reverse hook in essay writing

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How to Write a Reverse Hook

When writing a five-paragraph essay, use a strict format to let the argument flow easily. The major components of this format are the thesis, transitional hooks and reverse hooks. All have their part to play in writing an organized essay. Next to the thesis, which outlines the argument of the entire paper, reverse hooks are arguably the most powerful aspects of an essay. They begin each new supporting paragraph, and alert the reader as to the argument the paragraph will make. They can be thought of as mini-theses.

Decide what you want your supporting paragraph's focus to be. The paragraph should provide a clear argument that favors the paper's thesis.

Figure out how the paragraph's focus relates to the thesis. For example, if your thesis states that vegetarianism is healthy, your reverse hook (and entire supporting paragraph) could point out that many doctors recommend vegetarianism. This shows the focus of the supporting paragraph (doctors' recommendations) as well as how it relates to your thesis (the healthiness of vegetarianism).

Look at the transitional hook that ends the paragraph proceeding the one you're currently writing. A good transitional hook should help lead you into the reverse hook of the next paragraph. Write your reverse hook to flow logically from the previous paragraph's transitional hook.

Begin your reverse hook with transition words to help the flow of the entire essay. Transition words include words like "moreover," "similarly" and "additionally," according to Michigan State University's Web site.

• Writing a reverse hook is easy if you remember to state the argument for the paragraph and relate that argument to the thesis.
• MSU: Transition Words

Henrietta Padgett began writing for various websites in 2010. Padgett holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and interned for a small publisher who specialized in health and cooking articles. She enjoys writing about her favorite interests, including hair care, books, languages (especially Latin) and animals.

What is a Reverse Hook in an Essay?

A well-written essay should read like a seamless journey for the reader, moving effortlessly from the beginning to the end. A powerful component to help you achieve such smooth transitions in your content is the reverse hook, also referred to as a transition hook.

To help you understand how to use the reverse hook effectively, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this component.

Read on to find out more.

What You Need to Know About Reverse Hooks

A reverse hook or transition hook is more than just a transitional sentence. This key component helps glue your content together, seamlessly connecting ideas throughout your content to enhance your reader's experience. It makes your content more compelling and provides a coherent narrative that can be easily understood.

Therefore, you should know exactly how to use this powerful tool.

What is a Reverse Hook?

The reverse hook or transition hook refers to sentences strategically placed at the beginning of paragraphs. It serves two functions: linking the current paragraph to preceding ones and connecting the paragraph back to the main argument of your essay. Hence, it serves as a bridge that ensures the flow and coherence of your piece.

A core rule in effective paragraph-writing requires you to limit every paragraph to one controlling idea . Therefore, if you don't have narration flow between different paragraphs, your readers can easily get lost when moving from one paragraph to the next. They might forget what the main argument of your essay is, or they may fail to understand the interconnectedness of different ideas in your content.

Therefore, good transitions will make your content sound less choppy.

Note that the reverse hook is different from the hook of your introduction, since it’s used in subsequent paragraphs within your content.

How to Use a Reverse Hook in an Essay

Using the reverse hook in your content can come naturally if you have been writing for a long time. However, in the beginning, you may need to take into account specific guidelines that can help you utilize this feature.

Here's how to apply the transition sentences in your essay:

1.        Identify key themes:

You can use key words or phrases that refer back to a previous paragraph in order to allude to the ideas in the previous paragraph. This creates a sense of familiarity as the reader moves from one paragraph to the next.

2.        Maintain coherence:

Always align with the overall tone and flow of your essay. Making drastically disruptive changes in the way you craft your reverse hook can affect the readability of your content.

What are Good Transition Words?

Transition words are useful tools in reverse hooks.

When crafting a sentence that links ideas in adjacent parts of your content, you'll have to use transition words that indicate the interconnectedness of both ideas. Here are a few transition words that you can use:

·          however

·          nevertheless

·          on the contrary

·          in contrast

·          conversely

·          furthermore

·          moreover

·          additionally

·          in conclusion

·          therefore

As you advance through different levels of academic learning, you’ll adopt a wider range of transition words to avoid the monotony of repeating the same words. To start you off, here are a few high school level transitions to incorporate in your essay:

·          Moreover

·          Nevertheless

·          Consequently

·          Furthermore

·          Similarly

·          In comparison

·          Nonetheless

·          In conclusion

·          To summarize

·          In the meantime

As you advance to college level, you can articulate your message more clearly with these transition words:

·          Evidently

·          Notably

·          Significantly

·          Invariably

·          Subsequently

·          Correspondingly

·          In retrospect

·          Simultaneously

·          In essence

·          Ostensibly

You’ll also notice that there are various categories of transition words . Here are some categories to keep in mind:

·          Addition transitions: additionally, furthermore, moreover, in addition to, similarly…

·          Comparison transitions: similarly, likewise, in the same way, compared to, correspondingly…

·          Contrast transitions: however, nevertheless, on the contrary, in contrast, conversely…

·          Result transitions: therefore, thus, consequently, as a result, hence…

·          Example transitions: for example, for instance, to illustrate, in particular, namely…

·          Summary transitions: in conclusion, to sum up, in summary, to conclude, ultimately…

That’s not all.

You’ll also have transition words that apply to specific parts of your content. For example, these transition words and phrases can be used in the body paragraph of your essay:

·          Sequential transitions: firstly, secondly, thirdly, next, then, afterward, subsequently…

·          Causal transitions: because, since, as a result of, owing to, therefore…

·          Clarification transitions: in other words, to clarify, namely, that is, in essence…

·          Interpretation transitions: this quote implies that, in interpreting [author]'s words, this statement suggests that, [author]'s perspective is evident when…

·          Reiteration transitions: reiterating this point, revisiting the main arguments, to re-emphasize, to underscore, to restate…

·          Reflective transitions: reflecting on this, considering these points, pondering the implications, contemplating the broader significance, in hindsight…

A critical part where transitions are vital is the start of your paragraphs. Here are the words and phrases you can use:

·          Introductory transitions: to begin with, initially, first and foremost, in the first place, primarily…

·          Chronological transitions: before, after, meanwhile, simultaneously, eventually…

·          Illustrative transitions: for instance, to illustrate, namely, an example of this is, in particular…

The first paragraph of the body of your content is even more critical. Here are a few transition words and phrases to use:

·          Attention-grabbing transitions: imagine, picture this, in a world where, envision, consider the scenario…

·          Background information transitions: historically, in the context of, traditionally, culturally, throughout history…

·          Thesis Introduction Transitions: central to this discussion is, fundamental to our understanding is, at the core of this argument is, this essay contends that, the thesis of this essay is…

Samples of Reverse Hooks

You can use these examples to get a few ideas on how to craft reverse hooks for your essay.

Try some of these and see how it can work in your content.

Example of How Transitions Improve Essays

First, let’s have a look at how transitions improve essays.

The sample paragraph below from The College of Saint Rose Writing Center (2012) shows how good transitions can dramatically change your content.

"Deciding on a college is often a difficult decision for students. Most school counselors try to provide students with different resources. They include assessments and college brochures. Counselors need to provide students with more resources in order to help them make a more informed decision about what college to attend."

Revised (with transitions):

"Deciding on a college is often a difficult decision for students. Therefore, most school counselors try to provide students with different resources such as assessments and college brochures. However, counselors need to provide students with more resources in order to help them make a more informed decision about what college to attend."

Example of Reverse Hooks in Two Paragraphs

The University of Alabama in Huntsville provides a great example of transition hooks connecting the ideas in two paragraphs. Check it out and notice how the second paragraph alludes to the main idea of the previous one.

"Malcolm X uses the rhetorical strategy of logos (logic) to convince his audience. . .  [paragraph about logos].

Malcolm X's article also has a lot of pathos (emotion). . .  [paragraph about pathos]."

"One of the main rhetorical strategies employed by Malcom X is logos (logic). . . . [paragraph about logos].

In addition to using logos as a rhetorical strategy, Malcolm X also employs pathos (emotion) to persuade his audience. . . . [paragraph about pathos]"

Examples of Reverse Hooks in a 4-Paragraph Essay Template

Reverse hooks are essential whether you’re writing a simple 4-paragraph essay or even longer 5-, 6-, or 7-paragraph essays.

Here is an illustration of how to include transitions from one idea to another in adjacent paragraphs in a sample 4-paragraph essay template provided by the San José State University Writing Center:

         I.             Introduction paragraph

Start by intriguing the reader. Engage your audience with a compelling opening line, avoiding clichés or overly general statements. Craft a concise and captivating statement that draws the reader into your topic. Consider opening statement like "Imagine a world where..." or "Picture this scenario..."

Follow on by contextualizing the discussion. Provide pertinent background information to set the stage for your exploration. Offer a blend of general and specific details, tailored to the subject matter. If discussing a particular literary work, include the title and author's name. Transition smoothly into this background information with phrases like "Building upon this idea," or "With this context in mind..."

Finish off by crafting the thesis. Clearly state your topic and your stance on it. Remember, a thesis comprises of a claim with supporting reasons. And then briefly outline the main points you'll be elaborating on in the subsequent sections. Introduce your thesis using phrases like, "In light of these considerations," or "From this analysis, it is evident that...

       II.             First main point paragraph

Begin with a topic sentence that encapsulates the main point of the paragraph. Support your argument with evidence including, facts, quotes, statistics, or citations, and offer an analysis. Explain the significance of your evidence before transitioning to the next point.

Transition into this first body paragraph with phrases like "Now, turning to the first main point…" or "Let's delve deeper into the discussion with the following analysis…"

     III.             Second main point paragraph

Introduce the focus of this paragraph with a topic sentence. Provide supporting evidence and analyze its implications, linking it back to your thesis. And finally segue into the conclusion.

Link the second main point to the previous one with phrases such as "In a similar vein…" or "Building on the previous argument..."

    IV.             Conclusion paragraph

Synthesize your key ideas by recapitulating the main points discussed without introducing new information. Make sure to avoid verbatim repetition from earlier sections to maintain freshness and engagement. And leave a lasting impression by concluding with thought-provoking reflections that resonate with your reader. Consider suggesting a call-to-action or offering a glimpse into the future implications of your topic.

Summarize your key points with statements like, "In summary…" or "To sum up the discussion…"

      V.             References

Examples of Reverse Hooks in a 7-Paragraph Essay Template

Here is a different type of essay template, specifically a personal statement . It provides instances where you can include reverse hooks throughout the content.

7-paragraph personal statement template:

Begin by stating your genuine interest in the college program. Then transition into outlining how your interests and goals align with the program's objectives. For example: "In light of my aspirations, I believe that my background and objectives resonate well with the program's ethos…"

       II.             Personal narrative and aspirations paragraph

Discuss your unique interests in your target field of study, steering clear of clichés. Share your long-term aspirations and explain how obtaining this degree will facilitate the achievement of your goals. And then transition into a brief reflection on life experiences that have influenced your path, such as career shifts.

     III.             Professional engagement and development (experience) paragraph:

Segue into discussing your significant professional experiences, whether in research or applied contexts, highlighting duration, collaborators, and key learnings. For research, detail tasks such as lab work, literature searches, and presentation skills. For applied experiences, highlight the people you worked with, skills learned, and challenges overcome. You can start this section with phrases like: "As I pursued my long-term aspirations, my journey has been enriched by diverse experiences..."

    IV.             Additional experience paragraph

Transition smoothly into discussing one other significant experience. You might say: "Complementing my previous engagement, I also had the privilege to..." Emphasize critical analysis and skills development, while avoiding negativity.

      V.             Summarized experience paragraph

Connect your experiences to your immediate and long-term goals. Transition using phrases such as: "My professional journey in [paragraph III and IV] has been invaluable for achieving my immediate goals of..." Also, connect these experiences and aspirations with the program you're applying to.

    VI.             “Why this program” paragraph

Transition into explaining why you're interested in this specific program. You can say: "Given my background in [XYZ], I am particularly drawn to the [XYZ] program..." Make it targeted by utilizing program materials to articulate your suitability. You can even specify your interests in potential research collaborations or practice opportunities.

   VII.             Conclusion paragraph

Conclude by reiterating your enthusiasm for the program and how it serves both your short-term and long-term goals. Reinforce your commitment by referring back to the evidence provided throughout your statement.

The important lesson to remember is that crafting an essay is more than just presenting your ideas and hoping that readers will understand your point of view. How you craft the content can help readers understand exactly what you have to say without contradiction.

Reverse hooks can be especially useful for complex ideas with multiple sub-topics. If you don't create a smooth flowing narration using transition hooks, you might not produce a convincing argument. By strategically placing transition sentences at the beginning of paragraphs, you not only enhance the coherence and flow of your content but also ensure that your main argument remains clear and interconnected throughout.

As you progress academically, your repertoire of transition words will expand, enriching the depth and clarity of your writing.

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How to Write a Great Essay Hook, With Examples

When you’re writing an essay , you naturally want people to read it. Just like the baited hook on a fishing line entices fish, your essay’s hook engages readers and makes them want to keep reading your essay.

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What is an essay hook?

An essay hook is a sentence or two that piques the reader’s interest, compelling them to continue reading. In most cases, the hook is the first sentence or two, but it may be the entire opening paragraph. Hooks for essays are always in the first section because this is where the essay needs to hook its reader. If the reader isn’t engaged within the first few lines, they’ll likely stop reading.

An essay hook also sets the tone for the rest of your essay. For example, an unexpected statistic in an essay’s first line can tell the reader that the rest of the essay will dispel myths and shed light on the essay’s topic .

6 types of essay hooks

1 rhetorical questions.

Rhetorical questions are popular essay hooks because they make readers think. For example, an essay might start with the question “Is it ethical to eat animals?” Before reading the rest of the essay, the reader answers the question in their mind. As they continue to read, the writer’s arguments challenge the reader’s answer and may change their mind.

2 Fact/statistic

When an essay discusses scientific subjects, social issues, current events, or controversial subjects, a fact or statistic related to the essay’s topic can be a compelling hook. For example, an essay about elementary student literacy might hook readers with a statistic about the percentage of fourth graders that are proficient readers.

The hook could be a fact or statistic that’s well-known and frames the topic in a relatable way, or it could be a completely unexpected or seemingly unintuitive one that surprises the reader. In any case, they set the tone for the rest of the essay by supporting the writer’s position from the outset.

Quotes are often used as essay hooks because they’re succinct, often recognizable, and when they’re from an expert source, they can support the writer’s position.

For example, an analytical essay comparing two books might hook readers with a quote from one of the books’ authors that sets the tone for the rest of the essay and gives a glimpse into that author’s work.

Anecdotes are often used as hooks in personal essays. A personal story makes the essay relatable, creating familiarity with the reader that makes them want to read more. An example of an anecdote hook is a persuasive essay about rerouting traffic on campus that starts with a personal story of a vehicular close call.

5 Description

A description focuses on specific imagery related to the essay’s subject. For example, an argumentative essay in support of new recycling policies might hook readers with a bleak description of what happens to batteries and other hazardous materials when they aren’t recycled.

6 Common misconception

Similar to an unexpected fact, a hook that dispels a common misconception surprises the reader and educates them about something they likely misunderstood. For example, a compare-and-contrast essay about different mindfulness strategies might start with a common misconception about how mindfulness works.

Creating a hook for different writing prompts

Strong hooks for essays align with the essays’ tones, types, and topics. As you start working on an essay, think about your topic and goals for the essay. Are you trying to persuade the reader? Dispelling a common misconception can be the hook you need. Are you telling an entertaining personal story with bigger themes about your life experience? Start it off with an engaging anecdote. Are you defending a position? Share an unexpected fact and let the truth speak for itself.

Sometimes, it’s not easy to tell which kind of hook your essay needs. When this is the case, it can be helpful to write the rest of your essay, then come back to your introduction and write the kind of hook that would make you want to read that whole essay. Refer to your essay outline to ensure that it fits your essay goals.

Essay hook examples

• Is it too late to save our planet from climate change?
• Before I could speak, I sang.
• “If we are truly a great nation, the truth cannot destroy us.” —Nikole Hannah-Jones
• Contrary to popular belief, rats are among the most fastidious animals.
• I can’t be late for class—this could be the most important day of my life!

Essay hook FAQs

An essay hook is a sentence or two that grabs the reader’s attention and piques their interest, enticing them to continue reading.

What are the different types of essay hooks?

• Rhetorical questions
• Description
• Fact/statistic
• Common misconception

Why is it important to have a good essay hook?

It’s important that hooks for essays be well crafted, because in many cases, the reader won’t continue reading an essay if it doesn’t hold their interest. The hook grabs their attention and makes them want to read on.

Reverse Outlines: A Writer’s Technique for Examining Organization

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Many writers use a reverse outline to check their work. Reverse outlining is a process whereby you take away all of the supporting writing and are left with a paper’s main points or main ideas, sometimes represented by your paper’s topic sentences. Your reverse outline provides a bullet-point view of your paper’s structure because you are looking at the main points of the paper you wrote.

Experienced writers, especially when writing longer papers about a complex subject, need ways to test their drafts for the logical sequence of points: its structure. A reverse outline allows writers to read a condensed version of what they wrote, and provides one good way to examine and produce a successful paper.

A reverse outline can help you:

• Determine if your paper meets its goal
• Discover places to expand on your evidence or analysis
• See where readers might be tripped up by your organization or structure

How to create a reverse outline

• Start with a complete draft to have a fuller picture of the plan you carried out. You can use a partial draft to review the organization of the paragraphs you have written so far.
• Construct the outline by listing the main idea of each paragraph in your draft in a blank document. If a paragraph’s topic sentence provides a succinct version of the paragraph’s argument, you can paste that sentence into the outline as a summary for that paragraph. Otherwise, write a one-sentence summary to express the main point of the paragraph.
• Number your list for ease of reference.

Use your reverse outline to answer questions

Does every paragraph relate back to your main idea.

Your reverse outline will help you think more effectively about your paper’s focus: its big picture. Does every item on your list relate back to your main point?

Many writers find that new ideas or topics appear near the end of a reverse outline. These topic shifts may signal that you need to revise certain paragraphs in you draft to be sure they relate back to your main idea, or they may inspire you to revise your main idea so it takes on some of the new points these paragraphs suggest.

By viewing the structure of your paper from the vantage of a reverse outline, you can make productive decisions about whether to keep certain paragraphs or cut them from a draft.

Where might a reader have trouble following the order of your ideas?

You can use a reverse outline to review a paper’s organization or structure and then make strategic choices for rearranging the paper on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, or for adding or removing paragraphs to improve organization.

Do several of your paragraphs repeat one idea?

If your reverse outline shows two paragraphs that make similar points, consider combining them or revising one so that it does not make too similar a point.

Does one paragraph juggle several topics?

If one item on your reverse outline discusses more topics than other paragraphs, that may be a paragraph your reader will struggle to follow. By dividing its topics into two or more paragraphs, each one discussing a more focused topic or set of topics, you may be able to ensure that your reader follows your meaning.

Are your paragraphs too long? Too short?

By comparing total paragraphs to total pages, you can learn your average paragraph length and more easily spot paragraphs that are unusually long or short.

An example of a reverse outline

For example: say you are writing a paper for an engineering class in which you are exploring the concept of how humans learn to trust technology through individual consumer choices, and your research involves analyzing several television commercials for Apple computers and products.

1. Ever since Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl commercial, customers have seen Apple as creating technology that appeals to our individuality. 2. Over time, Apple has introduced a variety of devices that appeal to our sense of individuality and in our need to connect with other individuals and to our world. 3. With the introduction of the iPod in 2001, Apple began exploring ways to win consumer trust in technology by focusing on how humans can determine the ways they choose to use the technology they purchase. 4. With the opening of Apple stores, Apple began to offer yet another way to explore our trust issues with technology through talking to friendly individual sales people in clean, well-lit stores. 5. In 2007, Apple rolls out the “Hi, I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC” TV commercials thus showing the funny side of Apple ads. 6. Apple’s more recent TV commercials show how it easy it is for consumer to maintain their individuality and to trust in Apple’s new technological offerings, most notably, the iPhone line. 7. Apple continues to explore the human connection with technology through their developments and applications of voice-activation and speech technology, which serve to bring out a more intimate, individual experience with their technology.

Take a look at this reverse outline above. What do you see? Most sentences address some aspect of how human trust evolves with Apple’s technological developments, and these choices are individual choices.

However, sentence (5) stands out: Why? Sentence (5), based on the topic sentence, only treats the humor without connecting the way humor can help us alleviate some of our trust issues with technology as individual consumers. What can you do? As the writer, you may need to revise the paragraph to directly connect with the paper’s argument, or, if you determine that the paragraph is serving an important part of your paper’s argument, then you may merely need to revise topic sentence (5), perhaps like this:

In 2007, Apple rolls out the “Hi, I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC” TV commercials, and by promoting their funny side, Apple ads help another generation of consumers get over their “trust issues” with Macs by personifying the choices they make as individual personality types and the technologies they are willing to trust.

Writing Process and Structure

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Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Developing a Thesis Statement

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing

How to Write Great Essay Hooks (Tips + Examples)

Table of contents

Yona Schnitzer

Blank screen. Cursor blinks. Clock ticks. Brain freezes.

You stressfully wonder, “How will I ever finish this essay?”

I’ve been there. 

Every time you write an essay, you want to catch your readers’ undivided attention from the very first word. The opening hook has to be *perfect* — no compromises. 

But, instead of reeling under pressure to come up with this elusively perfect essay hook at the eleventh hour, I’ve found a better way to write great essay hooks. 

In this guide, I’ll tell you what it takes to write the most compelling and attention-grabbing hooks. I’ll also break down six awesome types of essay hooks you can experiment with and share examples to inspire your next opening statement.

What is an Essay Hook?

An essay hook is the opening statement of an essay, written to capture readers' attention and nudge them to learn more about the topic. Also known as a lede or lead, this hook introduces readers to the topic/theme of the essay and piques their curiosity to continue reading. 

The hook creates the entire narrative for your essay. It tells readers what to expect from the rest of the essay and creates context around your main argument or thesis statement. 

6 Types of Essay Hooks You Can Experiment With

I’ve created this handy list of six different types of essay hooks. You can choose the one that best fits your essay’s context and create a stellar opening statement within minutes. 

1. Compelling fact or statistic

Lead with evidence and use a powerful fact or statistic as your essay hook. It’s one of the best ways to capture readers’ attention from the start and keep them intrigued throughout your essay. 

For example, if you’re writing about the importance of time management for freelancers, you have two options to create your opening sentence:

Generic : “Managing time as a freelancer is no easy feat.”

Impactful : “Nearly 70% of freelancers struggle to effectively divide and manage their time between multiple clients.” 

This data point, linked to the original research, sets a strong tone for your essay and draws people in to read more. It communicates  

Find a shocking statistic with AI

Finding relevant statistics for any topic is one of the hardest parts of the job. 

But you don't have to spend hours looking for these data points anymore. Wordtune can do this heavy lifting for you in three easy steps.

• Open the Wordtune editor and add your essay title. 
• Type in any content you've written, click on 'Add spice,' and select the 'Expand on' option.
• Write 'statistics,' and Wordtune will add relevant data points to your content.

2. Bold claim hook

When working on an argumentative essay , I always write with the mindset that nobody has the time to read my thoughts from start to finish. So, I have to get to the point quickly and make a solid argument worth people’s time. 

That's when opening with a bold claim works best. Condense all your views on the topic into a few thought-provoking lines that would make readers go, hmmm…

But remember, you can't open with a claim that people already know and accept as fact. It has to be something original and unique to make your readers tick, nudging them to dive deeper into your essay. 

For example, if you’re writing about water crisis, you have two options to open your essay: 

‍ "In some regions, there is not enough clean water for people to use."

‍ "Imagine a world where every drop of water is a battle, a precious commodity fought over by scores of people and animals alike. This can become a reality as early as 2050."

This bold claim presents a convincing argument about the global water crisis. It also emphasizes the urgency of this argument with a research-backed statistic.

Create a bold claim suggestion using AI

Can’t think of a strong opening sentence for your essay? Wordtune can translate your thoughts into a bold claim and create a compelling essay hook. 

Open your Wordtune editor and write a few lines related to your topic. These sentences should have a consensus among your audience. Then, choose the 'Counterargument' option from the list of suggestions. 

And you’ll have a bold claim for your essay with no effort at all!

3. Story/Anecdote hook

In all my years of writing, I’ve noticed how stories have a unique effect on people. A good story can resonate with a bigger audience, pique their curiosity, and deliver a more personal message. 

That's why you can cite a personal anecdote or talk about a publicly known story as a good hook for your essay. This hook allows you to play with words and work in more storytelling . 

One of my favorite writing tips applies here: enter the scene as late as possible and leave as early as possible. You have to keep it crisp instead of rambling on and on. 

Consider these two examples:

Either of these hooks could work fine if we were just writing a personal essay about a move to a new place. But if we’re specifically writing about the sky, the second example is better. It sticks to the point — the sky and the color of the sky — and doesn’t stray into irrelevant details. 

Create a compelling story with AI

I get it—not all of us are natural storytellers. But you can use AI to your advantage to create a concise and exciting story for your essay.  

Wordtune can help you write a short story from scratch or trim down your writing into a quick anecdote. Click on the expand or shorten button to edit your story any way you like. 

4. Question Hook

Humans have a tendency to immediately look for answers every time they come across fascinating questions. Using questions as essay hooks can reel people into your essay and feed their curiosity.

But questions are also fairly overused in essays. You don't want to use a generic question that makes people say, " Not another question ." 

Instead, think of questions that approach your topic from a fresh angle. This means honing in on what was especially interesting or surprising from your research—and maybe even brainstorming different questions to find the most fascinating one.

For example, if you’re writing about the psychology behind why we buy, you have two options to open your essay:

‍ “Do you know what factors compel us to buy certain things?”

Plugged in :

“Before buying anything, have you ever taken a moment to pause and think about possible reasons driving you to this purchase?”

The latter is more descriptive and creates a realistic scenario for readers to truly think about the topic of the essay.

5. Description hook

A descriptive hook works best when writing an explanatory or opinion-led essay. Descriptive hooks, as the name suggests, illustrate a topic in detail to create context for the essay. It's a good way to build awareness for and educate readers on lesser-known themes.

But a descriptive hook can easily become too plain or unexciting to read. To make it work, you have to write an engaging description using imagery, analogies, and other figures of speech. 

Remember to make your hook reader-friendly by avoiding passive voice, mainstream cliches, and lengthy sentences.

Consider this example:

Describing a sunset is too cliche, so cross that one off the list. Describing the sky as it is on a normal day wouldn't be shocking or unexpected, so scratch that one, too.

This example creates something unique by using analogies to describe the color of the sky and painting a beautiful picture. 

Write a gripping description with AI

Writing an exciting hook for a boring topic is more challenging than it looks. But Wordtune makes it a breeze with just two steps:

• Open the Wordtune editor and write your essay topic.
• Click on Explain or Emphasize and let it work its magic.

You can also change the tone of voice to make the text more in tune with your theme. 

6. Metaphor hook

One of my favorite essay hooks is to open with a persuasive metaphor to contextualize the topic. Metaphors can help you approach the topic from a completely different lens and wow your readers with interesting insight. 

Metaphors are also super versatile to make your writing more impactful. You can write a one-line metaphor or create a scenario comparing one thing to another and linking it to your topic. 

For example, if you’re writing about the experience of working at a startup, you can open your essay with these two options:

Short & sweet: "Joining a startup is like strapping into a rollercoaster: be ready to witness thrilling highs and sinking drops."

Long & descriptive : “Picture a small sailboat navigating the unpredictable winds and tides in a vast ocean. That’s a startup operating in a massive market. And with the right vision, this journey is filled with risks and rewards.” 

Create a convincing metaphor with AI

Writing good metaphors takes up a lot of creative brain power. You can always use Wordtune to find some extra inspiration if you're out of creative ideas. 

Type your opening line in the Wordtune editor and click on the 'Give an analogy' option. You can ask for as many suggestions as you want till you find the best one! 

What to Know About Your Essay (and Topic) Before You Write the Hook

Whether you’re writing a research paper on economics, an argumentative essay for your college composition class, or a personal essay sharing your thoughts on a topic, you need to nail down a few things before you settle on the first line for your essay.

‍ Let me break them down for you. 

1. Gain in-depth knowledge of your topic

Before you start writing your essay, you need to know your topic — not just in name, but in-depth. You don't have to become a subject matter expert overnight. But you do need to research the topic inside out 

Your research will help you:

• Narrow your focus
• Build an argument
• Shape the narrative

Your research insights determine your essay’s structure and guide your choice of hook. 

After organizing your research in a neat outline, think to yourself: ‍Did you uncover a shocking fact? A compelling anecdote? An interesting quote? Any of those things could be your hook.

⚡ ‍ Take action:  After finishing your research, review your notes and think through your essay. Mark or make a list of anything compelling enough to be a good lead.

2. Type of essay

In academic settings, there are generally three kinds of essays:

• Argumentative: Making the case for a certain stance or route of action.
• Expository: Explaining the who, what, when, where, why, and how of some phenomenon.
• Narrative: Telling a true story as a way to explore different ideas.

‍ The type of essay you’re writing is key to choosing the best hook for your piece. 

A serious argumentative essay can start with a shocking statistic or a bold claim. And an expository essay can open with a descriptive hook while a metaphor hook would work best for a narrative essay.

⚡ ‍ Take action: Go through your list of potential hooks and cross out anything that doesn't fit the type of essay you're writing, whether it's persuasive , argumentative, or any other type.

3. Audience and tone

A best practice I often share with writers is to think of one reader and keep yourself in their shoes . This exercise can tell you so much about your audience — what kind of tone they like, what matters the most to them, what topics interest them, and so on. 

You can use these insights to create a compelling essay hook. Here’s how:

• For an argumentative essay, you’re trying to convince someone who doesn’t agree with you that what you’re claiming is right or, at least, reasonable. You don’t want to turn them off with snarky or offensive language — but you do want to be authoritative. Your hook should match that tone and support your effort.
• A narrative essay is likely to welcome more lyrical language, so starting with a colorful description or an anecdote might make more sense than, say, a bold claim or surprising fact. Whatever tone you choose for your narrative essay — comical or gentle or bold — should be used for your hook.
• ‍ Expository essays can use all sorts of tones and be written to a variety of audiences, so think carefully about the tone that best fits your subject matter. An essay explaining how the human body shuts down when overdosed will likely require a different tone than one on the lives of circus masters in the late 1800s. 

⚡ ‍ Take action: Look at your list. Can you write these potential hooks in a tone that suits your subject and audience?

4. Length of essay

Are you writing a 10-page paper or a three-page reflection? Or is this your senior thesis, pushing over 100 pages?

‍ If you’re writing a shorter paper, you’ll want to keep your hook quick and snappy.  

Readers are expecting a quick read, and they don’t want to spend five minutes only going through the introduction. 

In contrast, you can approach a longer essay — like a senior thesis or a term paper — with a longer hook. Just make sure your hook relates to and supports the core point of your essay. You don’t want to waste space describing a scene that ultimately has nothing to do with the rest of your piece.

⚡ ‍ Take action: If you write out the items on your list, how long will they be? A sentence or paragraph? Perfect. Two to five paragraphs? Unless your essay is on the longer side, you may want to save that information for later in the piece.

‍ Now that you know the basic facts about what you’re writing, let’s look at some approaches you could use to catch those readers — and reel them in.

3 Approaches to Avoid When Writing Hooks 

I’ve read hundreds of essays — enough to recognize lazy writing from the first few words. It’s equally easy for readers to discard your essays as ‘poorly written’ just by reading the first line. 

So, I made a list of three types of essay hooks you want to avoid at all costs because these hooks can only disappoint your readers. 

1. Quotations

Quotes are probably the most overused type of hook in any form of writing. What's even worse is rinsing and repeating the same old quotes from Abraham Lincoln or Nelson Mandela in your essays. 

No matter how powerful a quote sounds, you shouldn’t slap it at the opening of your essay. It doesn’t give readers the excitement of reading something original and looks lazy.

For example, if you’re writing an essay on productivity, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:

“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work” – Stephen King

Did you know that consuming 100 gms of sugar can slash your productivity levels by over 50% in a day?  

2. Definitions

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines a hook as "a thing designed to catch people's attention." 

If I opened my article with this dictionary definition of a hook, you’d have either dozed off or left this page long back to find something more interesting. 

Here's the thing: definitions put people to sleep. Readers don't want to see a formal, jargon-heavy definition of a topic as the very first line of an essay. Your opening statement should have some personality in it to show readers they're in for an exciting read. 

For example, if you’re writing about happy hormones, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:

Happy hormones are known to boost the happiness levels in your body by creating positive feelings.

Ever wondered why cat videos make you instantly happy, and ice creams give you an extra dose of energy? It's all about how happy hormones control our brain chemistry.

3. “Imagine this”

Opening your essay with "Imagine this" used to be an interesting way to put your readers in a scenario and set the context for your essay. But now, it's far too cliched and just another lazy attempt to write an essay hook. 

You can create a relatable scenario for users without asking them to imagine or picture it. Use the descriptive hook format with an interesting choice of words to convey the same ideas more creatively.

For example, if you’re writing an essay on preparing for higher studies abroad, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:

Imagine this: You’ve been applying to multiple universities, writing SOPs, and preparing for exams without guidance. Everything can go south any minute. 

College application season is officially here. But with each passing day, you’re under more and more stress to apply to your chosen colleges and tick all the items off your list.

‍Our Go-To Trick for Writing Catchy Hooks

This opening statement can make or break your entire essay. While I’ve broken down my best tips to create the best essay hooks, here’s a surefire way to write compelling openings :

Go through your notes and either outline your essay or write the whole thing. This way, you’ll know the central thread (or throughline) that runs throughout your piece. 

Once your essay or outline is complete, go back through and identify a particularly compelling fact, claim, or example that relates to that central thread.

‍Write up that fact, claim, or example as the hook for your essay using any of the methods we’ve covered. Then revise or write your essay so the hook leads smoothly into the rest of the piece and you don’t repeat that information elsewhere.

Does your hook spark curiosity in you? 

Did that fact surprise you in the research stage? 

Chances are, your readers will have the same reaction.

And that’s exactly what you want.

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