Set the hook expertly and with patience.
Why do we need a hook?
An effective introduction always begins with an engaging hook. The hook starts a conversation with the reader in a way that is interesting and appropriate to the writing. A good hook demonstrates that you know your audience and that you understand what they care about. Most importantly, it makes the reader want to keep reading. A good hook prepares the reader to absorb the nitty-gritty details, facts, statistics and quotations that will be a big part of your text and evidence-based essay, and it does it in a way that motivates the reader to want to go down this path with you.
Slow Your Roll
A good hook shouldn’t be rushed. A lot of writers want to get right into the facts and figures; they want to present the argument or thesis immediately. They basically want to “answer the question” quickly so that they can get on with finishing the essay and move on to other things. The problem with this approach is that it can sometimes seem too formal, too rushed or even dull. Additionally, the hook is a great place to some length and “heft”to your essay. Some writers complain that their compositions are too short. Well, the hook is one place where you can beef the essay up a little.
As an additional bonus, the hook is one place in your essay where you can get a little creative, literary even. Here’s something to remember, if it was fun to write your hook, it will be fun for your reader to read your hook. Of course, the length of the introduction’s hook does depend on how much time you have to finish your essay. Timed essays and short responses will have shorter and more quickly created hooks than essays that are written over the course of several days.
Hook Models
Provided here are a number of specific hook-writing techniques that you can use to begin your essay. Some are quick and to-the-point, some more developed and complex. Some are formal, some informal. While you’re writing, you can quickly access each of these techniques by drawing down the pulldown curtain located in the bottom-center of the hook writing frame.
All of these models and techniques should help you to start your essay introductions effectively. In each of the examples to follow, the essay prompt or thesis will be included. The hook itself will be highlighted in blue. In each example the hook will transition into the thesis statement and the beginning of the first POP so you can see how it looks as it blends in with the rest of the introductory paragraph.
Hook Technique 1: The Expert
Begin this hook by introducing an expert on the topic who provides a knowledgeable perspective that supports your thesis. This technique immediately lends credibility to your writing. Look at the following example:
Type of essay: persuasive / argumentative
The prompt: Pit Bulls are commonly considered to be unpredictable and even vicious animals. They are frequently portrayed in the media as enough of a societal threat that they should be subject to stringent leashing requirements and prohibited from public spaces such as playgrounds and dog parks. Do you believe that pit bulls should be singled out and restricted because of their vicious natures?
The Hook
Camryn Rogers is a professional dog trainer in Southern California and at any given time she owns or houses anywhere from seven to twenty dogs. You could say she is a bit canine-obsessed. Over time, Camryn has learned to reliably assess the relative temperament of most dog breeds. She even has developed a temperament scale which provides a ferociousness/ friendliness score for most common canine breeds. Surprisingly, pit bulls, dogs that are popularly considered to be very aggressive, tend to score in the “friendly” spectrum of this scale. According to Rogers, many of her most docile and loyal dogs are, in fact, American Bull Terriers or pit bulls. “They really are a very misunderstood breed”, says Rogers. Rogers is not alone in her defense of the breed. The evidence shows that despite frequent attempts by the media and public at large to portray pit bulls as vicious and savage animals, they are in fact a friendly and loyal breed, and any attempt to treat them as especially dangerous would be irrational and unfair. This paper will show that despite popular conceptions, pitbulls are statistically…
Why this hook works:
We tend to trust experts, and the expert dog trainer introduced in this hook not only brings a deep knowledge of dogs to the table, she also reveals something we don’t expect – pit bulls actually aren’t the vicious animals everyone would like us to believe they are. The hook works not only because the expert testimony creates a sense of trust and importance, but also because the testimony supports an interesting and unexpected point of view. Also notice how the hook smoothly transitions into the thesis statement.
Hook Technique 2: Setting the Scene
With this hook you drop the reader directly into a compelling scene or setting. This technique allows you to show off some of your narrative/ storytelling skills while setting the scene for a number of different types of essays.
Type of essay: persuasive / argumentative
The prompt: People have a natural, almost primal fear of rattlesnakes. Often the first reaction to seeing a rattler in a residential area is panic and fear. In areas such as suburban Southern California, is it possible for rattlesnakes and humans to coexist with one another?
The Hook
Perfectly still, except for a flickering, forked tongue, lies a prehistoric-looking serpent, sunning itself on the terracotta tiles of somebody’s back porch. It’s eyes are black pinpricks, and its rusty-brown scales glisten like glass. Only when disturbed or annoyed does it sound it’s wickedly dry rattle. “Stay away away or suffer the consequences!” it announces rhythmically. While most cautious folks would take great care to give wide berth to such a creature, the residents of Southern California’s Northridge suburb have grown quite accustomed to the sound of the Mojave rattlesnake in a state of agitation. Does the rattling cause these residents to panic? Not really. The sound creates instead a healthy sense of cautiousness, curiosity and respect. Human beings and rattlesnakes seem a truly unlikely pair, but in many suburban regions of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada people and rattlers have coexisted in the most unexpected ways. You might even call the relationship downright amicable. This paper will focus on examples of…
Why this hook works
The fearsome image of an agitated rattlesnake on the back porch is bound to get any reader’s attention. This hook is descriptive, even literary, and it capitalizes on the fear factor. Then it shifts to the unexpected — these deadly snakes aren’t that big of a deal to certain California suburbanites. The hook is effective for three reasons: it creates a sense of excitement; it switches gears unexpectedly; it transitions smoothly into the thesis. Give this technique a try.
Hook Technique 3: Reflective/ Philosophical:
In this approach to a hook you allow yourself to philosophize or to supply some reflective background relating to the theme of the topic you are writing about. This will prepare your reader in advance to think more deeply about the topic to come. This approach shows that you are serious.
Type of essay: response to literature
The prompt: In a multiple-paragraph essay discuss a recurring theme that is addressed in Smokey Robinson’s two songs, “The Tracks of My Tears” and “The Tears of a Clown”
The Hook:
Love hurts, a wise man once claimed. That fellow must have been on to something because their are literally catalogues of popular music dedicated to the subject of heartbreak and its affect on its unfortunate victims. There are, one might surmise, dozens of ways to react to unrequited or rejected love and the subsequent turmoil it causes. Dark and desperate melancholy; “I’m so lonely I could cry”, wailed Hank Williams in the face of being left by a woman. Jimi Hendrix scribed an ode to revenge when he wailed, “Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down.” The Clash’s Mick Jones isn’t quite as extreme as Jimi’s desperate Joe, but still sounds disappointed when he asks, “Did you stand by me? No, not at all. Did you stand by me? No way.” Of course, another common reaction to heartbreak is good old-fashioned repression and denial. Such is the case in Smokey Robinson’s songs, “The Tracks of My Tears” and “The Tears of a Clown”. These songs, both lyrically and musically, explore the feelings men who wear masks of happiness to hide deep heartache caused by being rejected by the ones they love. This paper will focus not only on…
Why this hook works
The writer of this hook knows her music history and gives three consecutive lyrical examples of how the subject of heartbreak has been handled by other famous rock and pop musicians. The hook reflects on the ubiquitous nature of this theme in popular music. It also transitions seamlessly into the thesis statement.
Another Reflective/Philosophical Hook
Type of essay: response to literature
The Prompt: Sonnet 130 (My Mistress’s Eyes) and “My Funny Valentine” are two comparable literary expressions of love. In a multiple-paragraph essay, discuss how these two works, despite being very different forms written in very different eras, handle themes surrounding love.
“I know only one duty, and that is to love”. Such sentiments as these spoken by Albert Camus remind the reader that as St. Valentine’s Day approaches, one cannot help but contemplate not only the act of being in love, but also how to best express one’s love in the most effective way. Failing in this regard is not an option, as the consequences might prove awkward, embarrassing or even painful. For this reason, people prone to romance have for centuries studied and emulated love poetry written by the masters in an attempt to uncover the secrets of truly expressive and convincing declarations of infatuation and amour. Pablo Neruda, Percy Shelley and Emily Bronte, to name a few have provided the world with romantic love poem templates that have most assuredly been nicked by the lovelorn for decades. There are so many fabulous examples that it seems quite odd that anyone would resort to mimicking verse that casts dispersions or even insults towards one’s lover. That’s what makes William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 and Rodgers and Hart’s “My Funny Valentine” so very interesting. These two very popular, but very unlikely expressions of love can be compared in a number of intriguing ways. Both works are notable in that they seem to……
Why this hook works
The hook reflects on the very nature of love poetry and muses on why people seek and study examples of such verse to use in their own lives. The mention of a few heavyweights gives it a bit of gravity. The gears get switched a little when we learn that the two poems that are going to be analyzed might contain insults. The transition between this part of the hook and the thesis statement is very smooth. Adding on a quote by the philosopher Albert Camus helps to further engage the reader.
Hook Technique 4: Present a Real and Relatable Experience
Sometimes the best way to engage the reader is to appeal to ideas, thoughts or experiences that they have had or are having. This technique often involves asking direct questions of the reader, then presenting a scenario that they likely have experienced.
Type of essay: Response to literature
The Prompt: In a text-evidence-based, multiple-paragraph essay, discuss how the opinions expressed in the literature of Walt Whitman, Pink Floyd, Albert Einstein and the bloggers of quora all present similar criticism of education, educational reform and learning in general.
Have you ever wanted to just get up in the middle of class, tell the teacher a thing or two about how poorly he does his job, and then straight up walk out of the classroom? Have you ever been so bored during a lecture that you wanted to throw your hands up and yell, “I quit!” I’d wager that most students have had this fantasy at least once in their school careers. The fact is, whether teachers care to admit it or not, their teaching methods are sometimes intolerably boring or annoying to their students. So, it’s not surprising that students sometimes tune out, act out or dream about taking off without permission. This is precisely what happens to the student in Walt Whitman’s poem, “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” when he leaves the lecture hall after realizing that the lecturer’s overly math-oriented explanation of the stars is not for him. All of the literature we have been analyzing recently seem to be comparable to Whitman’s poem in terms of how they comment on the issues of education, educational reform and learning in general. I will begin this paper with an analysis of…..
Why this hook works
Most people, students and teachers included, can probably relate to being bored or annoyed by a teacher. This hook takes advantage of that common experience. This hook also personalizes the essay by asking a series of questions of the reader. This is an add-on technique that will be covered a little later on. This hook transitions smoothly into the thesis by mentioning one of the literary works to be analyzed, Whitman’s “When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer”.
Hook Technique 5: Present Alternative Theories
This technique draws the reader in by offering a number of different possible answers to the prompt before settling on your own theory and thesis. If done properly, this technique can build suspense.
Type of essay: Research / Argumentative
The prompt: In a multiple-paragraph essay explore a factor or several factors that led to the sinking of the RMS Titanic and the deaths of over 1,500 passengers.
The Hook:
For more than 100 years now people have been asking the question, “What really caused the Titanic to sink?” and “Who was responsible for the tragedy?” This tragedy remains, perhaps, one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in history. Several people could probably be blamed for the tragic sinking of the legendary cruise liner. For many, the ship’s captain, Edward J. Smith is a prime and obvious suspect. After all, as the skipper, shouldn’t the buck have stopped with him? Many blame the captain of the Californian, Stanley Lord who ignored the frantic distress calls of the nearby Titanic on the night of the catastrophe. Maybe he could have saved those 1,500 victims had he just paying better attention. Still others blame non-human factors such as bad rivets, bad weather or just plain bad luck. But who or what was really to blame for the sinking of the Titanic and the loss of all those unfortunate souls? I believe that it is clear from the evidence that it was the Titanic’s chief architect, Thomas Andrews, who was mainly responsible for the tragic event. Afterall, It was Andrews who…..
Why this hook works
Background is provided here as alternative suspects responsible for the tragedy are presented one by one. A bit of suspense is created as well as the reader naturally attempts to guess which one of the possible causes is the one the reader will point the finger at. Finally, expectations become shifted when “none of the above are chosen” and Thomas Andrews takes the blame. This hook sort of has a “courtroom drama” feel to it. Adding on two rhetorical questions at the outset help to engage the reader as well. Give this method a shot.
Hook Technique 6: The Personal Anecdote
With this technique you yourself become a character. This hook is more intimate than the others. It says, “I have something personal to share with you.” Usually the anecdote is a related memory or experience of essayist’s that can relate directly to the prompt or thesis. There is something old fashioned about this strategy. Starting with a story is a tried-and-true, quaint method for beginning an essay.
Type of essay: response to literature
The prompt: In a text-evidence-based, multiple-paragraph essay, give your reaction to Denise Levertov’s short poem, “Moon Tiger”.
When I was quite young, I was possessed of a wild and uncontrollable imagination that would at the slightest provocation convert the ordinary and mundane into the fantastic and bizarre. This, of course was especially true at night. At nighttime the trees outside by the streetlight would become an two assassins conspiring to commit a crime . A dog’s howl was was the spirit of a tormented soul. I remember that when my mom would turn out the lights in my room, the floor would transform into a wall-to-wall nest of deadly vipers ready to strike if I attempted to escape. It is with this, perhaps somewhat twisted background, that I approach Denise Levertov’s elusive poem, “Moon Tiger”. There are a lot of possible explanations as to what the moon tiger from the poem actually is. Some say it’s a house cat or an intruder. Others argue that the mysterious creature represents a more abstract concept such as time or even death. But, after careful reading and analysis, however, it seems fairly obvious that the moon tiger is, quite simply, the moonlight coming into a child’s room through the jalousies or louvered blinds. This theory can be traced…
Why this hook works
By talking about his own childhood, the writer gives this paragraph a decidedly personal and perhaps even informal touch. The hook has a literary feel that allows the writer to bring a touch of his own creative style.
Hook Technique 7: Provide Background Information
Sometimes your reader needs some context. Certain arguments or explanations will be lost on your audience if you do not provide them with critical background information. Think of this technique as getting your readers caught up so that they might follow your logic.
Example 1
Type of essay: persuasive / school newspaper editorial
The prompt: Our principal announced recently that, based on a recommendation from our school’s booster club, she would likely be setting aside most of our $500,000 in State bond funds for the purchase of football stadium lights. Advocates of his plan are excited by the prospect of finally being able to enjoy some Friday night games; they believe stadium lights will create a sense of school tradition and spirit. Opponents contend that diverting these funds would hurt the school’s academic programs and that this money would be more wisely spent on purchasing new textbooks, hiring more teachers or creating a computer lab. In a multiple-paragraph, evidence-based essay, argue why the available funds be used to purchase football stadium lights, as our principal and boosters wish, or whether they should be set aside for our academic program.
It’s actually pretty amazing. At a time when it seems that funding for schools is rapidly disappearing, Whitney High School has suddenly been graced with $500,000 to make improvements to our campus. How did we get so lucky, you ask? Well, if you haven’t heard, principal MacGuire was approached last month by district officials who informed her that a stockpile of State bond money had been discovered and some of it was earmarked for Whitney – a half-million dollars, to be exact. The talk around campus has regarding how to spend these funds has been quite energetic. Students, teachers and alumni groups have all weighed in. One of the most vocal of these groups has been our powerful boosters club who have advocated that we use the funding to construct football stadium lights so that Whitney can finally host night games. The proposed cost of such a project? $488,000 — almost the entire amount that we will be receiving in bond money. While football stadium lights certainly would create a “Friday Night Lights” atmosphere and increase our school spirit, this is not how we should be spending this money. A much better long-term investment would be to…
Why this hook works
It cannot be assumed that the reader of this opinion piece is aware that these state bond funds even exist. The basic and necessary facts need to be laid out clearly so that everyone is on the same page. The tone here is professional and neutral. It is not yet time to bring in the opinion of the essayist. That will come a little later.
Example #2
Type of essay: response to literature
The prompt: In the novel Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech uses subtle hints and clues about events that will happen later in her story. This type of literary technique is known as foreshadowing. In a multiple-paragraph, evidence-based essay, discuss how Creech uses foreshadowing to create suspense, build tension and set up plot developments that occur later in the novel.
This school year has been quite the literary journey. Thanks to the sound tutelage of our teacher, Ms. Torres, we have explored an impressive array literary techniques and devices that writers employ to grab our attention, challenge our imaginations and cause us to dig deeper into the works we read. Figurative language was fun. I thought Pablo Neruda’s use of metaphor and simile was particularly skillful. Our study of mood and tone was intriguing. Who knew that certain words held such emotional impact. Most recently we have been studying foreshadowing, that subtle sign or warning that writers use to signal what is to come later in the story. This device has turned out to be one of my favorites and it is used to great effect in the novel we just recently finished, Walk Two Moons. In this tale, the author, Sharon Creech, uses ample foreshadowing to provide the reader with hints and clues about the deaths of three important characters in the story. The use of this technique creates
Why this hook works
This background information is more informal and directly towards fellow classmates or the teacher herself. Sometimes, if you know your audience is just your classmates, you can discuss your collective experience as students and learners. This walk-down-memory-lane approach can be very engaging for your peers
Hook Add-ons
The following techniques don’t necessarily work as complete hooks on their own, but they work nicely as add-ons or attachments to the previously suggested hook strategies. They certainly add some ”spice”, but will not get you to the full 4-6 sentences that you really want for a fully-developed, conversation-starting hook.
Add-on # 1 — Add a Quote
Begin your hook with a quote by a famous person or start things off with a relevant and/or philosophical or literary quote. Then transition into the rest of your hook. In the following examples, the quote add-on will be highlighted in light blue.
Example 1
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” These words of Nick Carraway from Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, perfectly describe…” Continue on with the rest of the hook
Example 2
“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Agree or not, but these words from The Alchemist determine…” Continue on with the rest of the hook
Add-on #2 — Begin with a series of questions
Ask a series of rhetorical questions. Readers naturally want to answer questions that you ask them, so this strategy can be immediately engaging. Is usually best to begin with two or three back-to back questions, then transition onto the rest of your hook. The technique is highlighted here in light blue.
Example 1
Did you know that turtles are capable of breathing from their butts? Were you aware that penguins can go three months without food? Would it surprise you that rattlesnakes can “see” your heat signature? All these things are true and they dramatize the amazing abilities that animals possess. Continue on with the rest of the hook
Example 2
Is the driver of a vehicle always at fault when an accident occurs? Or can the car itself sometimes be blamed when things go awry on the road? And can the rules of cars on the road be applied to the rules of ships on the sea? Such questions are interesting to consider when discussing one of the most famous maritime disasters in history, the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. Continue on with the rest of the hook
