
- "Like a beacon in the night, [topic] shines a light on our deepest hopes and fears."
- "Metaphorically speaking, [topic] is a Pandora's box of complex emotions and ideas that challenge us to confront our own biases and assumptions."
- "Just as a ship navigates treacherous waters, [topic] requires a steady hand and a clear sense of direction to navigate successfully."
- "In many ways, [topic] is a mirror that reflects the beauty and complexity of the human experience."
- "Like a puzzle with countless pieces, [topic] invites us to piece together disparate elements to uncover deeper truths and insights."
- "Metaphorically speaking, [topic] is a garden that requires careful tending and nurturing to flourish."
- "Just as a painter uses color and light to create a masterpiece, [topic] allows us to paint a vivid portrait of the world around us."
- "In many ways, [topic] is a labyrinth that challenges us to explore its winding paths and discover hidden treasures along the way."
- "Like a key that unlocks a door, [topic] gives us access to new worlds of knowledge and understanding."
- "Metaphorically speaking, [topic] is a journey that takes us on a winding path through the highs and lows of the human experience."
Anecdote Hook Examples
If you want to hook your readers from the start with a narrative that's more fun and lighthearted, an anecdote hook is a way to go.
Let's look at some examples that can be used in your essay introduction :
- "It all started when I decided to take a walk in the woods one summer day..."
- "The night began as any other night out with my friends - until the police showed up..."
- "The day I found out my grandmother had cancer was one of the saddest days of my life"
- "It was a sunny Sunday afternoon when I decided to take a chance and go for a drive on an unfamiliar road"
- "I never expected that one day I'd be standing in the World Cup final..."
- "It was summertime, and all my friends were out at the beach while I was stuck inside baking cookies"
- "I remember the day I finally decided to take a leap of faith and start my own business"
- "My first day at university was filled with anxiety and excitement"
- "That's when I realized I wanted to be a teacher - when I saw the look on my student's faces after they finally understood something"
- "My first time walking into a yoga class was nerve-wracking, but it ended up being one of the best decisions of my life"
Quote Hook Examples
If you want to hook your readers right away with a strong introduction, using a quote hook can be an effective strategy.
Let's look at some examples of a quote from a famous person.
- "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" - Oscar Wilde
- "To infinity and beyond!" - Buzz Lightyear
- "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
- "If you can dream it, you can do it" - Walt Disney
- "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" - J.K. Rowling
- "You can't calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself" - Tim Berners-Lee
- "The only way to do great work is to love what you do" - Steve Jobs
- "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Lao Tzu
- "Life is what you make it" - Anonymous
- "The best way to predict the future is to create it" - Abraham Lincoln
Story Hook Examples
If your main goal is to fully captivate and engage readers in an unforgettable story, then a well-crafted story hook is the way to go.
Let's look at some examples:
- "It all started on a cold January night with a phone call that changed my life..."
- "The moment I saw my best friend in that hospital bed, I knew everything would never be the same again..."
- "I had been dreaming of this day for years - the day I'd finally get to explore the world outside of my small town..."
- "The sun was just setting as we drove through the old neighborhood, remembering all the good times we had growing up..."
- "I opened my front door to find a man standing in the hallway with a strange package - and that's how it all began..."
- "The morning of my eighteenth birthday, I woke up feeling strangely different - like an adventure was about to begin..."
- "I remember the day I decided to face my fears and take a leap of faith - that's when everything changed..."
- "The night I saw the shooting stars were like nothing I had ever experienced before, and I knew it would stay with me forever..."
- "It took one coincidence for me to realize that life was about to take me on a wild ride..."
- "I had never felt so brave in my life when I decided to take a stand and fight for what I believed in..."
Want to hook readers instantly? Let us work for you!
Hook Examples For Essay
If you desire to seize your reader's attention and keep them enthralled in your essay, a persuasive hook is essential.
Check out these hooks for essays examples:
- "The world we live in today has changed drastically since the introduction of technology"
- "Every generation has had its own unique set of challenges - and the current generation is no exception"
- "We can learn a lot from history and the mistakes that have been made in the past"
- "Society often puts a label on things without really understanding them or giving them a chance"
- "The power of technology can be both a blessing and a curse"
- "Education is the key to success - and it's important for everyone to have access to it"
- "What would life be like without our modern-day conveniences?"
- "We all have our own unique perspectives, but sometimes we forget to look at the bigger picture"
- "Not everything is as it seems - sometimes we have to dig deeper to understand the truth"
- "Life is a journey, not a destination - and every step of the way holds valuable lessons to be learned"
Narrative Hook Examples
Narrative hook examples are a great way to engage your reader in your story. Here are some examples of hooks for a narrative essay :
- "It was a dark and stormy night, and I heard something outside my window..."
- "I had been waiting for this moment my whole life, and finally it was here..."
- "I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I opened that door..."
- "The air around me suddenly changed, and a chill ran down my spine as I realized how alone I was..."
- "It had been years since we'd seen each other, and now I was standing face to face with my old enemy..."
- "I followed the faint light until I stumbled upon a mysterious room with an unknown secret inside..."
- "It began as a normal day, but by nightfall, it was like nothing I'd ever experienced before..."
- "The cold wind was howling as I made my way across the deserted desert, searching for something greater..."
- "As I stepped through the ruins of the long-abandoned castle, I could feel an eerie presence watching me..."
- "The clock struck midnight and suddenly everything changed - it felt like a new world had been born..."
Argumentative Essay Hook Examples
Argumentative hook examples can be a great tool to draw readers in and engage them with an argumentative essay .
Let's look at some hook examples for argumentative essay:
- "The world we live in today is drastically different from what it used to be - and much of this change has been caused by technology"
- "Every generation has its own set of challenges, and the current generation is no exception"
- "We should always be willing to learn from history and the mistakes that have been made in the past"
- "Society often judges things without really understanding them or giving them a chance"
- "The power of technology can be both a blessing and a curse - we must find the balance"
- "Education is essential to success, but not everyone has access to it"
- "We all have our own unique perspectives, but we must consider the greater good"
- "Sometimes things are not as they seem - it's important to look at all sides of an issue"
- "Life is full of lessons - and it's impossible to learn them all in one lifetime"
College Essay Hook Examples
Crafting an effective hook for a college essay is essential to grab your reader's attention and draw them into the story.
College hook examples can serve as invaluable guides when creating this crucial element of any composition.
Check out some examples:
- "The journey of life has taken me down many paths, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would lead me here"
- "My story is not a traditional one, but it's uniquely mine and I'm ready to make my mark"
- "When I think back to the decisions that have shaped my life, this one stands out as the most important"
- "I had no idea how much I could learn from taking a leap of faith and going outside my comfort zone"
- "From the age of four, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor - and here I am on the brink of making it happen"
- "I wasn't always the most successful student, but I never gave up and now I'm ready to prove what I can do"
- "A person's future isn't predetermined - I'm determined to make mine a success"
- "Education is power, and I'm ready to take hold of my own destiny"
- "It's not about where you come from, but what you can achieve with hard work and dedication"
- "Life is unpredictable, but I'm ready to face any challenge that comes my way"
Hook Examples For Speech
Speech hook examples provide a great way to hook your audience into your speech .
Here are some examples:
- "We've all heard the phrase 'knowledge is power', but what does that really mean?"
- "What would our lives be like if we weren't as connected to technology as we are today?"
- "The world is a vast and mysterious place - let's explore how different cultures live and think"
- "What can we learn from the mistakes of our ancestors? Let's find out!"
- "We've heard about climate change, but what can we actually do to help?"
- "We live in a world of opportunity - let's explore how we can make the most of it"
- "Everyone has a story to tell - let's discover what makes us unique and wonderful"
- "Hard work and dedication are key ingredients for success - let's learn how to make the most of them"
- "Let's talk about what it means to make a difference in our world, and how we can do it!"
- "We all have the potential to reach our goals - let's find out how!"
Hook Examples For Expository Essays
An expository essay provides a great way to engage your reader in your writing. Here are some examples:
- "We often take for granted the little things in life - let's explore why they are so important."
- "What lies beneath the surface of our world? Let's look deeper and find out!"
- "Our environment is rapidly changing - let's see what we can do to protect it."
- "What causes people to make bad decisions? Let's explore the psychology behind it."
- "Without laws, society would be chaos - let's look at how laws keep us safe."
- "What can we learn from history? Let's uncover the lessons of our past."
- "Fear is an inevitable part of life - let's examine how to conquer it."
- "Our minds are incredibly powerful - let's explore the potential of our thoughts."
- "Life can be unpredictable, but how do we handle it? Let's discover some strategies."
- "What is the meaning of success? Let's define it and work towards achieving it!"?
Hook Examples For Compare And Contrast Essay
When writing a compare and contrast essay, it's important to have strong hooks.
Here are some examples of hooks that you can use for your compare-and-contrast essay :
- "They say that 'opposites attract,' but do they really?"
- "If you think two things can't be more different, think again."
- "You might be surprised to learn that two seemingly similar things can have vast differences."
- "Have you ever wondered what makes two things that seem identical actually very different?"
- "There are many similarities between X and Y, but there are also key differences that make them stand out."
- "Are you struggling to choose between two options that seem equally appealing?"
- "At first glance, it may seem like two things have nothing in common."
- "They say that variety is the spice of life, but is it always better?"
- "It's easy to get lost in the details, but sometimes all we need is a little comparison to see things clearly."
- "They say that everything is relative, but is that really true?"
Struggling to grab attention? We have got you covered!
Hook Examples For Research Papers
Crafting an effective research hook can be a powerful way to draw your readers into the world of your paper.
Examples can provide excellent guidance when crafting this important part of any academic work!
Let's look at some hook examples in writing that can help you with your research paper :
- "Many people believe that X is the answer, but what does the research say?"
- "We've all heard about Y, but how does it actually work?"
- "What can we learn from the mistakes of the past and how can we use that knowledge to move forward?"
- "How has technology changed the way we do research and what ethical considerations do we need to take into account?"
- "What are some of the implications of Z and what can we do to address them?"
- "The debate around A is growing - let's explore both sides and see where the research takes us"
- "We all have our own opinions on B, but what does the evidence tell us?"
- "Let's take a look at C and uncover what it really means"
- "What can we learn from examining the history of D and how can that help us in the present?"
- "There are many theories surrounding E - let's explore them and draw our own conclusions"
Hook Examples For Literary Analysis
Literary hook examples provide a great way to hook your readers into a literary analysis essay .
Let's look at some examples of a great hook sentence here!
- "What secrets do the characters in this story hold and what truths can we uncover?"
- "What does this piece of literature tell us about the human condition?"
- "What themes can we uncover by examining this text through a feminist lens?"
- "What is the author trying to say about society and how can we interpret it?"
- "How does this story stand out from others in its genre and what makes it unique?"
- "Let's explore the symbolism and imagery used in this piece of literature"
- "What message is the author trying to convey and how can that help us better understand the world we live in?"
- "The setting of this story plays an important role - let's examine it more closely"
- "How does the use of language in this text help to convey its themes and ideas?"
- "What can we learn about human nature by analyzing the characters in this story?"
Paragraph Hook Examples
Writing can be challenging, especially when it comes to crafting engaging openings. Here are ten hook ideas that might inspire your next paragraph:
- "We all have our guilty pleasures, whether it's binge-watching reality TV or devouring junk food."
- "Technology has transformed every aspect of our lives, from how we work and communicate to how we entertain ourselves."
- "History is full of fascinating stories and characters. Let's shine a light on the forgotten voices of the past."
- "Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, but what can we do to address it?"
- "Language is a powerful tool for communication, but it can also be a source of confusion and misunderstanding."
- "The human brain is a mysterious and complex organ, capable of incredible feats of creativity and intelligence. Let's delve into the latest research on how our brains work."
- "Art has the power to inspire, challenge, and transform us. But what is it about certain works of art that make them timeless and universal?"
- "Identity is a complex and multifaceted concept, shaped by factors like race, gender, sexuality, and class."
- "Philosophy has been a source of inquiry and debate for centuries, but how can it help us navigate the complexities of modern life?"
- "Food is not just a source of sustenance, but a reflection of culture, history, and identity."
Query Letter Hook Examples
Query letter hook examples are a great way to engage your potential readers and agents.
- "This story will make you question everything you thought you knew."
- "Uncover an extraordinary tale of courage and determination."
- "Discover the power of hope in this heartfelt journey of transformation."
- "Follow a gripping story of passion and adventure."
- "Journey with a character on a quest to find the truth."
- "Experience an unforgettable tale of mystery and intrigue."
- "Meet a remarkable cast of characters in this stirring journey of discovery."
- "Go behind the scenes with a daring group of heroes."
- "Explore a world of mystery and wonder with a captivating story."
- "Be swept away in this thrilling adventure of courage and hope." ?
Hook Examples For Presentation
Presentation hooks are a remarkable way to captivate your audience and keep them engaged in your presentation. You can use interesting facts and statistic hooks as well!
With examples, you can create compelling stories or images that will make quite an impact!
- "We all know that X is important, but why is it so crucial to our lives?"
- "What can we learn from the successes and failures of Y?"
- "Let's explore how technology has changed the way we do Z and how that affects our lives"
- "What is the one thing we need to know about A in order to understand its significance?"
- "We've all heard about B, but what does it really mean for us?"
- "What are the implications of C and how can we use that knowledge to our advantage?"
- "Let's take a look at the history and evolution of D"
- "How does E affect our daily lives and what can we do about it?"
- "What are some of the potential benefits of F and what risks do we need to consider?"
- "What has been the impact of G on our society and how can we use it to make positive changes?"
Hook Examples For Introduction
Introduction hook examples provide a great way to make a strong statement.
- "Welcome to the world of X - let's dive in and see what it has to offer"
- "We all know Y, but why is it so important?"
- "What can we learn from the successes and failures of Z?"
- "Let's take a journey through the history of A and uncover its secrets"
- "How has technology changed the way we do C and what ethical considerations do we need to take into account?"
- "What are some of the implications of D and what can we do to address them?"
- "The debate around E is growing - let's explore both sides and see where the research takes us"
- "Let's examine the facts and uncover what F really means"
- "What can we learn from exploring the history of G and how can that help us in the present?"
Concluding Hook Examples
Writing a strong conclusion can be just as challenging as crafting an engaging opening. Here are closing hook examples that might help inspire you.
- "As we bring this discussion to a close, it's clear that [thesis statement]. But what are the implications of this insight for our lives and society as a whole?"
- "In the end, the examples we've explored illustrate the complexity and nuance of [topic]. But what does this mean for us moving forward?"
- "The evidence we've presented highlights the urgent need for [action or change]. So where do we go from here?"
- "As we wrap up this conversation, let's remember that [key takeaway or lesson]. How can we apply this insight to our own lives?"
- "The stories and characters we've examined offer a window into the human experience and our capacity for growth and transformation. What can we learn from their journeys?"
- "As we conclude this discussion, let's reflect on what this means for us as individuals and as a society."
- "The examples we've explored have shed light on the complexities and nuances of [topic]. But what are the broader implications of this understanding?"
- "As we come to the end of this essay, it's clear that [thesis statement]. But how can we use this knowledge to make a positive difference in the world?"
- "In conclusion, the evidence we've presented challenges us to rethink our assumptions about [topic]. Let's take this opportunity to broaden our perspectives and deepen our understanding."
- "As we close out this conversation, let's remember the power of human connection to heal and transform."
Hook Examples For Personal Statement
Crafting an attention-grabbing hook for your personal statement can be a great way to increase engagement and draw readers in.
Utilizing examples of successful hooks is an excellent strategy to help you create one that stands out!
- "How have my experience and values shaped who I am today?"
- "What makes me unique from other applicants and how can that help me succeed?"
- "How have my past experiences, both good and bad, helped me understand the importance of X?"
- "What do I know about Y that makes me stand out from other applicants?"
- "Let's explore how my skillset can help me achieve success in Z"
- "What have I learned from the people around me and how has that shaped my goals?"
- "In what ways can I use my knowledge of A to make a difference?"
- "How will B help me grow as an individual and achieve my dreams?"
- "What have I learned through C that has helped me become a better person?"
- "What can I offer that makes me the ideal candidate for this role?"
Catchy Hook Examples
Captivating hook examples are an excellent way to grab your readers' attention and entice them into the content.
- "Are you ready for X? It's time to find out!"
- "Discover the shocking truth about Y"
- "Let's uncover the hidden secrets of Z"
- "Unlock the power of A - it will blow your mind"
- "B will change your life - here's how to get started"
- "What does C mean for us? Let's find out!"
- "Are you ready to take on the challenge of D?"
- "Can E really change your life? Let's find out"
- "F can provide incredible opportunities - here's how to get started"
- "Discover the hidden potential of G - it will amaze you!"
Hook Examples For Romeo and Juliet Essays
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most iconic love stories in literary history. But what is it about this tragic tale that continues to captivate audiences centuries after it was written?
Here are some hook ideas that might inspire your essay:
- "What makes Romeo and Juliet one of the most enduring love stories of all time? Let's explore the themes and motifs that continue to captivate audiences today."
- "From sword fights to sonnets, Romeo and Juliet has it all. But what is it about Shakespeare's language and imagery that makes the play so memorable?"
- "Romeo and Juliet may seem like a straightforward story of love and tragedy, but what if there's more to it than meets the eye?"
- "The feud between the Capulets and Montagues may seem like a typical Shakespearean conflict. But what does it reveal about the tensions and rivalries of Renaissance-era Italy?"
- "What can Romeo and Juliet teach us about the power of passion and desire? Let's explore how the play challenges conventional morality and ethics."
- "Romeo and Juliet has been adapted countless times in popular culture, but what can we learn from the original play? Let's examine how Shakespeare's work continues to influence modern storytelling."
- "The tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet may seem predetermined, but what if the characters had made different choices? Let's explore the different paths the story could have taken."
- "Romeo and Juliet is often seen as a story of youthful passion, but what about the older characters in the play? Let's analyze the roles of Friar Lawrence and the Nurse in shaping the course of events."
- "Shakespeare's play may be set in Renaissance-era Italy, but its themes and motifs are universal. Let's examine how Romeo and Juliet speaks to contemporary issues and debates."
- "The balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet is one of the most iconic moments in all of literature, but what is it about this scene that makes it so powerful? Let's explore the language, imagery, and symbolism at play."
Hook Examples For Social Media
Social media has become a ubiquitous part of modern life, with billions of users around the world. But what is it about social media that has captured our attention and kept us hooked?
Here are some social media hook examples for you:
- "Social media is like a never-ending rabbit hole, with endless scrolling and new content to explore."
- "With social media, we have the power to connect with people from all over the world, but at what cost to our privacy and mental health?"
- "The rise of social media has transformed the way we communicate, but it has also created a new set of challenges for individuals and society as a whole."
- "From Instagram influencers to TikTok trends, social media has given rise to a whole new world of digital fame and fortune."
- "In the age of social media, we are more connected than ever before, but are we really communicating?"
- "What happens when the platform becomes a battleground for toxic behavior and hate speech?"
- "From Facebook to Twitter, social media has revolutionized the way we consume news and information."
- "Social media has made it easier than ever to connect with people who share our interests and passions."
- "With social media, we can curate the perfect image of ourselves and our lives. But is this curated image an accurate reflection of who we really are?"
- "Social media has opened up new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs."
Tips for Writing A Good Hook
A hook is the first sentence or phrase in your essay writing that captures your reader's attention.
A good hook is essential for any successful piece of writing, whether it's a novel, an essay, or a blog post.
Here are some tips for writing a good hook that will engage your readers and keep them interested:
- Start with an interesting fact or statistic: People love to learn new things. Starting with a surprising or little-known fact can be a great way to capture your reader's attention.
- Ask a thought-provoking question: Asking a question that challenges your reader's assumptions or beliefs can be a powerful way to hook them to thinking.
- Use descriptive language: Descriptive language can create a vivid picture in your reader's mind and draw them into your story or argument.
- Create a sense of urgency: If your writing is about a timely or important topic, creating a sense of urgency in your hook can be an effective way to grab your reader's attention.
- Start with a quote: A quote from a famous person or an expert in your field can lend credibility to your writing and pique your reader's interest.
- Share a personal anecdote: Sharing a personal story or experience can make your writing feel more relatable and human, and can help to build a connection with your reader.
Writing a hook for your essay can be a challenge, but with the right approach, you can create one that will capture your reader's attention.
If you're looking for some guidance to help you craft the perfect hook, CollegeEssay.org offers the best assignment writing service to help you!
Stop wasting your time trying to craft the perfect hook and let CollegeEssay.org take care of it for you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a hook example.
A hook example refers to an opening sentence of a piece of writing that is meant to grab the reader's attention and entice them to continue reading.
Good hooks may use descriptive words, strong verbs, vivid imagery, or engaging dialogue to draw readers in.
How can I come up with a good hook?
Coming up with a good hook requires that you know your audience and the purpose of your writing.
Consider what interests readers in this particular topic or area.Use that to create an engaging opening sentence that will pique their curiosity.
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How to Write a Great Essay Hook, With Examples
When you’re writing an essay , you naturally want people to read it. Just like the baited hook on a fishing line entices fish, your essay’s hook engages readers and makes them want to keep reading your essay.
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What is an essay hook?
An essay hook is a sentence or two that piques the reader’s interest, compelling them to continue reading. In most cases, the hook is the first sentence or two, but it may be the entire opening paragraph. Hooks for essays are always in the first section because this is where the essay needs to hook its reader. If the reader isn’t engaged within the first few lines, they’ll likely stop reading.
An essay hook also sets the tone for the rest of your essay. For example, an unexpected statistic in an essay’s first line can tell the reader that the rest of the essay will dispel myths and shed light on the essay’s topic .
6 types of essay hooks
1 rhetorical questions.
Rhetorical questions are popular essay hooks because they make readers think. For example, an essay might start with the question “Is it ethical to eat animals?” Before reading the rest of the essay, the reader answers the question in their mind. As they continue to read, the writer’s arguments challenge the reader’s answer and may change their mind.
2 Fact/statistic
When an essay discusses scientific subjects, social issues, current events, or controversial subjects, a fact or statistic related to the essay’s topic can be a compelling hook. For example, an essay about elementary student literacy might hook readers with a statistic about the percentage of fourth graders that are proficient readers.
The hook could be a fact or statistic that’s well-known and frames the topic in a relatable way, or it could be a completely unexpected or seemingly unintuitive one that surprises the reader. In any case, they set the tone for the rest of the essay by supporting the writer’s position from the outset.
Quotes are often used as essay hooks because they’re succinct, often recognizable, and when they’re from an expert source, they can support the writer’s position.
For example, an analytical essay comparing two books might hook readers with a quote from one of the books’ authors that sets the tone for the rest of the essay and gives a glimpse into that author’s work.
Anecdotes are often used as hooks in personal essays. A personal story makes the essay relatable, creating familiarity with the reader that makes them want to read more. An example of an anecdote hook is a persuasive essay about rerouting traffic on campus that starts with a personal story of a vehicular close call.
5 Description
A description focuses on specific imagery related to the essay’s subject. For example, an argumentative essay in support of new recycling policies might hook readers with a bleak description of what happens to batteries and other hazardous materials when they aren’t recycled.
6 Common misconception
Similar to an unexpected fact, a hook that dispels a common misconception surprises the reader and educates them about something they likely misunderstood. For example, a compare-and-contrast essay about different mindfulness strategies might start with a common misconception about how mindfulness works.
Creating a hook for different writing prompts
Strong hooks for essays align with the essays’ tones, types, and topics. As you start working on an essay, think about your topic and goals for the essay. Are you trying to persuade the reader? Dispelling a common misconception can be the hook you need. Are you telling an entertaining personal story with bigger themes about your life experience? Start it off with an engaging anecdote. Are you defending a position? Share an unexpected fact and let the truth speak for itself.
Sometimes, it’s not easy to tell which kind of hook your essay needs. When this is the case, it can be helpful to write the rest of your essay, then come back to your introduction and write the kind of hook that would make you want to read that whole essay. Refer to your essay outline to ensure that it fits your essay goals.
Essay hook examples
- Is it too late to save our planet from climate change?
- Before I could speak, I sang.
- “If we are truly a great nation, the truth cannot destroy us.” —Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Contrary to popular belief, rats are among the most fastidious animals.
- I can’t be late for class—this could be the most important day of my life!
Essay hook FAQs
An essay hook is a sentence or two that grabs the reader’s attention and piques their interest, enticing them to continue reading.
What are the different types of essay hooks?
- Rhetorical questions
- Description
- Fact/statistic
- Common misconception
Why is it important to have a good essay hook?
It’s important that hooks for essays be well crafted, because in many cases, the reader won’t continue reading an essay if it doesn’t hold their interest. The hook grabs their attention and makes them want to read on.
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7 Types of Essay Hooks That Grab A Reader’s Attention
What Is a Hook, and Why Do You Need One?
If you’ve ever sat in a class and learned about how to write an essay, you may recall your teacher mentioning that a proper 5-Paragraph Essay is comprised of a few key ingredients. One of these ingredients is the hook. But, what is a hook?
Simply put, the hook is the first part of your introduction paragraph. It grabs the reader’s attention, making him/her more interested in reading your writing. A great hook is compelling, relevant to the topic of your essay, and interests readers right from the start.
Different teachers prefer different types of hooks, depending on the assignment. When in doubt, check your rubric and ask your teacher. Also, make sure you’re using proper citation and formatting.
7 Types of Hooks for Essays:
Without further ado, here are 7 types of hooks for essays, with examples, to get readers curious about what you have to say! Keep in mind that every teacher is different. Some teachers may find any of these hooks perfectly acceptable, while others may find some of them to be overused, so it is best to have an idea of your teacher’s preferred style and use that to guide your writing.
Many of our students have used similar types of hooks to write essays that scored in the 90%+ range, so we hope that sharing this information might be helpful to some of you.
- The Quote Hook Start your essay with a quote that is directly relevant to your essay topic. With this type of hook, students quote a person’s words directly. As always, to avoid unintentional plagiarism, keep citations and proper formatting in mind! Examples: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston S. Churchill “Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.” – Aristotle”
- The Question Hook Question hooks can be intriguing for readers. By including a question right at the beginning, the idea is to get people to continue reading for the answer. Examples: “What is the true meaning of success: material wealth or personal fulfillment?” “When can a child be considered an adult, and what experiences bring this transition to fruition” “Humans are often driven by their desire for more power, riches, and fame, but at what cost?”
- The Bold Statement Hook This type of hook makes an assertive, bold statement about your topic that relates to your thesis. Examples: “Discrimination against First Nations people is one of the most pressing issues that Canadian society faces today.” “Spending hours on social media has a strong, detrimental impact on the mental health and interpersonal relationships of adolescents which must be curbed.” “As technology becomes a more seamless part of daily life, people are becoming more reliant on their phones and computers, to the point of not being able to function without the Internet at their fingertips.”
- The Description Hook A descriptive hook is more commonly used in narrative essays but can be used in other types of essays as well. With this type of hook, you’ll need to engage readers with a vivid description of a scene that is related to your topic and thesis. A word of caution – before trying this one, ask yourself if it would be appropriate for this teacher and this writing piece. When in doubt, check with your teacher. Example: “The sky turns gray and large drops of rain fall onto the pavement like heavy globs of molasses. Staring once more at the limp, lifeless figure, she picks up her phone before resuming her long walk back home.”
- The Anecdote/Personal Story Hook Like the description hook, it’s best to ask yourself if this type of hook would be appropriate for your teacher and for this type of assignment. The anecdote/personal story hook can also be found in narrative essays, and may be longer than the other types. Be careful! Your hook shouldn’t take up a large chunk of your essay. Example: “My face turns bright red and my palms begin to sweat as the host calls my name. After taking a deep breath, I finally make it onto the stage. This is the moment I’ve been preparing for all month. Taking small steps to the microphone, I go over the lyrics in my mind, recounting the moves that go along with each beat. The energy from the crowd fills my lungs with undeniable joy – and power. In the blink of an eye, I’m singing the last verse. The music fades out and I’m walking off the stage, preparing for the bus ride back home, alone.”
- The Statistic Hook The statistic hook gives the reader information right at the beginning. As with any statistics, make sure your numbers are coming from a credible source. They will also need to be accurate and relevant to your essay topic. Example: “According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, research suggests that perseverance combined with passion create an increased focus that allows individuals to reach success.”
- The Fact Hook Like the statistic hook, this type of essay hook gives the reader tangible information right at the start. Try a credible and accurate statistic that is relevant to what you’re discussing in your essay. Example: “According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 34% of Ontario high-school students report moderate-to-serious levels of anxiety and depression symptoms.”
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Good Hooks for Essays: 14 Hook Ideas with Examples
Now here’s the clue.
If you want to wow your teacher, polish the introduction. Add something interesting, funny, shocking, or intriguing. Good essay hooks help you build an emotional connection right from the start. Think of an essay hook as bait for your readers.
Our expert team has prepared numerous examples of hooks for essays. You’ll find hook examples for an argumentative essay, personal story, history essay, and other types of papers.
For 100% clarity, we provided examples using each hook tactic. And a short part about how to write a good hook.
- 💎 What Exactly Is a Hook & How to Write a Good One
- 📜 Examples of Classical Essay Hooks
- 💡 Try Some Informative Essay Hooks
- 🦄 Here are the Most Uncommon Essay Hooks
✅ Good Hooks for Essays: Bonus Tips
- 🔗 References for More Information
We highly recommend reading all the methods and examples, so you don’t have any questions.
💎 How to Write a Hook That Will Work for Your Essay?
The hook of your essay usually appears in the very first sentence.
The average length of an essay hook should be 3-7 sentences, depending on the topic.
But first, let’s quickly go through the key questions.
What Is an Essay Hook?
An essay hook (or narrative hook) is a literary technique that writers use to keep their readers engaged. It shows that the content below is worth reading.
The hook can have different lengths. Some writers make it last for several pages. Though, it better be a short paragraph or even a sentence.
Why Do You Need a Good Essay Hook?
Writing the right hook is essential for a few reasons:
- It heats up your readers’ interest. If you did it right, they read the whole piece.
- It shows off your skills . A right hook presents you as an expert in your field.
- It attracts target audience. Only the readers you want will keep reading.
- It keeps the tension on the right level. Use an intriguing question, and a reader dies to find out the answer.
- It makes a good introduction. Starting your essay off a boring fact is simply not a good idea.
How to Write a Good Hook: Ideas and Examples
Wondering how to grab your readers’ attention from the first sentence? Let’s look at good hooks for essays that you can use for different assignment types!
- Narrative essay
- Argumentative essay
- Analytical essay
- Persuasive speech
- Expository essay
- Research paper
- Informative & persuasive speech
- Personal essay
Next, we will discuss these hook types in more detail. We’ll also provide essay hook examples of less common yet intriguing types: dialogue, story, contradiction, comparison, definition, metaphor, puzzle, announcement, and background information hooks.
💬 The Famous Quote Hook
Use a famous quote as a hook for your essay on history, literature, or even social sciences. It will present you as an established writer. It shows how knowledgeable you are and motivates the readers to engage in the text.
⬇️ Check out examples below ⬇️
Quote Hook Example: Political Science
Hilary Clinton once said that "there cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard." Which creates a discussion about how perfect democracy should look like. If it is a form of government that considers all opinions, why are women silenced so often even nowadays? The truth is that we need to ensure completely equal opportunities for women in politics before we talk about establishing the correct version of democracy.
Social Sciences
"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country." These words of wisdom from John Kennedy reflect the perspective we need to teach the younger generations. For some reason, it has become popular to blame the government for any problem arising in society. Is it their fault that we don't think about waste and keep trashing our home? Social responsibility is a real thing. The well-being of our countries starts with the actions of every separate individual. It is not entirely right to wait until the government fixes all the issues for us. The best strategy is to start thinking about what we can do as a community to make our home even a better place.
And excellent sources of quotes for you:
- Brainyquote.com – you can search quotes by topic or by author.
- Goodreads.com is not only a great collection of e-books but also quotes.
- Quotationspage.com – more than 30,000 quotations for unique essay hooks.
❓Rhetorical Question Essay Hooks
It doesn’t have to be rhetorical – any type of question addressed to your audience will do its job. Such a universal kind of hook can spike the interest of your readers immediately.
Some useful patterns of rhetorical questions:
- What could be more important than…?
- What if there was only one… (chance/day/hour)?
- Who wouldn’t like to… (be a cat/turn visitors into clients)?
- Why bother about… (inequality/imperfect education system)?
- Which is more important: … (making money or realizing potential)?
And more in examples:
Example of a Question Hook on Education
Wouldn't free access to education for everyone be wonderful? The answer would most likely be positive. However, it is not as simple as it seems. As much as the governments try to achieve this goal, there are still many uneducated people. On the bright side, in the era of technology, learning has never been so easy. Of course, some young adults just prefer the shortcut option of taking a student loan. Other ways are much more challenging and require a lot of responsibility and patience. Finding free educational resources online and gaining experience with the help of video tutorials might sound unprofessional. Still, you will be surprised how many experts hired in different fields only received this type of education.
Question Hook Example: Health
Is there anything that can help you lose weight fast? You have probably heard of this magical keto diet that is getting more and more popular worldwide. People claim that it helps them shred those excess pounds in unbelievably short terms. But how healthy is it, and does it suit anyone? The truth is that no diet is universal, and thanks to our differences, some weight-loss methods can even be harmful. Keto diet, for example, leads your body into the state of ketosis. What happens is that you don't receive carbohydrates, and in this state, fat is used as the primary source of energy instead them. However, it carries potential threats.
😂 Anecdotal Essay Hooks
This type would usually be more suitable for literary pieces or personal stories. So, don’t use it for formal topics, such as business and economics. Note that this hook type can be much longer than one sentence. It usually appears as the whole first paragraph itself.
It wouldn't be Kate if she didn't do something weird, so she took a stranger for her best friend this time. There is nothing wrong with it; mistakes like that happen all the time. However, during only five minutes that Kate spent with the stranger, she blabbed too much. Thinking that she sat down at the table that her friend took, Kate was so busy starting on her phone that she didn't notice that it wasn't her friend at all. Sure enough, the naive girl started talking about every little detail of her last night that she spent with her date. It was too much for the ears of an old lady. Kate realized she took the wrong table only when it was too late.
Literature (personal story)
Do not ever underestimate the power of raccoons! Those little furry animals that may look overly cute are too smart and evil. It only takes one box of pizza left outside your house by the delivery person for the disaster to begin. When they smell that delicious pizza, no doors can stop them. They will join the forces to find a hole in your house to squeeze into. Even if it's a window crack four feet above the ground, they know how to get to it. Using their fellow raccoons as the ladder, they get inside the house. They sneak into the kitchen and steal your pizza in front of your eyes and your scared-to-death dog. Not the best first day in the new home, is it?
📈 Fact or Statistic Hook
Looking deeper into your essay topic, you might find some numbers that are quite amusing or shocking. They can serve as perfect hooks for economics- and business-oriented writings. Also, it is better if they are less known.
Business/social sciences
The UAE workforce is culturally diverse since around 20% of employees (usually called expatriates) come from different countries. Ex-pats tend to take managerial positions, which makes communication within companies quite tricky. The training focused on raising cultural awareness is getting more common, but such educational strategies as games (or gamification) are still rarely applied in the UAE companies. Yet, gamification was a useful tool in other places, making it an attractive UAE team building method. It can significantly help integrate ex-pats and create a more culturally aware environment.
Statistic Hook Example in Economics
The United Arab Emirate's debt has been rising drastically in past years, from about US$17 billion in 2003, which is almost 19 percent of GDP, to US$184 billion in 2009. Only a small proportion of the debt can be tracked directly to the public sector. A report by UBS bank shows that most of the debt comes from the corporate sector. Most of the companies that hold the main section of the debt are financial institutions. The public sector partly owns them. Banks in the UAE have been accumulating their debt amounts in the years mentioned above and could now account for 75 percent of the total foreign debt. The discussion is about the reasons why the UAE debt has been rising at an alarming rate.
Some good sources for statistics
- Finance.yahoo.com is perfect for business papers.
- Usa.gov/statistics is an easy-to-use governmental engine for searching data and stats.
- Unstats.un.org provides a massive collection of statistics published by UN organizations
- Oecd-ilibrary.org is the online library of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), featuring its books, papers, and statistics and is a gateway to the OECD’s analysis and data.
🤯 Shocking Facts are Very Good Hooks for Essays
Very similar to a statistical hook, a fact can serve as a perfect engaging introduction. Search your field for some shocking phenomenon and gently insert it in the beginning.
Don’t forget to include a reliable source reinforcing your words!
Fact Hook Example in Economics
Nowadays, much attention is paid to the problem of shark finning around the world. Millions of sharks are killed annually for their fins, and many of them are dropped back to the ocean finless, where they die because of suffocation. In many countries, the idea of shark finning remains illegal and unethical, but the possibility of earning huge money cannot be ignored (Dell'Apa et al. 151). Regarding available technologies, market economies, trade relations, and cheap employment, it does not take much time to organize special trips for shark hunting. The Trade of shark fins is alive and well developed in countries like the United States and China. However, the number of people who are eager to try shark fin soup has considerably decreased during the last several years because of the popularity of anti-shark fin soup campaigns and laws supported worldwide (Mosbergen). The situation continues to change in China.
Daniel Stacey and Ross Kelly observed that long lines and a new gray market trend for bigger screen phones marked Apple's new iPhones debut. As expected, new phone models drew Apple fans outside retail stores (Stacey and Kelly). Global critics, however, noted that this year's lines were generally longer relative to previous periods mainly because of the developing gray market for Apple products. The new Apple's iPhones have larger screens than the previous models. Also, they boast of improved battery life, faster processors, and an enhanced camera. Tim Cook called them "mother of all upgrades" (Stacey and Kelly).
Sources to look for reliable facts:
- Buzzfeed.com – news, videos, quizzes.
- Cracked.com – a website full of funny stuff, like articles, videos, pictures, etc.
- Webmd.com – an incredible collection of medical facts you will love.
- Livescience.com – discoveries hitting on a broad range of fields.
- National Geographic – needs no introduction.
- Mental Floss answers life’s big questions, a compilation of fascinating facts and incredible stories.
🗣️ Dialogue as a Catchy Hook for Essays
Dialogue is another type of hooks that goes perfectly with pieces of literature and stories. It can even make your short essay stand out if you include it at the beginning. But don’t forget that it only concerns specific topics such as literature and history.
Here it is:
Dialogue Hook Example in Literature
– Why did you do it? – I don't know anymore… That's why I'm leaving for a little bit right now. I need time to think.
With these words, Anna stepped back into the train car and waved goodbye to Trevor. She couldn’t even find the right words to explain why she ran away on her wedding day. It wasn’t that she didn’t love Trevor, but there was this deep, natural, and unexplored feeling that told her it wasn’t time yet. But the only thing Anna realized was that the city made her sick. That day, she took off her wedding dress, bought a ticket on the next flight leaving that afternoon, and hopped on the train taking her to the airport. She couldn’t even remember the country’s name she was going to so blurry everything was from her tears.
Dialogue Hook for History Essay
– If we still had inquisition, we could probably set him on fire. – Some dark magic, indeed, my friend! It would have probably been a real dialogue if we knew who was the first automobile inventor for sure. People were undoubtedly shocked to see the cars moving by themselves without horses. However, since they started appearing around the globe around the same time, it is almost impossible to identify who was the original creator of the idea and the first automobile itself. The credit was usually given to Karl Benz from Germany, who created a gasoline car in 1885-1886. But there are also much earlier records of a gentleman named Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, who built the first vehicle powered by steam in France in 1769.
🔮 A Story Looks Like an Extremely Good Essay Hook
A universal essay hook is a story. You can use this trick pretty much anywhere. The main challenge is to be as authentic as possible, try to tell something fresh and engaging. The more specific and narrow the story, the more chances for a successful introduction.
Story Hook Example for an Essay on Business
Dell started fast and strong. The original company was founded in 1984 when the founder was only a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas. Four years after the inception of the company, Michael Dell became the Entrepreneur of the Year. Eight years after he started the company from his dorm room's comfort, Dell was chosen as the Man of the Year by PC Magazine. […] The company was acknowledged as the world's leading direct marketer of personal computers. At the same time, Dell was known as one of the top five PC vendors on the planet (Hunger 9). […] However, the company's journey encountered a major hurdle down the road. Even after recovering from an economic recession in 2010, the company continued to experience declining sales.
🦚 Contradictory Statement – Queen of Good Hooks
Everybody loves to start an argument by contradicting some facts. Therefore, you simply need to add a controversial statement at the beginning of your essay. People of all ages and beliefs will not be able to stop reading it!
Challenging your readers works well for social sciences, business, and psychology topics.
Examples of contradictory statements essay hooks:
If you think being a manager is a calm and relatively easy task, try surviving on five cups of coffee, a sandwich, and two packs of cigarettes a day. You would rather believe that managers only walk around the office and give their staff orders, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, the reality is much harsher than such rainbowy dreams. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. A whole set of personal qualities and professional skills must keep up with the successful strategic planning, assessment, and development. All the tasks the managers need to attend to are nerve-wracking and sometimes almost impossible to do. The stress from the demanding managerial position is often overlooked or underestimated.
Social sciences
Video games have been ruining our kids' lives and leading to an increase in crime. Since the gaming industry's development in recent years, the fear of its adverse effects on the younger generations' brains has become a significant concern. There is such a wide variety of games, ranging from educational to violent shooters and horrors. Almost immediately, caring parents jumped on the latter category, claiming that its impact is too significant and children become more aggressive and uncontrollable. Some supporters of this theory went even further. They decided to link real-life crimes to the effects of violent video games on child and adult behavior. However, as we will see later in this article, there is no or little scientific evidence supporting those ideas.
🔁 Vivid Comparison Essay Hook
Introducing your topic with an engaging, vivid comparison is a universal strategy. It is suitable for any kind of writing. The main idea is to grab your readers’ attention by showing them your unique perspective on the topic. Try to make the comparison amusing and exciting.
Comparison Essay Hook Options:
- Comparison with daily chores (e.g., Proofreading your essays is like cleaning your teeth.)
- Comparison with something everyone hates (e.g., Learning grammar is like going to the dentist.)
- Comparison with something everyone loves (e.g., John was happy like a child eating a free vanilla ice cream.)
- Comparison of modern and old-school phenomena (e.g., Modern email has much in common with pigeon post.)
- Funny comparison (e.g., Justin Bieber is the Michael Jackson of his time)
Check out examples:
Environment
For many people, flying feels like a dream come true. More and more people take their first-ever flight thanks to the rapidly developing aviation technologies. Aircraft and airports are advancing, and air traveling is getting cheaper. However, except for transporting eager travel addicted and business people, planes are used in other ways. It appears that the whole economies across the world depend on the effectiveness and efficiency of airlines. Import and export demand this kind of transportation to work at all times. Aviation development seems like a great thing. However, just like any other technological breakthrough, it comes with a price. Environmental issues did not wait too long to show up.
Social sciences/psychology
Leaving home for the first time as a freshman can only be compared to the level of stress you had in childhood when your mother left you in the line at the checkout for too long. Indeed, becoming a student and moving out of the parent's house comes with a great deal of stress. All the unknown that lies ahead makes youngsters too anxious. Then, the difficulties of financial planning and increased academic pressure come as additional sources of worries. However, it does not have to be such a negative experience. Particular techniques can help students overcome their stress related to the separation from their parents.
📄 Definitions = Easy & Good Hooks for Essays
Another versatile essay hook option is introducing a qualitative definition. Try to make it capacious, and don’t fall into verbal jungles. This narrative hook is perfect for short scientific papers where there is only one focus subject.
Business Ethics
White-collar crime refers to the peaceful offense committed with the intention of gaining unlawful monetary benefits. There are several white-collar crimes that can be executed. They include extortion, insider trading, money laundering, racketeering, securities fraud, and tax evasion. Enron Company was an American based energy company. It was the largest supplier of natural gas in America in the early 1990s. The company had a stunning performance in the 1990s. Despite the excellent performance, stakeholders of the company were concerned about the complexity of the financial statements. The company's management used the complex nature of the financial statements and the accounting standards' weaknesses to manipulate the financial records. The white-collar crime was characterized by inflating the asset values, overstating the reported cash flow, and failure to disclose the financial records' liabilities. This paper carries out an analysis of the Enron scandal as an example of white-collar crime as discussed in the video, The Smartest Guys in the Room.
Motivation is the act of influencing someone to take any action to achieve a particular goal (Montana& Chanov, 2008). Employees' motivation depends on the job's nature, the company's organizational culture, and personal characteristics. In this case study, various theories influence and show how employees can be motivated in the workplace.
📚 Metaphor Hook for Essays
Naturally, using a metaphor as a hook for your essay comes with some limitations. You should only use this type in literature and sometimes in psychology. However, it serves as a great attention grabber if it’s engaging enough.
Let’s see how you can use a metaphor:
When life gives you dirt, don't try to squeeze the juice out of it. It's better to leave it alone and let it dry out a bit. Kate decided to follow this philosophy since nothing else seemed to work. After the painful divorce process, last week's ridiculous work assignments and managing two kids alone almost drove her crazy. No polite discussions, arguing, or bribing helped take care of seemingly a million tasks these little women had to deal with. Even letting out the anger just like her phycologist recommended did not help much. Instead, Kate referred to the last remedy. She put all the issues aside with the hope that it would get better later.
The recipe is relatively easy – take a cup of self-respect, two cups of unconditional love, half a cup of good health, a pinch of new positive experiences, and mix it all for a perfect state of happiness! We all wish it would be possible, right? However, the mystery of this state of being happy is still unsolved. The concept and its perception considerably change depending on time and values. Happiness is so complicated that there is even no universal definition of it. Besides, humans are social creatures, so associating your level of success with others is not unusual. Therefore, being happy means achieving a certain level of several aspects.
🧩 Puzzle? Yes! Amazing Hook for Your Essay
Doesn’t a good riddle grab your attention? Sometimes you just want to find out the answer. The other times, you want to figure out how it is related to the topic. Such a hook would be great for writings on psychology and even economics or business.
Here are the examples:
How many Google office employees you need to destroy a box of fresh donuts? Google is indeed famous for some of the most accommodating and unique working places around the whole world. However, the success of the company does not only appear from treats for employees. It seems that the organizational culture has many effects on business decisions and overall performance. All the staff working in Google share the same visions and values, helping them cooperate and lead the company to success. However, there is one aspect to consider. The organizational culture needs to be adapted to the ever-changing business environment.
Who survives on dirt-like substance, is never joyful, and only returns to the cave to sleep? It sounds horrible, but the correct answer is human. Nowadays, the demands for any kind of workers are rising, which brings tremendous effects on people. As the number of duties increases, it is getting harder for employees not to chug on coffee and come back home in time for a family dinner. The work-life balance is disturbed, leading to anxiety, relationship issues, and even health problems. Social life appears to be as important as making money. Therefore, the correct distribution of time between personal life and work duties is necessary for happiness.
📢 Announcement Is Also a Good Essay Hook Option
Announcements could be suitable for literary pieces and historical essays.
Such a hook doesn’t have to be too long. It should be significant enough to persuade your readers to stick to your writing. Make sure it aligns with your topic as well.
Ways to use announcements as essay hooks:
It was a revolution! The Beatle's first song came out in 1962, and almost immediately, hordes of fans pledged their loyalty to this new band. Nearly all youngsters became obsessed with their music. No one can deny that the Beatles are still considered the creators of some of the best songs in history. However, the arrival of the British band influences culture as well. Many photos depict girls going crazy on live concerts and guys shaping their haircuts after the Beatles' members. The revolution that the band brought left an impact, evidence that we can still trace in modern British culture and music.
I will never go to Starbucks again! Oh, no, mind me. I love their coffee. At some point in my life, I even thought I had an addiction and had to ask my friends to watch my consumption of Pumpkin Spice Latte. Then, the wind of change turned everything upside down. On my usual Starbucks morning run, I noticed a homeless man holding a paper cup begging for money. At first, I didn't pay much attention since it's a usual occurrence in our area. However, one day, I recognized my old neighbor in him. The only cash I had on me, I usually spent on my cup of coffee, but I decided it was not much of a sacrifice. From that moment, I only showed up on that street to shove a few bucks into that poor guy's cup. One day, to my surprise, he talked to me.
ℹ️ Background Information Essay Hook
Last but not least, give background information on your subject to make a good intro. Such an essay hook is effortless and suitable for practically any paper. Try to find the most unobvious angle to the background information. At the same time, keep it short and substantive.
Here are the ways to use background information essay hooks:
Air Arabia is among the leading low-cost carriers in the global airline industry. The airline is mainly based at the Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Air Arabia, 2012). The airline came into inception in 2003 after His Highness Dr. Sheik Mohammed Al Qassimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, issued an Emiri Decree. Later, Air Arabia was transformed into a limited liability company. For nearly a decade, Air Arabia has witnessed tremendous growth, resulting in increased fleet size and improved sales revenues. At the same time, Air Arabia has created a renowned brand that offers reliable and safe services (Dubai Media Incorporated, 2012). Air Arabia identifies itself as a low-cost carrier by providing low fares in the industry. Some of the key strengths of the airline include punctuality and safety. This aims to ensure that the airline serves its customers most efficiently by observing its safety requirements and adhering to the landing and takeoff schedules (De Kluyver, 2010).
Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in the Arkansas United States in 1962 as a grocery store. The company, which operates a chain of over 8,000 stores in fifteen countries, is estimated to employ over two million employees from diverse backgrounds. Wal-Mart was incorporated in 1969 and started trading in the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. […] Although the company can leave its consumers with a saving due to its low-price policy, it has faced some sharp criticisms over how it treats its employees and other stakeholders. Wal-Mart boasts of its ability to save its customers' money, an average of $950 per year. This, however, has been criticized as harming the community. Also, the feminists' activists have focused on Walmart's misconduct in offering low prices. (Fraedrich, Ferrell & Ferrell 440)
Now we won’t keep you for long. Let’s just go through simple points of essay hook writing.
Someone may think that you have to write your hook first. It comes first in the paper, right?
In reality, though, you can wait until your entire essay is nearly finished. Then go back and rewrite the very first paragraph. This way, you can have a fresh look at what you’ve written in the beginning.
Here’s a simple plan you can follow.
- First, write a basic version of your thesis statement.
- Then, provide supporting evidence for your thesis in every body paragraph.
- After that, reword your thesis statement and write your concluding paragraph.
- Finally, search for an attention-grabbing fact, statistic, or anything from the list above to serve as an engaging essay hook.
Add this essay hook to the beginning of your introduction. Make sure that your ideas still flow naturally into your thesis statement.
⚠️ Pro tip: choose various hooks and play around, adding each hook to your introduction paragraph. Like this, you can determine which one makes the most impressive beginning to your paper.
Some of your choices may sound interesting but may not lead to your essay’s main point. Don’t panic! Paper writing always involves trial and error. Just keep trying your essay hook ideas until one fits perfectly.
That’s it 😊
Good luck with your work!
🔗 References
- Hook – Examples and Definition of Hook
- How to Engage the Reader in the Opening Paragraph – BBC
- Hooks and Attention Grabbers; George Brown College Writing Centre
- Hook Examples and Definition; Literary Devices
- What Is a Narrative Hook? Video
- How to: Writing Hooks or Attention-Getting Openings-YouTube
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Research paper analysis: how to analyze a research article + example.
How to Write a Hook for an Essay
Ever hear that you never get a second chance to make a first impression? Well, that’s just as true for your writing as it is for meeting new people!
That’s because, to a reader, diving into something you have written is often the very first chance they have to discover anything about you. The first things they read help shape how they feel about you. And, of course, whether they want to keep reading at all!
To make a great impression, and to keep readers excited and engaged, you need a good hook. But what is a hook, and how can you craft an awesome one? That’s what we’ll explore below, by talking through different kinds of writing you may want to write a hook for, and then offering specific examples that you can use for inspiration.
What is a hook in an essay?
The hook is the first statement in a piece of writing. It may be composed of one sentence (generally for shorter pieces) or multiple sentences (for longer ones), but the goal of any good hook is to firmly get the reader’s attention.
This is one reason why both high school teachers and college professors often emphasize the importance of essay hooks when writing college essays (for example, with a Literary Analysis ). The title of your written work may be enough to get people to check it out, the same way you might click on an online article with an interesting title. However, an essay hook does the same thing for your essay that an exciting opening does for any article: it makes the reader excited to keep reading!
In this guide, we are mostly focusing on writing good hooks for essays. However, the general principles here extend to almost any form of audience communication. From personal statements to speeches and presentations, it’s virtually always important to strike a good impression by getting someone’s attention in an interesting way.
What are some good hooks for essays?
There are several standard approaches to writing a hook that can work well for many different types of writing:
An intriguing rhetorical question
A suprising fact or statistic
A relevant quotation
An interesting anecdote
An evocative image or description
A common misconception
But some of these approaches work better (sometimes much better) than others depending on what you’re writing. For example, a good hook for a personal narrative probably doesn’t fit with a research paper. So below, we have examples of a hook in an essay for different styles of papers. Use these sections, along with resources in our College Writing Center , to develop your own hooks for the writing tasks in front of you!
Adjusting hooks based on prompt and purpose
Creating the hook in an essay is often a difficult skill for writers to master. That’s because there is no “one size fits all” for how to create a hook for an essay. Instead, learning how to make a hook for an essay depends on your exact writing prompt as well as your exact purpose.
Below, we have important info on how to start a hook for an essay for a wide variety of different prompts and purposes. This information can help you create more dynamic essays no matter what your ultimate goal may be.
Writing a hook for an argumentative essay
“What is a hook in an essay?” This is something students usually first learn about when they are writing essays for high school classes, though sometimes students make it to college without a clear understanding of what a hook is and how to build one. And when the essay is argumentative , it’s important to learn how to create a properly argumentative hook.
A hook in an essay making a firm argument needs to do more than get the reader’s attention. Ideally, such a hook will also serve to set up and frame the argument so as to subtly get the reader on your side before they even discover your thesis. In this way, you can change the conversation before the reader even knows what you are talking about!
While not the only way to make argumentative hooks, one effective technique is to ask an interesting rhetorical question and using the word “you.” Because readers naturally want to answer questions, and because they are being directly addressed, these readers will perk up when reading your hook.
Finally, consider that because the hook is at the very beginning of your essay, this gives you creative freedom to be a tad mysterious in how you present certain ideas. In fact, the hook is basically the only part of your essay where being mysterious may be beneficial!
Example of a hook for an argumentative essay
Again, in an argumentative essay, the best hooks are the ones that both get the reader’s attention and get them to almost subconsciously take your side even before they know what that side is. For example, let’s say that you are writing a paper in which you oppose creating additional firearm legislation. Such a paper might start with a hook such as “What if your government were putting your family in danger, and you didn’t even know it?”
Here, we are deliberately playing into the mystery by not explicitly mentioning guns (but note that we probably don’t want to keep it mysterious for too long, or we might lose our reader). This makes the reader curious about the “danger” they are in, especially when we mention their family. At the same time, we are creating an oppositional view of the government, planting seeds for our eventual anti-legislation thesis.
Writing a hook for a personal statement
How to write a hook in an essay is a bit different when you are writing a personal statement . That’s because you aren’t introducing readers to an argumentative thesis. Instead, you are getting their attention in a way that also creates a positive impression of you as both a person and a writer.
In other words, a personal statement addressed to, say, a university undergraduate admissions committee has one major goal: to sell you to the reader. To clarify: most undergraduate colleges in the US admit most students who apply . But if you’re applying to competitive schools, your personal statement needs to demonstrate the kind of value you plan to bring to the institution.
Because of this, you need to craft your hook to match the rest of the statement. For example, if you are going to describe how you overcame an unforeseen challenge, a good hook might start with a moment of high tension before you present the challenge as it appeared to you at first: encompassing and insurmountable. This adds narrative weight to the part of your statement where you describe overcoming what seemed to be impossible. Or if you’re building a montage , an intriguing image might pull us in.
Long story short? You need to figure out how you want to structure your essay content . Then, you can craft a hook that perfectly leads into the rest of the work. Again, don’t underestimate how you can portray things mysteriously at the beginning of the essay to both showcase your creativity and to build reader interest!
Example of a hook for a personal statement
It’s easier said than done, but a good hook for a personal statement helps to establish tone and focus or even what kind of person you are while setting up the rest of the statement. For instance, let’s say I am writing a statement for a university application and the prompt asks the writer to describe a time when they overcame a great challenge or obstacle. The hook for such an essay might go like this: “I found myself face down on the wet mud, covered in equal parts hot shame and cold dirt. Nobody was as surprised as me, though, when I began to get back up again.”
Here, we use sensory details to capture the reader’s imagination and really put them into the moment. In this case, the moment is one of great failure and humiliation. Crucially, though, part of the hook involves quite literally rising from this failure. This shows the admission committee what kind of person you are: one who may get knocked down 10 times but will get up 11.
Writing a hook for a personal narrative
Writing a good hook for an essay may seem particularly daunting when you are writing a personal narrative. By definition, a personal narrative is a story of your life. Therefore, good essay hooks for such narratives need to both get the readers’ attention and introduce you to readers as a sympathetic character.
What does this mean in practice? Rather than touching on much (if anything) about the outside world, a personal narrative hook should usually share something about you as a person. Ideally, this shouldn’t just be basic info. Instead, it should be something that reveals more intimate information about you to your reader.
This might include writing about how you felt when a loved one died, or how it felt when you tried your best and you failed. It can be tough to write, but this level of vulnerability never fails to get the reader’s attention. And done well, such a hook instantly tells readers more about what kind of person you are. This may add some much-needed flavor and context to the rest of the narrative.
Example of a hook for a personal narrative
Writing a personal narrative involves a high degree of vulnerability. You are letting readers see past your exterior and glimpse who you really are. Therefore, a good hook for such a narrative should lean into this emotional rawness while telling us more about who you are as a person. For example, such a hook may read, “Nothing was ever the same since my grandmother died. Or at least, nothing would ever be the same about me again.”
There is obviously a kinship between the personal statement and the personal narrative. However, personal statements are generally about helping readers understand your values, insights, skills, qualities, and interests. Personal narratives, however, get more into how both the challenges and triumphs of your life have defined who you are as a person. And our hook above sets up a great personal tragedy that serves as a defining point of the writer’s life.
Writing a hook for literary analysis
Good essay hooks can be particularly difficult when you are writing a literary analysis (for an in-depth guide, head to that link). After all, when you are writing about someone else’s work, it can be daunting to try to come up with something very memorable on your own.
One possible approach to this hook is the classic: “if you can’t beat’em, join’em.” For example, you could always begin your literary analysis with a quote from the literature in question. You then follow this up with interesting commentary that helps to contextualize the rest of your intro.
You could also return to the argumentative technique of asking a rhetorical question but focusing it on something related to the literature. This helps readers think about old works in new ways and serves as a jumping off point for your own analysis.
However you begin the hook to your literary analysis essay, it’s important to demonstrate two things at the same time: one, that you know the written material very well. And two, that you know how to get the reader’s attention from the very first sentence.
Example of a hook in a literary analysis
When you write a literary analysis, it is sometimes difficult to find something new and unique to say. The last thing you want to do is just retell what happened in the story without adding anything to it! That’s why your hook needs to both get the reader’s attention and also showcase that you have something unique to say about the work you are analyzing.
One way to do this is to use a rhetorical question regarding some aspect of the work. The question needs to get the reader’s attention while simultaneously demonstrating your knowledge of the subject and the uniqueness of what you have to say. For example, in a literary analysis of The Great Gatsby , you might have a hook that begins, “What happens when you finally grasp the American dream and then feel it slip through your hands like a warm summer rain? This perfectly describes both Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway. But as you read The Great Gatsby , it’s impossible to shake the feeling that it will describe all of us sooner or later.”
This hook serves as a dynamic introduction to your paper. It also helps set the stage for analyzing how the rise and fall of these characters is mirrored by the rise and fall of America itself. Finally, that evocative first line shows that not only do you have something unique to say, but that you have a way of expressing it that is worthy of this classic work of literature.
Writing a hook for a research paper
The methods for how to write a good hook for an essay change a bit when you are writing a research paper . That’s because research essays are typically a bit more down-to-earth than, say, an argumentative essay. As such, your hooks shouldn’t swing for the fences so much as they should provide surprising insights based on the research itself.
For example, depending on your research essay topic, one or more “scary stats” can really get readers’ attention because these stats help quantify some of the things you plan to write about. It’s one thing to call something like obesity in America a “growing” concern, and this may even elicit a mild chuckle from your reader (puns!). However, a cited statistic about how nearly 72% of the country is overweight instantly makes your reader sit up and pay closer attention.
While startling facts or stats are a great fit for almost any type of research paper, they resonate particularly well if you are arguing about the need to solve a major dilemma. Because these stats help outline why the problem is so major even as they get readers’ attention, you’ll be likelier to have these readers on your side as you begin discussing the need to solve this dilemma.
Example of a hook in a research paper
In a research paper, one of your major goals should be to establish your authority and expertise. The essay itself is going to build on the research you have conducted. And fittingly enough, clever use of the right research can help you create an unforgettable hook.
For example, let’s say that you are writing on the topic of solving homelessness in America. One very evocative way of beginning your essay would be to write, “America currently has more than 17 million vacant homes, yet somehow, homelessness has never been a bigger problem.”
The eye-opening stat alone is sure to get your reader’s attention. At the same time, it helps to highlight the absurdity of this particular problem by highlighting the obvious possible solution. This helps to get the reader on your side as you passionately argue for solving the issue.
Hook vs lead-in transition to the thesis
As you can tell, writing a hook for an essay can be challenging enough on its own. However, it can be extra challenging when you confuse the hook with other important parts of your intro.
For example, some writers confuse the hook with the lead-in transition to the thesis itself. To avoid this confusion, it’s important to learn how these different intro components play very different roles in your writing.
In practice, a good hook makes a difference when it comes to whether or not someone willingly continues to read what you have written. Think of it like this: a great title makes somebody curious enough to check out your writing in the first place. If they think the essay is boring or otherwise mundane, they stop reading. But if they think you have something surprising, insightful, or just plain funny to say based on your first sentence, they’ll probably keep going.
A hook is always at the beginning of your essay. However, as a general rule, it’s best to have your thesis at the end of your introductory paragraph or section. Because of this, your lead-in transition to the thesis occurs right before the thesis itself.
How do you write a lead-in transition to your thesis? It’s helpful to think of your introduction as an upside down triangle with the following components: a title (if used/needed) that makes readers curious, a hook that gets their attention, a surface level of background info, and then deeper background info. This deeper background info should provide more context and effectively serve as a lead-in transition to your thesis. For example, in an argumentative paper, you might have a lead-in describing the different sides people have taken about this topic before providing a thesis that lets readers know exactly where you stand on the matter.
One approach: Write your hook after you’ve finished your essay
Here’s some slightly unconventional writing advice. Next time you are stressing over hooks to start an essay , consider writing your body paragraphs and conclusion first . You can then go back and create a perfectly bespoke intro, complete with engaging hook.
When you get right down to it, writing the intro first is very difficult for most writers. After all, you are introducing us to an essay you haven’t written yet. Once you write out more of the essay, you should have an easier time developing every aspect of the thesis, including crafting a killer hook.
Get that first impression “write”
With these examples of a hook in an essay, you can do more than craft a better essay. You can also create a killer first impression right out of the gate!
It’s important to remember that a good hook can make the difference between whether someone delves deeper into your writing or decides to bail out right away. By mastering the skills of getting someone’s attention in such a way, you will become a better writer, speaker, and presenter. And each day presents another chance to hone your writing skills and create hooks and entire essays better than anything you have ever written before!
Special thanks to Chris for writing this blog post
Chris Snellgrove is an English Professor at Northwest Florida State College who specializes in literature, rhetoric, and business writing. As a freelance writer, Chris specializes in sales, marketing, pop culture, and video games. He has a B.A. in English from Troy University and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Auburn University. When he’s not writing or talking to others about writing, Chris loves reading books, playing video games, watching horror movies, and disappearing into a comic book. He currently lives in Northwest Florida and would probably rather be at the beach right now.
Top values: Diversity / Equality / Social Justice
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7 Good Hooks for Essays – with College Essay Examples
July 17, 2024
Good Hooks for Essays with College Essay Examples — we begin with an example…
I felt a bead of sweat drip down my cheek as I stared at the blank document, ready to begin my first college essay. I wanted to type something, but my fingers sat still as though I’d forgotten how to use a keyboard. How do start?
Perhaps you can relate to this image. As it turns out, imagery itself could solve the problem for this writer.
As you write your college essays you should aim to engage your readers from the very first sentence. Why is this important? While college admissions officers may have already peered at your grades and activity lists, your essay is their first opportunity to get a sense of your unique personality. While you should avoid overloading your essay with complex metaphors and statistics (this could make you seem disorganized, insincere, or snobbish), a slightly unconventional or surprising start to the essay can work wonders.
We advise applicants to strengthen their college essays by beginning with hooks , or statements that pull in the attention of readers. Great hooks often come in the form of images, questions, strong declarations, and more. Continue reading for 7 types of great hooks for college essays, as well as college essay hook examples for each.
Good Hooks for Essays with College Essay Examples
1) tell a story.
This one is a personal favorite. A story hook involves beginning with a short anecdote related to your essay topic. Connecting your topic to a story is a great way to make your essay more exciting and memorable overall. With this hook type, it’s important that your story connects to your essay topic. It’s also important that it doesn’t become too long or unwieldy (a strong story can often be told in 1-3 sentences). Regardless, a story hook will likely be a bit longer than the other hooks you might use.
Example 1: I would spend my Sundays strolling through the aisles of the fabric store, touching various laces and chiffons. I was fascinated by the colors and textures, inspired to create something, though I had no clue how to do so without some kind of unattainable expertise. One Sunday in early autumn, I met the woman who would teach me how to sew, leading me on the path to becoming a costume designer for our school plays.
(Through this story, the applicant appeals to the reader’s senses and successfully prepares for a discussion about their sewing and costume design experience).
Example 2: As we picked up trash along the trail, reaching for sharp bottle caps and sticky candy wrappers glimmering in the sunlight, I thought about how each one of these remnants could end up in the world’s oceans. My summer of volunteering at the state park confirmed my interest in pursuing environmental science.
(This story hook perfectly sets up a college essay about one’s community service experience and passion for environmental science).
Good Hooks for Essays with College Essay Examples (Continued)
2) describe something interesting.
Similar to the story hook, the description hook draws in readers by recounting a vivid scene, which may or may not feed into a longer story. Used frequently in many types of writing, the point of the description is to develop intrigue, making readers curious to know more.
Example 1: Rain poured down as I sat in the car, hearing only loud thumps against the windshield. The sky was darkening and my phone had almost completely lost signal. With nowhere to go and no one to call, I came to a realization.
(Playing off of the “ it was a dark and stormy night ” trope, this application writer develops intrigue by describing a lonely, rainy, and possibly frightening atmosphere).
Example 2: My grandmother’s homemade blintzes were always warm and cloud-like, with soft and sweet cheese oozing from their edges. Nobody in the family could make blintzes like she could. With each bite, I imagined her grandmother making them for her, and more generally, her life in Poland before she immigrated to the United States.
(Describing a familiar recipe or family tradition is a great way to lead into a discussion of one’s culture and identity).
3) Ask a thought-provoking question
You might also begin by asking a question related to your essay topic. Asking an interesting question, especially one that the reader may not have thought of, commonly leads to a desire to continue reading for the answer. This can be a rhetorical question (one that lends itself to an obvious answer, often used to make a point) or a genuine question (one you are sincerely asking yourself or someone else).
Example 1: Who wouldn’t want to be a Broadway star?
(This rhetorical question could begin an essay about an applicant who yearns to be onstage and pursue theater in college, or who once desired to act on stage but now wants to apply their theater background to a psychology major. Though of course not everyone wants to be a Broadway star, the rhetorical framing reveals the author’s perspective).
Example 2: When is it okay to eat animals?
(This genuine question could begin an essay about an applicant who grapples with the food industry, perhaps one who works or grew up on a farm or in the food service industry).
4) Make a declaration
If you’re writing about a topic that you feel strongly about, you may start with a declarative statement. Perhaps this statement is widely agreed upon, or maybe it’s more of a “hot take” (a controversial opinion that your reader could disagree with). Either way, you should support this statement as the essay unfolds. This hook is strongest when short and concise.
Example 1: In most situations, it’s far better to listen than to speak.
(This declaration sets the stage for discussing the skill of listening, perhaps a situation in which listening skills came in handy for the college applicant).
Example 2: Reality TV offers crucial life lessons.
(This is an example of a more surprising “hot take,” since readers may not expect to hear that important life lessons can be learned from seemingly-frivolous reality TV. If supported thoughtfully, this hook can demonstrate the applicant’s confidence and humor).
5) Quote someone
Similar to declarations, quotes are often used because they are powerful, succinct, and eye-catching. Additionally, their familiarity or trustworthiness can add credibility to a college essay. Strong quotes can come from a variety of sources, from famous scientists, to politicians, to favorite high school teachers, to a book or film characters. Quotes can be moving, inspirational, thought-provoking, or funny, so long as they connect clearly to your essay topic.
Example 1: Author, poet, and Civil Rights Movement activist Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
(This famous quote by an important literary figure is perfect for setting up a discussion on the importance of doing good deeds or treating others with kindness).
Example 2: “The road to success is always under construction,” stated actress and comedian Lily Tomlin .
(If you’d like to give your essay a humorous edge, why not quote a comedian? This quote hook might introduce an essay that describes some bumps in the road along the way to success).
6) Give a surprising fact or statistic
Especially if your essay discusses scientific issues, social phenomena, or current events, it can be interesting to begin with a fact that the reader may not already know. Whether or not your fact contains statistics, it’s important to make sure the information comes from a credible source (which you should cite). You might visit The Pew Research Center , or a reputable newspaper or magazine such as The New York Times , The Guardian , or National Geographic . As with other types of hooks, make sure your fact connects to the rest of your essay and your life (your college essay should primarily be about your own identity and interests, as much as you might find it interesting to discuss a current event or political issue).
Example 1: Though women outnumber men in the U.S. college-educated workforce, they only make up about a third of workers in the country’s 10 highest-paying jobs ( Pew Research Center ).
(An applicant using this hook might continue on to discuss how they have dedicated themselves to feminist issues and plan to continue doing so in college).
Example 2: More than 40% of plastic is only used once, before being tossed ( National Geographic ).
(An applicant might be introducing an essay about starting an initiative at school to reduce plastic waste).
7) Name a common misconception
The common misconception hook challenges readers to rethink an assumption, or something commonly taken for granted. This can be an intriguing start to a college essay, while also demonstrating the writer’s capacity to reflect and think critically.
Example 1: Many believe that meditation is about emptying the mind, getting rid of all thoughts in order to find an ultimate state of calm. However, I’ve come to understand that it’s actually about focusing on the present.
(This would be a great way to begin an essay about how and why someone began meditating, and what the practice has taught them over the years).
Example 2: While people commonly associate “being intelligent” with having a wealth of facts memorized, being able to quickly complete math problems or memorize SAT words, a theory demonstrates that humans actually have 8 types of intelligence, including spatial intelligence and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence ( CNBC ).
(This applicant might go on to discuss spatial and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, and what they have learned from practicing volleyball and modern dance).
Further reading
If you are in fact sitting in front of the computer, having difficulty with the start of your college essays, hopefully these 7 types of essay hooks have offered some inspiration. While they are great ways to begin your Common App essay, tools such as quotes, facts, and stories can be useful in your body paragraphs and conclusions. They can also apply to your supplemental essays, including those on diversity and community .
For more advice to ease your college essay writing process, check out the following articles:
- Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
- College Application Essay Topics to Avoid—2024-25
- 25 Inspiring College Essay Ideas
- How to Brainstorm a College Essay
- Common App Essay Prompts—2024-25
- 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples—2024
- “Why This College?” Essay Examples
- College Essay
Sarah Mininsohn
With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.
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Essay Writing Guide
Hook Examples
Last updated on: Jun 28, 2024
Hook Examples: How to Start Your Essay Effectively
By: Nova A.
15 min read
Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.
Published on: Feb 19, 2019
Tired of getting poor grades on your high school or college essays? Feeling lost when it comes to captivating your professor's attention?
Whether you're a high school or college student, the constant stream of essays, assignments, and projects can be overwhelming. But fear not!
There's a secret weapon at your disposal: hooks.
These attention-grabbing phrases are the key to keeping your reader hooked and eager for more. In this blog, we'll explore powerful essay hook examples that will solve all your essay writing concerns.
So let’s get started!
On this Page
What is an Essay Hook?
An essay hook is the opening sentence or a few sentences in an essay that grab the reader's attention and engage them from the very beginning. It is called a " hook " because it is designed to reel in the reader and make them interested in reading the rest of the essay.
The purpose of an essay hook is to:
- Grab the reader's attention from the very beginning
- Create curiosity and intrigue
- Engage the reader emotionally
- Establish the tone and direction of the essay
- Make the reader want to continue reading
- Provide a seamless transition into the rest of the essay
- Set the stage for the main argument or narrative
- Make the essay memorable and stand out
- Demonstrate the writer's skill in captivating an audience
Check out our complete guide on how to start an essay here!
How to Write a Hook?
The opening lines of your essay serve as the hook, capturing your reader's attention right from the start. Remember, the hook is a part of your essay introduction and shouldn't replace it.
A well-crafted introduction consists of a hook followed by a thesis statement . While the hook attracts the reader, the thesis statement explains the main points of your essay.
To write an effective hook, consider the following aspects:
- Understand the nature of the literary work you're addressing.
- Familiarize yourself with your audience's preferences and interests.
- Clearly define the purpose behind your essay writing.
Keep in mind that the hook should be directly related to the main topic or idea of your writing piece. When it comes to essays or other academic papers, you can employ various types of hooks that align with your specific requirements.
Learn more about Hook Statements in this informative Video!
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?”
- "Ever wondered what lies beneath the ocean's depths? Dive into an underwater adventure and uncover the wonders of the deep sea."
- "Have you ever pondered the true meaning of happiness? Join us on a quest to unravel the secrets of lasting joy."
- Ready to challenge your limits? How far would you go to achieve your dreams and become the best version of yourself?"
- "Curious about the future of technology? Can you envision a world where robots and humans coexist harmoniously?"
- "Are you tired of the same old recipes? Spice up your culinary repertoire with exotic flavors and innovative cooking techniques."
- "Are you ready to take control of your finances? Imagine a life of financial freedom and the possibilities it brings."
- "Ever wondered what it takes to create a masterpiece? Discover the untold stories behind the world's most celebrated works of art."
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.
Here are the quotes you can use to start your essay:
- “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.”
- The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
- "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein
- "Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." - Sam Levenson
- "Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt
- "The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker
- "The harder I work, the luckier I get." - Samuel Goldwyn
- "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." - Will Rogers
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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.
- “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.”
- "Did you know that 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs fail within their first year? Discover the secrets of the successful 20% and defy the odds."
- "According to recent studies, people spend an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes on social media every day. Is it time to reevaluate our digital habits?"
- "Did you know that over 75% of communication is non-verbal? Explore the power of body language and unlock the secrets of effective communication."
- "Research shows that 1 in 4 adults suffer from mental health issues. It's time to break the stigma and prioritize our well-being."
- "Did you know that nearly 70% of consumers rely on online reviews before making a purchase? Build trust and boost your business with positive feedback."
- "According to recent data, the global e-commerce industry is projected to reach $6.38 trillion by 2024. Don't miss out on the digital revolution."
- "Did you know that 80% of car accidents are caused by distracted driving? Let's put an end to this dangerous epidemic."
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.”
Here are some more anecdotal hook examples:
- "Picture this: It was a cold winter's night, the snowflakes gently falling from the sky, as I embarked on a journey that would change my life forever..."
- "I still remember the day vividly, sitting in my grandmother's kitchen, the aroma of freshly baked cookies filling the air. Little did I know, that day would teach me a valuable lesson about the power of kindness..."
- "It was a crowded subway ride during rush hour, everyone lost in their own world. But then, a stranger's act of generosity restored my faith in humanity..."
- "As I stepped onto the stage, the spotlight shining down, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. It was in that moment, I realized the transformative power of facing your fears..."
- "In the heart of the bustling city, amidst the noise and chaos, I stumbled upon a hidden park, an oasis of serenity that reminded me of the importance of finding peace within ourselves..."
- "The dusty attic held countless treasures, but it was the tattered journal that caught my eye. As I flipped through its pages, I discovered the untold story of my ancestors, and a connection to my roots I never knew I had..."
- "Lost in the maze of a foreign city, unable to speak the language, I relied on the kindness of strangers who became my unexpected guides and lifelong friends..."
- "As the final notes of the symphony resonated through the concert hall, the audience erupted in a thunderous applause. It was in that moment, I witnessed the pure magic that music can evoke..."
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…”
- "Growing up, I was the shyest kid in the classroom. But one day, a simple act of courage changed the course of my life forever..."
- "I'll never forget the exhilarating rush I felt as I crossed the finish line of my first marathon, defying all odds and proving to myself that anything is possible..."
- "At the age of 18, I packed my bags, bid farewell to familiarity, and embarked on a solo adventure across the globe. Little did I know, it would become the journey of self-discovery I had always longed for..."
- "As a single parent, juggling multiple jobs and responsibilities, I faced countless obstacles. But my unwavering determination and the support of my loved ones propelled me towards success..."
- "It was a rainy day when I stumbled upon an old, forgotten journal in my grandmother's attic. Its pages held untold stories and secrets that would unearth the hidden truths of our family history..."
- "The sound of applause echoed through the auditorium as I stepped onto the stage, my heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. Little did I know, that performance would be a turning point in my artistic journey..."
- "After years of battling self-doubt, I finally found the courage to pursue my passion for writing. The moment I held my published book in my hands, I knew I had conquered my fears and embraced my true calling..."
- "As a volunteer in a remote village, I witnessed the resilience and strength of the human spirit. The people I met and the stories they shared forever changed my perspective on life..."
- "In the midst of a turbulent relationship, I made the difficult decision to walk away and embark on a journey of self-love and rediscovery. It was through that process that I found my own worth and reclaimed my happiness..."
In the next section we will be discussing hook examples for different kinds of essays.
Surprising Statement Hook
A surprising statement hook is a bold and unexpected statement that grabs the reader's attention and piques their curiosity. It challenges their assumptions and compels them to delve deeper into the topic. Example:
- "Contrary to popular belief, spiders are our unsung heroes, silently protecting our homes from pesky insects and maintaining delicate ecological balance."
- "Forget what you know about time management. The key to productivity lies in working less, not more."
- "In a world where technology dominates, studies show that the old-fashioned pen and paper can boost memory and learning."
- "You'll be shocked to discover that the average person spends more time scrolling through social media than sleeping."
- "Contrary to popular belief, introverts possess hidden powers that can make them exceptional leaders."
- "Prepare to be amazed: chocolate can actually be beneficial for your health when consumed in moderation."
- "Buckle up, because recent research reveals that multitasking can actually make you less productive, not more."
- "Did you know that learning a new language can slow down the aging process and keep your brain sharp?"
- "Hold onto your hats: studies suggest that taking regular naps can enhance your overall productivity and creativity."
- "You won't believe it, but playing video games in moderation can enhance problem-solving skills and boost cognitive function."
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.”
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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.”
Subject-wise Hook Examples
Here are 20+ interesting hook examples across various subjects:
- Technology: "Imagine a world where machines can read our thoughts. Welcome to the future of mind-reading technology."
- Health and Wellness: "Did you know that a simple 10-minute meditation can change your entire day? Unlock the transformative power of mindfulness."
- Environment: "The clock is ticking. Discover the urgent and astonishing truth behind the disappearing rainforests."
- Travel: "Pack your bags and leave your comfort zone behind. Uncover the hidden gems of off-the-beaten-path destinations."
- History: "Step into the shoes of a time traveler as we unravel the untold secrets of ancient civilizations."
- Science: "Prepare to be amazed as we dive into the mind-bending world of quantum physics and its implications for our understanding of reality."
- Education: "Traditional classrooms are a thing of the past. Explore the innovative and disruptive trends shaping the future of education."
- Food and Cooking: "Savor the tantalizing flavors of a culinary revolution, where unexpected ingredient pairings redefine the boundaries of taste."
- Psychology: "Unmask the hidden forces that drive our decision-making and explore the fascinating world of subconscious influences."
- Art and Creativity: "Witness the collision of colors and ideas in a mesmerizing display of artistic expression. Unlock your inner creativity."
- Finance: "Escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and discover the path to financial freedom. It's time to take control of your wealth."
- Sports: "Feel the adrenaline surge as we uncover the captivating stories behind the world's most legendary sports moments."
- Relationships: "Love in the digital age: How technology has transformed the way we connect, flirt, and navigate modern relationships."
- Self-Improvement: "Embark on a journey of self-discovery and learn the life-changing habits that lead to personal growth and fulfillment."
- Business and Entrepreneurship: "From startup to success story: Explore the rollercoaster ride of building and scaling a thriving business."
- Fashion: "Step into the fashion revolution as we decode the latest trends and unveil the stories behind iconic designer collections."
- Music: "Unleash the power of music: How melodies, rhythms, and lyrics can touch our souls and evoke powerful emotions."
- Politics: "Behind closed doors: Delve into the intriguing world of political maneuvering and the impact on global affairs."
- Nature and Wildlife: "Journey to the untouched corners of our planet, where awe-inspiring creatures and breathtaking landscapes await."
- Literature: "Enter the realm of literary magic as we explore the profound symbolism and hidden meanings within beloved classics."
In conclusion, these were some catchy hook examples just to give you an idea. You can make use of any one of these types according to your paper and its requirements. Generate free essays through our AI essay writer , to see how it's done!
The key to making your essay stand out from the rest is to have a strong introduction. While it is the major part, there’s more that goes into writing a good essay.
If you are still unable to come up with an exciting hook, and searching “ who can write my essay ?”. The expert essay writers at 5StarEssays.com are just a click away. Reach out to our essay writer today and have an engaging opening for your essay.
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.
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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.
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How to Write a Hook For an Informative Essay
Do you know that a person needs 5 seconds to decide whether or not they want to continue reading your essay? This fact justifies the critical role of an introductory paragraph and its first sentence in particular:
It grabs readers’ attention and provides them with something engaging, so they would like to stay and keep investigating your work.
In the academic world, we know such attention-grabbers as essay hooks . In this post, we reveal the secrets of how to write a hook for an informative essay .
Table of Contents:
1.What is a Hook for Essay? 2.3 Essay Hook Types to Use in Informative Papers 3.Ways to write an informative essay hook 4.Writing Tips for Crafting a Good Hook for Essays 5.Informative essay hook examples 6.Ready to Write the Best Hook for Your Informative Essay Now? 7.Frequently asked questions
What is a Hook for Essay?
A hook in essays is an opening statement (the first sentence) aimed at grabbing readers’ attention and making them want to continue reading and learn more.
Why a hook?
It serves as a lure to “catch” a reader. As an author, you appeal to their curiosity, emotions, or FOMO (fear of missing out) to encourage them to take the desired action ( i.e., continue reading your paper).
Please note that an essay hook doesn’t equal an essay introduction!
A hook opens your intro, and then you introduce a topic/background and write a thesis — all these are elements of an essay’s first paragraph:
If you’re a long-time reader of our blog here at Bid4Papers, you could see our super-duper popular post about writing a good hook for an essay , with a long list of strategies to try and examples to follow.
Here’s a quick recap of essay hook ideas (You’ll use different ones, depending on the essay type):
- Quote (from literature or famous people)
- Anecdote/Joke
- Fact/Misconception
- Thesis statement
- Strong statement
That’s all fine, but which of them do work for writing hooks for an informative essay?
3 Essay Hook Types to Use in Informative Papers
Think of your teacher or anyone reading your essay: They have tons and tons of papers to check, so you need to make yours stand out. If you make a good first impression in your introductory paragraph, then your teacher is more likely to read the rest of your essay positively.
The hook of your informative essay should be of 1-2 sentences; think of quality over quantity.
Given the nature of informative essays, which are formal and based on proven research, you can’t use hooks like anecdotes or personal stories. The top three hooks for this type of academic writing are as follows:
- A statistic
Now, for more details on each one:
1) Interesting Facts
Start your essay with a rare or unexpected fact about your topic: Try to find something that might surprise a reader, and avoid dull information everyone heard thousands of times already.
What you need is an intriguing fact related to your topic to grab attention and evoke curiosity.
For example:
- “Female ferrets die if they don’t mate once they go into heat. Too much estrogen production which does not stop until they mate will eventually cause death.”
- “Almost two-thirds of American adults at some point in their life lived in a home with at least one gun.”
- “The human body is comprised of 10 times more bacteria than cells.”
2) Questions
You can start an informative essay with a question that relates to your topic.
This hook helps you evoke a reader’s interest in your essay and encourage them to continue reading it. Please do your best to avoid general questions.
Feel free to use these sentence starters for your questions:
- Have you ever…?
- What would you do…?
- How would you feel…?
Here go a few examples:
- “Which superhero is the greatest in the DC universe?”
- “Have you ever watched the high-flying, jump shooting, slam-dunking, ankle-breaking players that play in the NBA?”
- “How would you feel if you knew you can lose 40 pounds in a month without any fad diet?”
- “What is the difference between successful college students and unsuccessful college students?”
3) Statistics
Use statistical data to hook readers with new facts, but be sure to include the source: Cite studies to build credibility.
- “People lie in 1 out of 5 conversations lasting more than 10 minutes, according to Allison Komet from Psychology Today magazine.”
- “Just 0.00545% 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.”
- “The average iceberg weighs over 100,000 metric tons.”
Ways to write an informative essay hook
Simple instructions will help you not get confused and write a good hook for an informative essay. Just distribute the work into several steps:
- Create an outline of your essay. You will need to select the main topics and focus on them, select a goal, and focus on a particular audience.
- Write a persuasive thesis statement. You need to make sure that your thesis statement will fit the topic of the essay and be specific enough. This will help you develop the right hook.
- Create a hook. First and foremost, focus on the hook’s relevance, which should get to the audience’s heart. Be aware of their interests, desires, or even fears. Be sure to find the best common ground between you and the audience to make the hook work properly.
The question of how to write a hook sentence is not that difficult because you can use an interesting fact, anecdote, or a few intriguing statistics. A good strategy is to use a quote that will immediately set the tone for your essay. The main goal is to interest the reader in the scholarly work fully.
Writing Tips for Crafting a Good Hook for Essays
Now that you know how to write a hook for an informative essay, the below writing tips can help you craft that first sentence for an even better impression:
1) Never start your essay with “I”
First, the phrases like “I want to tell you..,” “My essay will be about..,” and others of that kind are signals of poor writing. They are super common, telling a teacher about your lack of creativity , vocabulary, and ability to express your thoughts on paper.
And second, it’s against the rules of informative writing. You can the second- (“you”) and third-person (“it,” “she,” “he,” “they”) pronouns when writing informative essays, not the first-person ones (“I”, “we”).
2) Imagine your ideal reader
It stands to reason that your teacher assigns an informative essay, so you know that this teacher will be the one to read and estimate it. But this fact won’t help you write a nice starter for your paper; instead, you can get stuck and won’t understand what to write to impress your teacher.
Try to change a perspective:
Imagine you write this essay for a popular magazine or some top-notch blog. Who’d be your reader? What fact or question could hook them and engage them to keep reading? What words and tone to use to encourage them?
3) Review, revise, and edit your hook
With three types of hooks available for informative essays, ask yourself which one would fit your work best. Don’t overwhelm a reader with too much information: Keep your first sentence simple but engaging.
A PRO TIP: Write a hook after your whole essay is ready.
It’s simple:
You can’t know what will hook a reader before you research, investigate the topic, and write about it. Once you finish the draft, you’ll see what hook would help you clarify a thesis and fit your work better.
Don’t be afraid of revising and editing your hook. It’s okay to craft a few variants and then choose the best one, that connects the beginning of your informative essay to its conclusion.
Informative essay hook examples
We suggest you familiarize yourself with what informative essay hook examples are good and elicit the right reaction from readers. This will help you better prepare for writing an academic paper and develop your hook. Remember to focus primarily on the audience you want to hook.
64% of American children own firearms to some degree.
Only 55% of men can live to 62 with mobility and a clear mind.
What’s the difference between successful people who dropped out of college and those who didn’t but achieved nothing.
Ready to Write the Best Hook for Your Informative Essay Now?
So, here’s a recap:
An essay hook is the first 1-2 sentences of your paper’s introduction, aimed at grabbing readers’ attention and engaging them to keep reading the rest of your work. Hooks are many, but only three of them fit informative: a fact, a question, and a statistic. You are welcome to come up with all three and then decide which one would introduce your essay best.
And if in doubt, you can always ask for professional advice from Bid4Papers writers . Oh, and please don’t be afraid to consult with a teacher assigning the task: It’s a common practice, and it’s your chance to demonstrate your interest and desire to deal with that informative essay the best you can!
Frequently asked questions
Especially for the readers of our blog, we have gathered a large collection of useful information. It will help you enough to understand the aspects of using hooks.
What are the essay hooks?
First, a hook for informative essay is a simple tool that authors use to keep readers’ attention. Thanks to this, the chance of reading your research paper greatly increases.
Why add hooks to the essay?
The main purpose of using the hook is that not everyone is willing to take the time to do your work, which means you need to get them interested. This is an opportunity to present interesting information or persuasion at once.
What hook to choose for writing an informative essay?
Experts recommend opting for a statistical option or a hook with an interesting question. Such formats best suit the informational style because they allow you to give more data.
How to write a hook for an informative essay?
You need to think about your audience and their passions. Find common ground, and don’t forget the need to create an emotional connection. After that, your readers will be hooked.
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Jul 16, 2024 · Conclusion: The Qualities of a Good Essay Hook. As I wrap up this article, I want to share a few last tips on qualities that a good essay hook should have. Keep these tips in mind when writing your essay hook and using the above essay hook examples: First, relevance. A good hook should be directly relevant to the topic or theme of your essay.
Mar 22, 2023 · Argumentative Essay Hook Examples. Argumentative hook examples can be a great tool to draw readers in and engage them with an argumentative essay. Let's look at some hook examples for argumentative essay: "The world we live in today is drastically different from what it used to be - and much of this change has been caused by technology"
Jul 27, 2023 · An essay hook also sets the tone for the rest of your essay. For example, an unexpected statistic in an essay’s first line can tell the reader that the rest of the essay will dispel myths and shed light on the essay’s topic. 6 types of essay hooks 1 Rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions are popular essay hooks
Without further ado, here are 7 types of hooks for essays, with examples, to get readers curious about what you have to say! Keep in mind that every teacher is different. Some teachers may find any of these hooks perfectly acceptable, while others may find some of them to be overused, so it is best to have an idea of your teacher’s preferred ...
A universal essay hook is a story. You can use this trick pretty much anywhere. The main challenge is to be as authentic as possible, try to tell something fresh and engaging. The more specific and narrow the story, the more chances for a successful introduction. Story Hook Example for an Essay on Business
Jan 4, 2023 · So below, we have examples of a hook in an essay for different styles of papers. Use these sections, along with resources in our College Writing Center, to develop your own hooks for the writing tasks in front of you! Adjusting hooks based on prompt and purpose. Creating the hook in an essay is often a difficult skill for writers to master.
Jul 17, 2024 · Great hooks often come in the form of images, questions, strong declarations, and more. Continue reading for 7 types of great hooks for college essays, as well as college essay hook examples for each. Good Hooks for Essays with College Essay Examples 1) Tell a story. This one is a personal favorite.
Feb 19, 2019 · 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 ...
May 12, 2021 · Looking for hook examples that can help with your own opening sentence? Allow inspiration to strike you with this list of different hook sentence examples.
Jul 4, 2022 · Informative essay hook examples We suggest you familiarize yourself with what informative essay hook examples are good and elicit the right reaction from readers. This will help you better prepare for writing an academic paper and develop your hook.