Essay Hooks

If you've been wondering how to make your readers interested in an essay, the best solution is to use effective essay hooks. What are they and how to use them? Read on to find out.

You might have been asking yourself why some essays grab your attention from the very first lines, and the others don't? Why are you curious about what happens next and what makes you keep reading it? The answer is quite simple – it's all due to an interesting and appealing introduction. To be more specific, the right and appropriate essay hook will guarantee you the success of your essay.

A hook for essays is the first one or two sentences you use in the introductory paragraphs to intrigue the readers. They have to give a hint on the essay's topic and at the same time awake real emotions in your readers. It doesn't matter if you'll make them fear, astonish, curious, etc. The point is that you introduce a thought that makes them think and want to read further.
There are different kinds of essay hooks. Some of them will be more appropriate for your topic and you have to think very carefully which one to choose. These are the most popular ones you can try to include to your introduction:

Quotation
This is the best hook for essays when you can't come up with a witty or thought-provoking statement by yourself. Use the words of famous writers, poets, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, etc. to emphasize the importance of the topic you're about to discuss. A little tip: check several sources, don't rely only on a single one. You need to make sure this quote belongs to that particular author and the wording is correct.

Question
If you need your readers to think about some serious problems or present a bewildering piece of information, start your essay with a question. Once we hear a question, there's a natural need to concentrate on it and find the answer. This essay hook works very well in persuasive essays.

Astonishing Statement
Write something unusual, something no one is expecting to hear or read. The tricky part here is to make sure it's not completely out of context. You can't just write a random phrase that is astonishing but has nothing to do with the topic of your essay.

Anecdote
If you know a good joke or anecdote that fits your topic, don't hesitate to use it. It will help you to create an instant bonding with your readers. Just make sure it's funny, don't disappoint the audience from the beginning.

Facts
One of the most commonly used essays hook is factual information. If you need to convince your readers of something or prove your point of view, there's no better way than presenting the facts. Nobody can deny the facts. The important part though is to check their validity. They have to be up-to-date and specific.

Analogy
This essay hook is of great help when it comes to explaining some phenomena that are difficult to understand. Make it easier for your readers to be on the same page with you and use simple analogies.

While using these essay hooks, don't forget to pay close attention to the descriptive words. Nothing is more appealing to a reader than creating a vivid picture in her mind. But don't try to describe every single detail. There has to be a place for a reader's imagination. Your story has to feel like their own. Let them add their adjectives to create their own world with your help.