5 Types Of Hooks For Writing

When required to write an essay, it does not mean that you are restricted from expressing your ideas and creativity, since it is your duty to make an essay interesting and not too formal. Being a writer, your primary goal is to ensure that you keep your readers in mind as you write for them. This implies that you need to grab and keep their attention so that they will want to read every word. Therefore, this is why the types of hooks for an essay exist and are such a critical tool when it comes to essay writing.

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All types of essay hooks can be defined as the first one or two opening sentences of your college paper. it is critical to use a hook since it serves as an introduction and works magic when it comes to grabbing the attention of the reader. Additionally, the first few sentences will help your reader decide whether they intend to proceed reading the paper or not. When using hook sentences in your essay, consider the following:

The type of the essay you are writing
The type of the writing style and tone you will need to use
Your intended audience
The type of structure you intend to build

Here are the types of hooks for an essay you can use in your essay and their examples

1. Advice
While writing your paper, try to use words of advice that will create a huge impact in the life of the reader. This is important since it will make them want to read more so that they can be informed. Additionally, providing your readers with some advice is helpful as it will help you get the attention you need and they get some helpful information. For instance, you can give an advice like when you need something from someone, give them instead.

Other examples are:
- Never rush to make a decision when you are angry. Never make promises when you are happy.
- Remember you'll always regret what you didn't do rather than what you did.
- Don't make someone a priority who only makes you an option.
2. Anecdote
Anecdote is among the types of essay hooks that can be defined as a brief revealing account of an individual person or a specific incident. In most cases, humorous anecdotes are different from jokes since their key aim is not to just provoke laughter but to reveal a truth in a more general way than brief tale itself. An anecdote is used to characterize an individual by delivering a specific quirk or trait, to communicate an abstract concept of an individual, location, or something through concrete details of a short story.
Therefore, you can include a short and amusing story about an incident or individual in your essay. However, make sure what you are using is famous. Here are some examples:

Tolstoy was a prominent pacifist who believed that people should not show any kind of violence towards animals. One day while on a lecture, he was asked what someone can do if attacked by a tiger in the woods. Tolstoy responded by saying "Do the best you can. It does not happen all the time"
Albert Einstein's parents were worried since he delayed to talk while his age mates were already talking. One day, when having supper, Albert claimed: "The soup is too hot." His parents then asked him why he was silent for all that time and he replied. He replied: "Because up to now everything was in order."
3. Bold statement
These types of essay hooks bring the assertion that is meant to arouse an opinion or feedback from your reader. While writing your essay, you need to make a declaration concerning the outcome if a certain situation. For instance, you can say. "Soon, you will have the capability to upload your dreams to YouTube".
4. Contradiction
These types of essay hooks encourage the use of two ideas that don't go together. Therefore, including two contradicting ideas in your essay will help you grab the attention of your reader.
Examples
- "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others". - George Orwell
- "I must be cruel to be kind."-Hamlet, William Shakespeare
- I know one thing; that I know nothing. -Socrates
5. Definition
These types of hooks for an essay try to incorporate a couple of definitions of different terms and ideas that are relevant to your work. However, make sure you don't quote the dictionary. These types of essay hooks are mostly used unscientific essays and it helps you to inform your reader what you are talking about.
Examples:
- A black hole is a location found in the space where the force of gravity is high such that even light cannot get out.
- Oxymoron is a mish-mash of self-contradictory or inappropriate words such as cruel kindness.
- Altruism is the alacrity to do something that will benefit others, even if it brings detriments for yourself.
6. Humor
This is a joke quip or a scene that can provoke laughter and amusement to your audience. Bear in mind that a good joke can be a perfect introductory sentence and is one of the best types of essay hooks.
Examples:
- How can you produce holy water? You just boil the hell out of it.
- Why the storm trooper had to buy an iPhone? Because he couldn't get the droid he was looking for.
- I don't make mistakes. I believed I did once but I was mistaken.
7. Dilemma
This is a situation where someone is required to make a decision between two or more undesirable outcomes. As a writer, you must try to address two options that seem to be undesirable to the reader as this will make them be more attentive to find what happened.
Example:
How could you decide to react if your close friend wants to marry someone you know that is not loyal? Will you reveal the infidelity and destroy the happens of your colleague or will you just let them marry a liar?
8. Famous quote
Try to include a quote that is famous and relevant to your paper. All you need to do is paste a quote from a prominent individual that is suitable in the context.
Examples
- Amelia Earhart famously said, "The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity."
- John Lennon eminently said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
- Albert Einstein said that "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value."
9. Interesting facts
While crafting your essay, you can include some interesting facts from trusted sources. If you come across a fascinating piece of information while conducting your research, turn it into a good hook and entice your audience into reading the paper.
Example:
- The human skins are believed to have many lifeforms than human people on the planet.
- Otters sleep while holding hands.
- Leonardo da Vinci had a unique talent for writing with one hand and painting with the other simultaneously.
10. Personal experience
Feel free to include a brief story on experience catching your life that is relevant to the topic you are writing about and something that you want other people to know, as it can be among types of essay hooks.
Examples:
- When I was a small boy, I wanted to own a camera more than anything. My dad could not afford it so I had to work hard and get it for myself.
- My grandmother passed away when I was 21. She was the one who took care of me since my parents died in a car crash when I was 4.
- I've served in numerous multinational firms and can claim that they do not value their workers as they are supposed to do.
11. Rhetorical question
This is a question that helps you to instill curiosity in the mind of the reader, but these types of hooks for an essay do not need an answer. However, it must be addressed in your paper.
Examples:
- Why do people die?
- What is the real meaning of love?
12. Setting
These types of essay hooks depict a scene or setting that helps you stimulates any of the five senses of your readers.
Example:
"In a fleabag in the ground, there existed a hobbit. Not a disgusting, filthy, wet hole, filled with the ends of maggots and an oozy odor...it was a hobbit-hole, and that means relief."
13. Simile or metaphor
A comparison of one thing to another, and mostly the things that are not related. Use a metaphor in your paper to paint an imaginary picture for your reader.
Examples:
- Her eyes were like two fireflies mesmerizing me completely.
- As it turned out, her promise was a subtle floret.
- He was so hilarious as an abandoned house in the woods with no one around at night.
14. Statistics
A startling statistic from a reliable source. This can be Shocking details on the subject of a paper that your readers might not be aware of.
Example:
As per the European Cockpit Association, 43 % of pilots confess to unwillingly falling asleep during a flight.

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