How to Write a Hook

How to Write a Hook

Abstract

Good hooking statements must grab the attention of the intended readers. For instance, the attention-getter makes the introduction to stand out. Quality attention getters motivate the readers to have a positive attitude towards one’s work. Good hooks set the stage for other people to read the essay and understand the basic concepts presented. The common types of attention getters include quotations, statistics, rhetorical questions, conflict, adding an antagonist, strong statement or declaration catchphrase, the metaphor or smile hook, exciting descriptions and questions, and creating a dread factor. These hooks vary from one subject to the other. This statement implies that the student should consider the topic and subject when developing a hook. From the examples given of these attention grabbers, writers should focus on writing unique statements. One should avoid copying quotes from other essays. However, quotation and statistics hooks are exceptional cases where one can use words spoken by famous people or data presented in authentic sources.

Keywords: Hook, quotations, statistics, rhetorical questions, conflict, antagonist, declaration, metaphor, smile, compelling descriptions, and dread factor.

How to Write a Hook

A hook refers to the piece of writing that begins an essay and engages the reading audience. In practice, a hook can be one or a group of sentences that draw the attention of the target audience. A right hook must spark a person’s curiosity. In this case, whoever reads the hook tends to wonder what happens next. Such emotions play a crucial role in allowing people to read through the entire paper.  Outstanding essays must begin with a hook, which makes readers develop a positive attitude towards the work.

Ways of Writing a Hook

• Quotation – one can quote a phrase that relates to the topic of the essay. This method allows readers to have the urge to read through the composition and determine if the writer supports or responds to the quotation. One can uses excerpts from a famous person or a relevant scholarly article. However, the reference must relate to the topic.
• Statistics – using figures that relate to the topic question is a novel way that one can use to capture the reader’s attention. From a practical perspective, statistics motivate the readers to identify how they relate to the narrative. This method of hooking readers is crucial since it provides real information about the topic in question. One can impress the audience with unique knowledge and evidence from the beginning of the essay. However, one must focus on including accurate, reliable, and interesting facts.
• Rhetorical question – rhetorical questions create a dramatic effect and intend to make a specific point rather than obtaining an answer. This method allows one to begin a discourse, which can engage the readers’ thoughts. Besides, these questions allow authors to put across their opinion on a topic. In such instances, another person gains the motivation to read through the essay and find out how the writer presents the point of view.
• Conflict – a writer can begin an essay with a conflicting statement. This method ensures that readers read through the composition to learn the solutions adopted by the writer. In practice, this method plays an essential role in creating a unique sensation among the target audience.
• Adding an antagonist – This method allows the writer to quote an individual who assumes an opposing position to the topic presented in the essay. In this case, readers focus on determining how the writer deals with opposing thoughts.
• A strong statement or declaration hook – an announcement hook refers to a sentence that asserts the topic in question. This statement connects to the thesis statement provided as the last sentence in the introduction. The primary role of this method is to show the importance of the essay. Using a sharp description is a unique technique because it urges the readers to consider how the article supports the claim. In this case, it does not matter if the target audience agrees or disagrees with the statement.
• The metaphor or smile hook – a metaphor of smile engages the readers because it makes them think that the topic is different and unique. Effect smile causes the audience to wonder what the writer intends to mean. Besides, this type of hook urges the viewer to wonder how one compares the topic to something that seems unconnected. A metaphor refers to a figure of speech that compares two different things then appear to be unrelated. Besides, a smile resembles a metaphor but utilizes the word “like” or “as” to compare.
• Description hook – This attention-getter entails a vivid description of a scene that draws the readers into the piece of writing. Compelling stories make the audience wants to know what comes next in the novel. This type of hook remains useful in narrative essays. However, one can use the method in academic papers.
• Interesting question hook – This method allows the writer to ask an interesting question that relates to the essay or topic in issue. The process motivates people to read the entire paper to obtain the answer. In practice, their author can only receive the answers by reading the whole essay.
• Dread factor hook – this attention-getter intends to create a sense of fear or wonder among the target audience. The writer should make a statement that allows the readers to become sympathetic. In this case, readers gain the motivation to read and understand how the situation progresses.

Examples of Hooks

• Quotation – This method of grabbing the readers’ attention remains effective in all academic areas. However, one must ensure that the entirely relates to the topic.

1. When a person writes an essay on a topic that relates to the purpose of education, the quote “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world” by Nelson Mandela can become the attention-getter.
2. A person can use the quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” by Martin Luther King Junior when writing an essay on the impacts of racism in the United States.
3. One can use the quote, “I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing” by Socrates when writing a topic on psychology.

The three examples above show that one must select a quotation that suits a specific area of study. A wrong choice of the quote may mislead the readers.

• Statistics hook – This type of attention getter applies to topics that relate to real-life cases. In most cases, this method remains applicable in science and social sciences. For following are the examples of possible quotations that one can use in different fields of study.

1. A person writing an essay on gun ownership in the United States may use the quite “Almost two-thirds of American adults at some point in their life lived in a home with at least one gun” as the attention-getter. Such facts must come from credible scholarly sources and should support the topic.
2. One can use the quote, “70% of all jobs found today were got through different networking strategies” when writing about the role of networking and job creation.
3. The quote “the world can emit more than 2.4 million pounds of CO2 per second and European countries are among some of the highest emitters in the world” is a suitable attention-getter when one writes an essay on global warming and environmental pollution.

• Rhetorical question – Rhetorical question hooks remain applicable in all areas of study. The following examples show the possible rhetorical questions that one can use when writing an essay in different fields.

1. A person writing an essay on the topic of carbon emissions can use the question, “Is global warming a result of the carbon emissions that results from daily activities like feeding and transport?” This question expresses the writer’s point of view that actions that eating and transport behavior exhibited by every individual contributes towards carbon emissions.
2. “Can watching the violent movie have a significant impact on a child’s behavior?” This question shows the writer’s perceptions of how violent films influence the behavior of young people.
3. “Can environmental and genetic factors cause obsessive-compulsion disorder?” This rhetorical question remains applicable in the field of psychology and shows the writer’s position on the impact of genetics and environmental factors on individual psychological well-being.

• Conflict hook – conflict hooks are effective ways of beginning a personal narrative. This statement implies that one should presents ideas that create a sense of conflict in the description. The following examples of conflict statement that one can use as hooks in different areas of study:

1. “Outside the church, just before swinging the door wide and walking inside my father would stop us and say, “Now remember everybody, this is for our benefits. So let us behave while we are inside.” Then my father would whisper to my brother who dislikes attending the church, “I got you this time. You must remain inside until the service ends. ” This hook is relevant in a narrative where the writer gives a personal experience.
2. Some scholars argue that global warming does not pose a global threat, while others maintain that it threatens the existence of humans. This hook reveals conflict in the scientific field of study.
3. Most religions disagree in doctrine but tend to converge on the concept of eternal life.

• Adding an antagonist – This hook applies to all areas of study. However, writers must ensure that they relate to the main topic. The concept in these hooks tends to vary from one field to the other.

1. The hook “My father opposed our thoughts and forced us to follow his orders” is suitable for a personal narrative that depicts the father as an antagonist.
2. “President Trump’s comments on the source of Coronavirus put him at loggerheads with the media.” This hook can apply to an essay that focuses on current events.
3. “The withdrawal of the United States from supporting the World Health Organization can undermine the efforts of combating pandemics.” This hook applies to an essay that relates to challenges that affect global health.

• Strong Statement or declaration hook – This type of a hook applies to all kinds of an essay. In this case, the writer should select a statement that can express the strength of the topic. The following examples remain applicable in different areas of study:

1. “Online college classes are cheaper and more effective than in-person college classes.” This hook applies to an essay that focuses on the online college application.
2. “Dealing with uncertainty and flat growth is the new business normal that has emerged due to COVID-19.” This hook relates to a field of economics in an essay that shows how COVID-19 pandemic affects business.
3. “Innovation needs to be part of business culture because consumers transform faster than firms do.” This hook relates to an essay that focuses on digital marketing and its impact on different firms.

• The metaphor or smile hook – The writer can choose to use a smile of a metaphor depending on the topic under consideration. The following examples show the possible hooks that one can use in different essays.

1. “Writing a research paper is like running a marathon when it’s 95 degrees Fahrenheit.” This example shows a smile hook, which relates to an essay that guides the audience on how to write a research paper.
2. “A business blog is a magnet pulling clients to a company.” This statement is a metaphor hook that shows the significance of business blogs.
3. “A business blog is like a magnet that pulls clients to a company.” This example is a smile hook that shows the significance of business blogs.

• Description hook – The writer must identify some exciting aspects of the topic. Providing descriptions makes increases the curiosity of the readers. The following examples show the description hooks.

1. “The dog howled in pain and limped along the side of the road. His leg was cut, and blood streamed down his leg.”
2. “Solar heated roads make traveling during winter easier and safer. They cause the ice to melt.”
3. “Digital marketing enables the business to reach more consumers. The strategy can enable a firm to become a multinational organization.”

The three examples above contain descriptions that make readers curious about knowing more by reading the entire essay.

• Interesting question hook – writers can set questions that relate to the topic in question. The following example shows different question hooks.

1. What is the difference between successful college students and unsuccessful college students?
2. Do people rely on f5ree will to make decisions?
3. What are the factors that one should consider when starting a business?

• Dread factor hook – a writer, should select a statement that creates a sense of fear among the audience. The following are examples of dread fact hooks:

1. “Ray’s been in an accident, and we are going to the hospital.”
2. “Failing to maintain social distance leads to COVID-19 infection.”
3. “Poor time management is the first step to failure.”

The Pattern

One should consider different factors when writing the best hook. For instance, one should not copy statements made by other scholars. A hook should be a unique statement that relates to the topic. Developing an original account improves the quality of the attention-getter. However, there are exceptional cases that one should consider.

• Quotation hooks – one can use quotes from famous people.
• Statistics hooks – one can borrow statistics from credible sources.

Conclusion

Good hooking statements must grab the attention of the intended readers. For instance, the attention-getter makes the introduction to stand out. Quality attention getters motivate the readers to have a positive attitude towards one’s work. In this case, the hook sets the stage for other people to read the essay and understand the basic concepts presented. Learning the most effective way to write attention getters is a crucial step towards writing quality papers. One should remember the following tips.

• Good hooks should be original statements
• Good hooks should relate to the topic
• Good hooks should suggest the writer’s perspective.