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How to write a hook for an essay? Read on if you are bothered by this question
Author:
Dallas Hardwick
Mar 16, 2025
7 min
Table of contents
- How to write a good hook? Best tips, tricks & hacks from professional writers
- What makes a good essay hook?
- What is a hook in an essay and what makes it catchy?
- Different types of essay hooks
- Example hooks for a persuasive essay
- Argumentative essay sample hooks
- Example hooks for a narrative essay
- Expository essay hook examples
- To wrap up
How to write a good hook? Best tips, tricks & hacks from professional writers
Many first year students are baffled by the question ‘What is a hook in an essay?’ Our team is here to help you learn everything there is about essay hooks.
Writing solid, catchy intros is a skill every student needs to learn. But an introductory paragraph will never be complete without a hook. A hook should be the very first sentence that grabs the reader's attention. In a more lengthy work than an essay, it can also be a thesis statement, or a research question.
Keep reading this article to find useful tips on writing essay hooks from expert writers.
What makes a good essay hook?
There are lots of essay hooks that you can use at the very beginning of your paper. The main goal is to grab the reader's attention and further on maintain it with the paper’s contents. The formula for a good hook depends on the types of essay you’re writing and the essay topic. But the ultimate goal is to make the reader curious. Here are some examples of things to include into your essay hook:
- A personal story or personal narrative
- A quotation hook by a famous person
- An engaging anecdote
- A short story referencing pop culture
- A question hook may include a rhetorical question
- A common misconception that you will later debunk
- A life example
What is a hook in an essay and what makes it catchy?
As we’ve said, hooks for essays are usually the first sentence meant to draw the reader in. There are lots of essay hooks that you can use. For an argumentative essay, you may use a quotation hook by a scientist, or, on the contrary, a common misconception.
For a research paper, a thesis statement will be more appropriate. The main difference is that a hook is meant to attract the reader's interest and make them keep reading. On the other hand, a thesis statement is more specific and should present the main idea of the rest of the paper. It’s best to use a credible source for a thesis statement, while for a hook, a personal example, or a curious fact will do. A thesis does not have to appear in the first line either, while a hook should be placed in the first sentence. Both, however, can be statistic related.
Different types of essay hooks
Later in this article, we will present more than one example of a hook that you can use for your writing tasks. But for now, let’s focus on different types of hooks and how to write a hook for an essay. A good hook must draw the reader in. It can be provocative, bold, and vivid.
A rhetorical question hook is a great way to start an essay. It’s thought provoking and can pave the way for later discussion. Yet, some may argue that it’s overdone.
A statistical fact or an engaging anecdote is another effective way for grabbing the reader's attention. You may insert a surprising statistic or even use a fake story as rage bait. There’s no guarantee that your professor will appreciate that, though, but it’s bold.
Example hooks for a persuasive essay
In a persuasive essay, you are to convince the reader in your point of view. Ideally, your essay should leave a lasting impression. A bold statement or a statistic related fact should do the trick. Using a credible source is crucial in this situation. Citing a fashion magazine or an opinion piece will not help you persuade the reader.
For an essay topic about importance of recycling, you could use a statistic hook like this:
“According to Plastics Europe, humanity has produced 413.8 metric tons of plastic in 2023.”
This hook relies on a credible source, provides a statistic and conveys the main idea for the rest of the essay.
Alternatively, you could use a quote from a scientist, a bold statement, such as ‘Humanity will soon be extinct unless we implement significant change,’ or a question like ‘Would you like to live in a world organically-grown produce?’
Argumentative essay sample hooks
In an argumentative essay hook, the writer should present both sides of the argument. For the hook to be engaging, it should appear in the first line or sentence. This will set the tone for the essay and show your stance on the topic.
For an essay topic about social media regulation, you could start with a quotation hook from, say, Mark Zuckerberg, who once said:
“In a lot of ways, Facebook is more like a government than a traditional company.”
A question-basted hook can provoke the reader and make them think critically. For example:
“Would the spread of Russian influence on the occupied territories of Ukraine be as effective without propaganda on social media?”
These hooks make a solid first impression, they are based on real life and they peak the reader's interest.
Example hooks for a narrative essay
A narrative essay is more about a personal narrative. To write a compelling hook for a narrative essay, you can use an anecdotal story from your life. A description hook would also work well here. The main difference between these two is that an anecdote hook is short, while a description hook can be longer.
For an essay about overcoming fear, a good anecdotal hook does not have to give such a vivid description. Yet, it should make the reader refer to the writer on a more personal level. For example:
“When I was seven, I got lost in a mall.”
A a good description hook, on the other hand, could sound like this:
""As the loud crowd dissolved into a sea of unknown faces, the bright mall lights flickered above me, creating unsettling shadows.""
Both could work well for an essay on a personal topic. It’s up to the writer, which one to choose.
Expository essay hook examples
An expository essay is meant to enlighten the reader on a particular topic. An example of an expository essay is a news report or instructional guide. The writer simply explains facts without giving his or her opinion. A bold statement or a comparison hook in the first sentence would make a good example of an expository essay hook.
For an expository essay, a comparison hook example could sound like this:
“Just fifty years ago, a family was able to live comfortably on one salary, but now, in most families, both parents have to work full-time.”
Or:
“Modern day students have to complete a lot more homework than their predecessors.”
On the one hand, a bold statement hook sentence could look as follows:
“It’s a common misconception that modern day students struggle more.”
Or:
“The first sentence is not the most important part of an essay.”
To wrap up
Writing catchy essay hooks is a valuable skill for every student. No matter how much homework you outsource to WriterEssay, you still have to learn to write a good hook. Writing is not just something you do during your college years. As a recent graduate looking for work, and even later as you progress up the career ladder, you’ll need to write lots of emails. The only difference between an email and an essay is that an email won’t be graded. On the other hand, you may succeed or fail, depending on how well the email was written.
How to choose the best type of hook?
The type of hook you use for your essay depends on the topic and type of work. For example, using an anecdotal hook for an expository essay can make your writing seem biased and unprofessional.
Persuasive essays often call for a quotation hook or a statistic. Argumentative essays can also benefit from a quote, but a rhetorical question could add more value to your writing.
Keep trying different combinations, read sample essays and talk to your professors. With time, you will deal with writing much easier.
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