How to Write a Hook for an Essay
A surprising essay hook can take many forms, and this deviation from the typical opening line of an essay—a dull, explanatory sentence—is what makes this hook so surprising. Quotes, dialogue, jokes, and shocking facts or statistics can surprise and delight the reader. For example, another surprising hook for this essay might be: The likelihood of a pigeon pooping on you is less than 1%—so if it happens, consider yourself lucky!
Opening your essay with "Imagine this" used to be an interesting way to put your readers in a scenario and set the context for your essay. But now, it's far too cliched and just another lazy attempt to write an essay hook.Â
Here's the thing: definitions put people to sleep. Readers don't want to see a formal, jargon-heavy definition of a topic as the very first line of an essay. Your opening statement should have some personality in it to show readers they're in for an exciting read.Â
How to Write Great Essay Hooks (Tips + Examples) - Wordtune
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?
But never fear! In this guide, we’ll look at all the best ways to write a good hook for a college essay. Whether surprising, interrogative, intense, declarative, or evocative, your hook should be sharp enough to reel in the biggest fish of all: your top-choice school.
The main thing you need to know about an essay hook is that it always comes at the beginning of the essay—it will almost always be the first sentence of your . If the reader isn’t interested in your essay from the beginning, they may start skimming or worse, stop reading.
It’s important to remember that if you ask a question, the answer should be somewhere in your essay. You may not have to answer the question directly, especially if you’re asking a philosophical question, like “Why do bad things happen to good people?” but if your hook is interrogative, you should spend at least part of your essay articulating an answer.
What are some good hooks I could use for my personal essay?
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.
Learn how to write a hook (attention-getting intro) for an essay
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 .
How to Write a Good Hook for Essays with Examples - Paperpal
are popular essay hooks because they make readers think. For example, an 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.
What is an example of a hook essay? - Quora
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.
How to WRITE A HOOK for Your Essay - YouTube
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.
How to Write a Good Hook for a College Essay | HelloCollege
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.