A hook for an essay is practically an attention grabber. You want the reader’s interest when you write something. Start with a boring introduction and your readers will not necessarily get hooked in. Sure, they may get some interest in time if your work is good enough, but some of them will quit before even getting there. From this point of view, learning how to write a hook for an essay can work wonders.
Here are some great ideas to come up with a good hook for your work.
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The intriguing question
Come up with an interesting question that relates to your work. Make sure the answer is not that relevant – the reader must go through your essay in order to find it. People have a natural interest. When they hear an interesting question, they want to know the answer right away. What is the difference between successful business owners and unsuccessful business owners? Why do cats land on their feet?
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The appealing fact
Facts can be extraordinary because they provide specific information about a particular topic. You can impress your professor or the readers with a bit of evidence, as well as your knowledge. These facts must be extremely accurate and checkable. You also need to work on finding something interesting that would draw interest straight away. Plus, your statement must be researched and from a reliable source.
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The story
You can also come up with a story when not sure how to write a hook for an essay. Who can say no to a good story? Make sure you come up with something memorable. It does not necessarily have to be your story though. Its size depends on how long the essay is – it should not take too much out of it. Other than that, think about your audience. Would a story make sense in this course? Would it make a good hook?
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The quote
A quote makes a good hook for an essay under lots of circumstances. It can come from any direction. It could be a quote from a famous person, but you can also come up with a quote from someone you know. It obviously needs to connect to the essay and more importantly, it must be strong. You do not need an average quote, but something that brings in powerful and striking words. You want your audience to remember it and get fascinated. Furthermore, it may not be a good idea to bring in a cliché quote. Stay away from those quotes that everyone knows – find something different that will get everyone interested in your work.
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The statement
A strong statement will also hook people in. They may agree or disagree. On the same note, you can support the statement or argue against it. People will want to know which way you are going and what kind of evidence you bring in.
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The description
The description must be so deep and detailed that your readers should be able to see a scene right in front of their eyes. They must be able to picture everything in the smallest details. She screamed in pain and limped into the field. Her finger was cut and blood was streaming, leaving a trail behind her. It makes you curious about what happened, right? Again, you must ensure such a hook will be acceptable in your course. Plus, the description must be accurate and very detailed, so people get hooked in.
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The metaphor
A metaphor will make your readers see the topic or the things you describe in a completely different way. You get to compare one thing with a different thing. They are not related, but there must be something you can find to draw some attention. A simile can be just as handy – it is similar to a metaphor, but it is a different thing. You can use a few simple words to connect them and draw some attention.
Bottom line, you do not have to be a genius to learn how to write a hook for an essay. Make sure the hook you choose is suitable for your course and think of a few different alternatives in order to come up with an enticing hook – you want a few options to choose from.