attention grabber ideas for essays

Effective Attention Getters for Your Essay with Examples

Whether you’re trying to enroll in college or submitting a scholarship application, your essay has to be super appealing. Pressed for time, most admissions committees will only glance at the first paragraph to decide whether the piece is worth a read. Since nobody can guarantee your submission gets considered, it’s up to you to ensure it will amuse the reader.

So how do you write the perfect attention-grabber and impress the college admissions counselors? How can you make your work stands out from the crowd? Below you can find good attention-getters for essays to help you write a compelling introductory paragraph that makes the audience want to read on.

What Are Attention Grabbers in Essays?

The so-called attention-grabbing technique has a simple purpose. It must catch the reader’s interest from the very beginning. Hence, you need sentences that make a good essay introduction and attempt to stir the audience and show your ability to weave words.

For instance, an amusing fact, personal experience, or a joke can do the job. Whatever strategy you use, don’t forget that using random quotes or anecdotes won’t work. Your intro must lead to the main thesis or introduce an opposing argument you’re about to refute.

The Importance of Good Attention Grabbers for Essays

Also known as “grabbers” and “hooks,” these elements always go in the first paragraph. Often, they make the first two or three sentences of the intro. At this point, ensure you include compare and contrast transition words to make sentences run smoothly in a coherent whole.

But why do you need an attention-getter? What impact does it leave on the reader? Here are a few reasons.

• To convince the reader to go until the end of your work and not give up after the first few lines.
• To tell the audience that you’re a skillful writer who knows how to use an intriguing opening.
• To encourage people not keen on the subject to get on the bandwagon.
• To invoke the curiosity of whoever’s considering the paper.
• To inform that you’re exposing something rare, not just another chore.

Different Types of Attention Grabbers for College Essays

Several attention-grabbing openings can achieve the same effect. The most compelling introductory lines include posing a question, storytelling, sharing fascinating statistics, and rhetorical generalizations. Below, we list examples of attention-getters for essays to help you get on the right foot.

Whatever method you choose, you can’t go wrong. Hooks go interchangeably in almost any written piece. However, if you have writer’s block, refer to a  reflective essay writing service to get the ball rolling. These experts can assist you in drafting a relatable and highly appealing attention-getter.

Use a Quotation

Using a quote when writing an essay will make it credible and intriguing. This strategy engages the emotional side of readers and connects them to your wording. To start strongly, find a quotation by a famous author or expert related to your topic. Use it wisely to support the thesis and demonstrate that your research is thorough. Besides conveying your thoughts eloquently , quotes move and speak to people with timeless words.

Examples of a Quotation

If you want to present yourself as a creative and artful soul, begin your paper with: “Einstein once said: Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.”

Similarly, if you wish to come across as a hard-working and trustworthy student, say: “Samuel Johnson claimed that what we ever hope to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.”

Use Shocking Statistic

Another way to capture the audience is to introduce a striking figure or data relevant to the topic. Avoid facts that everyone is aware of and pick something surprising. Moreover, when writing conclusion paragraph for your essay , you may end with some projected statistics from trusted sources. This hack is excellent for informative or technical papers.

Examples of Attention Grabbers with Shocking Statistics

“According to tech schools, girls get outnumbered 6 to 1 by boys when it comes to enrolling in computer science classes.”

“The latest research shows that the human body contains ten times more bacteria than cells.”

Ask a Question

Posing a question at the beginning is an effective method to compel your reader. However, you must know the audience well to create an intriguing formulation that stimulates critical thinking. In addition, the intro query should direct the reader to read the paper and find the answer. Hence, avoid posing questions that are too general and don’t impress the target recipient.

Introductory Question Hooks

“Have you ever been so keen on a course that you spent the entire summer working to afford it?”

“Do you feel that each photograph, regardless of its high-quality, reduces the reality it represents?”

Tell an Anecdote

Share an experience that makes your life journey unique and relates to the essay’s purpose. By doing so, you will engage your reader emotionally. Often, considering a  descriptive essay writing service can help you transform your chronicle into an attention-grabbing hook. Alternatively, a well-crafted fictional account can evoke the same emotional response.

Example of a Real Event

“The day I met my Science teacher in middle school changed my life for the better. And not because she encouraged me to pursue a career as a geneticist. The encounter was something you’d never expect. As my dad approached the building, he hit another car on the side, and guess who was inside? My new Science teacher.”

Use Storytelling

Why not start the essay with a story or a good joke and steer away from complicated concepts? Everybody loves well-written stories because they raise interest and leave a trace. Yet, connecting the narrative with what follows next is critical to the main theme of the assignment. Finally, this approach is ideal for admission applications but not for more formal academic papers.

Example of a Great Story

“Lightings stroke hard, and the rain was attacking the roof, drowning any words we tried to pronounce. I’d expected to play the guitar and show the company my latest song, but the universe prevented whatever I attempted to do that night.”

Use Rhetorical Generalizations

Consider issuing a statement to serve as a pathway into the main argument. Conversely, if you doubt your writing skills, hire a  website to write an essay to get you admitted into college. These professionals know how to use a generalization that introduces your thesis statement in a way that challenges people to contemplate the topic.

Ideas for Rhetorical Generalizations

“Who wouldn’t agree that higher education is the most reliable ticket to self-fulfillment?”

“Recycling is undoubtedly the most efficient method to attain sustainability.”

Using any of these attention getter examples will pave your path to success. However, it’s not just the opening that needs to get polished to perfection. You may quickly spoil the first impression if the rest of the essay abounds with irrelevant information or contains grammatical errors and typos. This can be avoided if you get a professional essay writing service . So, getting help is a good option.

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How to Write Great Essay Hooks (Tips + Examples)

Table of contents

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  

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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.
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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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Good Hooks for Essays: 14 Hook Ideas with Examples

Now here’s the clue.

If you want to wow your teacher, polish the introduction. Add something interesting, funny, shocking, or intriguing. Good essay hooks help you build an emotional connection right from the start. Think of an essay hook as bait for your readers.

Our expert team has prepared numerous examples of hooks for essays. You’ll find hook examples for an argumentative essay, personal story, history essay, and other types of papers.

For 100% clarity, we provided examples using each hook tactic. And a short part about how to write a good hook.

• 💎 What Exactly Is a Hook & How to Write a Good One
• 📜 Examples of Classical Essay Hooks
• 💡 Try Some Informative Essay Hooks
• 🦄 Here are the Most Uncommon Essay Hooks

✅ Good Hooks for Essays: Bonus Tips

• 🔗 References for More Information

We highly recommend reading all the methods and examples, so you don’t have any questions.

💎 How to Write a Hook That Will Work for Your Essay?

The hook of your essay usually appears in the very first sentence.

The average length of an essay hook should be 3-7 sentences, depending on the topic.

But first, let’s quickly go through the key questions.

What Is an Essay Hook?

An essay hook (or narrative hook) is a literary technique that writers use to keep their readers engaged. It shows that the content below is worth reading.

The hook can have different lengths. Some writers make it last for several pages. Though, it better be a short paragraph or even a sentence.

Why Do You Need a Good Essay Hook?

Writing the right hook is essential for a few reasons:

• It heats up your readers’ interest. If you did it right, they read the whole piece.
• It shows off your skills . A right hook presents you as an expert in your field.
• It attracts target audience. Only the readers you want will keep reading.
• It keeps the tension on the right level. Use an intriguing question, and a reader dies to find out the answer.
• It makes a good introduction. Starting your essay off a boring fact is simply not a good idea.

How to Write a Good Hook: Ideas and Examples

Next, we will discuss these hook types in more detail. We’ll also provide essay hook examples of less common yet intriguing types: dialogue, story, contradiction, comparison, definition, metaphor, puzzle, announcement, and background information hooks.

💬 The Famous Quote Hook

Use a famous quote as a hook for your essay on history, literature, or even social sciences. It will present you as an established writer. It shows how knowledgeable you are and motivates the readers to engage in the text.

⬇️ Check out examples below ⬇️

Quote Hook Example: Political Science

Hilary Clinton once said that "there cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard." Which creates a discussion about how perfect democracy should look like. If it is a form of government that considers all opinions, why are women silenced so often even nowadays? The truth is that we need to ensure completely equal opportunities for women in politics before we talk about establishing the correct version of democracy. And even the most developed and progressive countries are still struggling to get to that level of equality. It can be achieved by various methods, even though they might only work in certain countries.

Social Sciences

"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country." These words of wisdom from John Kennedy reflect the perspective we need to teach the younger generations. For some reason, it has become popular to blame the government for any problem arising in society. Is it their fault that we don't think about waste and keep trashing our home? Social responsibility is a real thing. The well-being of our countries starts with the actions of every separate individual. It is not entirely right to wait until the government fixes all the issues for us. The best strategy is to start thinking about what we can do as a community to make our home even a better place.

And excellent sources of quotes for you:

• Brainyquote.com – you can search quotes by topic or by author.
• Goodreads.com is not only a great collection of e-books but also quotes.
• Quoteland.com has plenty of brilliant words for all imaginable situations.
• Quotationspage.com – more than 30,000 quotations for unique essay hooks.

❓Rhetorical Question Essay Hooks

It doesn’t have to be rhetorical – any type of question addressed to your audience will do its job. Such a universal kind of hook can spike the interest of your readers immediately.

Some useful patterns of rhetorical questions:

• What could be more important than…?
• What if there was only one… (chance/day/hour)?
• Who wouldn’t like to… (be a cat/turn visitors into clients)?
• Why bother about… (inequality/imperfect education system)?
• Which is more important: … (making money or realizing potential)?

And more in examples:

Example of a Question Hook on Education

Wouldn't free access to education for everyone be wonderful? The answer would most likely be positive. However, it is not as simple as it seems. As much as the governments try to achieve this goal, there are still many uneducated people. On the bright side, in the era of technology, learning has never been so easy. Of course, some young adults just prefer the shortcut option of taking a student loan. Other ways are much more challenging and require a lot of responsibility and patience. Finding free educational resources online and gaining experience with the help of video tutorials might sound unprofessional. Still, you will be surprised how many experts hired in different fields only received this type of education.

Question Hook Example: Health

Is there anything that can help you lose weight fast? You have probably heard of this magical keto diet that is getting more and more popular worldwide. People claim that it helps them shred those excess pounds in unbelievably short terms. But how healthy is it, and does it suit anyone? The truth is that no diet is universal, and thanks to our differences, some weight-loss methods can even be harmful. Keto diet, for example, leads your body into the state of ketosis. What happens is that you don't receive carbohydrates, and in this state, fat is used as the primary source of energy instead them. However, it carries potential threats.

😂 Anecdotal Essay Hooks

This type would usually be more suitable for literary pieces or personal stories. So, don’t use it for formal topics, such as business and economics. Note that this hook type can be much longer than one sentence. It usually appears as the whole first paragraph itself.

It wouldn't be Kate if she didn't do something weird, so she took a stranger for her best friend this time. There is nothing wrong with it; mistakes like that happen all the time. However, during only five minutes that Kate spent with the stranger, she blabbed too much. Thinking that she sat down at the table that her friend took, Kate was so busy starting on her phone that she didn't notice that it wasn't her friend at all. Sure enough, the naive girl started talking about every little detail of her last night that she spent with her date. It was too much for the ears of an old lady. Kate realized she took the wrong table only when it was too late.

Literature (personal story)

Do not ever underestimate the power of raccoons! Those little furry animals that may look overly cute are too smart and evil. It only takes one box of pizza left outside your house by the delivery person for the disaster to begin. When they smell that delicious pizza, no doors can stop them. They will join the forces to find a hole in your house to squeeze into. Even if it's a window crack four feet above the ground, they know how to get to it. Using their fellow raccoons as the ladder, they get inside the house. They sneak into the kitchen and steal your pizza in front of your eyes and your scared-to-death dog. Not the best first day in the new home, is it? 

📈 Fact or Statistic Hook

Looking deeper into your essay topic, you might find some numbers that are quite amusing or shocking. They can serve as perfect hooks for economics- and business-oriented writings. Also, it is better if they are less known.

Business/social sciences

The UAE workforce is culturally diverse since around 20% of employees (usually called expatriates) come from different countries. Ex-pats tend to take managerial positions, which makes communication within companies quite tricky. The training focused on raising cultural awareness is getting more common, but such educational strategies as games (or gamification) are still rarely applied in the UAE companies. Yet, gamification was a useful tool in other places, making it an attractive UAE team building method. It can significantly help integrate ex-pats and create a more culturally aware environment.

The full version of this paper is here: Gamification and Cross-Cultural Communication in Dubai

Statistic Hook Example in Economics

The United Arab Emirate's debt has been rising drastically in past years, from about US$17 billion in 2003, which is almost 19 percent of GDP, to US$184 billion in 2009. Only a small proportion of the debt can be tracked directly to the public sector. A report by UBS bank shows that most of the debt comes from the corporate sector. Most of the companies that hold the main section of the debt are financial institutions. The public sector partly owns them. Banks in the UAE have been accumulating their debt amounts in the years mentioned above and could now account for 75 percent of the total foreign debt. The discussion is about the reasons why the UAE debt has been rising at an alarming rate.

Check the whole essay Debts in the United Arab Emirates .

Some good sources for statistics

• Finance.yahoo.com is perfect for business papers.
• Usa.gov/statistics is an easy-to-use governmental engine for searching data and stats.
• Unstats.un.org provides a massive collection of statistics published by UN organizations
• Oecd-ilibrary.org is the online library of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), featuring its books, papers, and statistics and is a gateway to the OECD’s analysis and data.

🤯 Shocking Facts are Very Good Hooks for Essays

Very similar to a statistical hook, a fact can serve as a perfect engaging introduction. Search your field for some shocking phenomenon and gently insert it in the beginning.

Don’t forget to include a reliable source reinforcing your words!

Fact Hook Example in Economics

Nowadays, much attention is paid to the problem of shark finning around the world. Millions of sharks are killed annually for their fins, and many of them are dropped back to the ocean finless, where they die because of suffocation. In many countries, the idea of shark finning remains illegal and unethical, but the possibility of earning huge money cannot be ignored (Dell'Apa et al. 151). Regarding available technologies, market economies, trade relations, and cheap employment, it does not take much time to organize special trips for shark hunting. The Trade of shark fins is alive and well developed in countries like the United States and China. However, the number of people who are eager to try shark fin soup has considerably decreased during the last several years because of the popularity of anti-shark fin soup campaigns and laws supported worldwide (Mosbergen). The situation continues to change in China.

Read the full paper about China Southern Airlines being against shark finning .

Daniel Stacey and Ross Kelly observed that long lines and a new gray market trend for bigger screen phones marked Apple's new iPhones debut. As expected, new phone models drew Apple fans outside retail stores (Stacey and Kelly). Global critics, however, noted that this year's lines were generally longer relative to previous periods mainly because of the developing gray market for Apple products. The new Apple's iPhones have larger screens than the previous models. Also, they boast of improved battery life, faster processors, and an enhanced camera. Tim Cook called them "mother of all upgrades" (Stacey and Kelly).

For the whole text, go to Apple’s New iPhones Start Selling in Stores” by Stacey and Kelly

Sources to look for reliable facts:

• Buzzfeed.com – news, videos, quizzes.
• Cracked.com – a website full of funny stuff, like articles, videos, pictures, etc.
• Webmd.com – an incredible collection of medical facts you will love.
• Livescience.com – discoveries hitting on a broad range of fields.
• National Geographic – needs no introduction.
• Mental Floss answers life’s big questions, a compilation of fascinating facts and incredible stories.

🗣️ Dialogue as a Catchy Hook for Essays

Dialogue is another type of hooks that goes perfectly with pieces of literature and stories. It can even make your short essay stand out if you include it at the beginning. But don’t forget that it only concerns specific topics such as literature and history.

Here it is:

Dialogue Hook Example in Literature

– Why did you do it? – I don't know anymore… That's why I'm leaving for a little bit right now. I need time to think.

With these words, Anna stepped back into the train car and waved goodbye to Trevor. She couldn’t even find the right words to explain why she ran away on her wedding day. It wasn’t that she didn’t love Trevor, but there was this deep, natural, and unexplored feeling that told her it wasn’t time yet. But the only thing Anna realized was that the city made her sick. That day, she took off her wedding dress, bought a ticket on the next flight leaving that afternoon, and hopped on the train taking her to the airport. She couldn’t even remember the country’s name she was going to so blurry everything was from her tears.

Dialogue Hook for History Essay

– If we still had inquisition, we could probably set him on fire. – Some dark magic, indeed, my friend! It would have probably been a real dialogue if we knew who was the first automobile inventor for sure. People were undoubtedly shocked to see the cars moving by themselves without horses. However, since they started appearing around the globe around the same time, it is almost impossible to identify who was the original creator of the idea and the first automobile itself. The credit was usually given to Karl Benz from Germany, who created a gasoline car in 1885-1886. But there are also much earlier records of a gentleman named Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, who built the first vehicle powered by steam in France in 1769.

🔮 A Story Looks Like an Extremely Good Essay Hook

A universal essay hook is a story. You can use this trick pretty much anywhere. The main challenge is to be as authentic as possible, try to tell something fresh and engaging. The more specific and narrow the story, the more chances for a successful introduction.

Story Hook Example for an Essay on Business

Dell started fast and strong. The original company was founded in 1984 when the founder was only a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas. Four years after the inception of the company, Michael Dell became the Entrepreneur of the Year. Eight years after he started the company from his dorm room's comfort, Dell was chosen as the Man of the Year by PC Magazine. […] The company was acknowledged as the world's leading direct marketer of personal computers. At the same time, Dell was known as one of the top five PC vendors on the planet (Hunger 9). […] However, the company's journey encountered a major hurdle down the road. Even after recovering from an economic recession in 2010, the company continued to experience declining sales.

Continue reading Dell Technologies Mission, Vision, and Values .

🦚 Contradictory Statement – Queen of Good Hooks

Everybody loves to start an argument by contradicting some facts. Therefore, you simply need to add a controversial statement at the beginning of your essay. People of all ages and beliefs will not be able to stop reading it!

Challenging your readers works well for social sciences, business, and psychology topics.

Examples of contradictory statements essay hooks:

If you think being a manager is a calm and relatively easy task, try surviving on five cups of coffee, a sandwich, and two packs of cigarettes a day. You would rather believe that managers only walk around the office and give their staff orders, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, the reality is much harsher than such rainbowy dreams. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. A whole set of personal qualities and professional skills must keep up with the successful strategic planning, assessment, and development. All the tasks the managers need to attend to are nerve-wracking and sometimes almost impossible to do. The stress from the demanding managerial position is often overlooked or underestimated.

Social sciences

Video games have been ruining our kids' lives and leading to an increase in crime. Since the gaming industry's development in recent years, the fear of its adverse effects on the younger generations' brains has become a significant concern. There is such a wide variety of games, ranging from educational to violent shooters and horrors. Almost immediately, caring parents jumped on the latter category, claiming that its impact is too significant and children become more aggressive and uncontrollable. Some supporters of this theory went even further. They decided to link real-life crimes to the effects of violent video games on child and adult behavior. However, as we will see later in this article, there is no or little scientific evidence supporting those ideas.

🔁 Vivid Comparison Essay Hook

Introducing your topic with an engaging, vivid comparison is a universal strategy. It is suitable for any kind of writing. The main idea is to grab your readers’ attention by showing them your unique perspective on the topic. Try to make the comparison amusing and exciting.

Comparison Essay Hook Options:

• Comparison with daily chores (e.g., Proofreading your essays is like cleaning your teeth.)
• Comparison with something everyone hates (e.g., Learning grammar is like going to the dentist.)
• Comparison with something everyone loves (e.g., John was happy like a child eating a free vanilla ice cream.)
• Comparison of modern and old-school phenomena (e.g., Modern email has much in common with pigeon post.)
• Funny comparison (e.g., Justin Bieber is the Michael Jackson of his time)

Check out examples:

Environment

For many people, flying feels like a dream come true. More and more people take their first-ever flight thanks to the rapidly developing aviation technologies. Aircraft and airports are advancing, and air traveling is getting cheaper. However, except for transporting eager travel addicted and business people, planes are used in other ways. It appears that the whole economies across the world depend on the effectiveness and efficiency of airlines. Import and export demand this kind of transportation to work at all times. Aviation development seems like a great thing. However, just like any other technological breakthrough, it comes with a price. Environmental issues did not wait too long to show up.

Social sciences/psychology

Leaving home for the first time as a freshman can only be compared to the level of stress you had in childhood when your mother left you in the line at the checkout for too long. Indeed, becoming a student and moving out of the parent's house comes with a great deal of stress. All the unknown that lies ahead makes youngsters too anxious. Then, the difficulties of financial planning and increased academic pressure come as additional sources of worries. However, it does not have to be such a negative experience. Particular techniques can help students overcome their stress related to the separation from their parents.

📄 Definitions = Easy & Good Hooks for Essays

Another versatile essay hook option is introducing a qualitative definition. Try to make it capacious, and don’t fall into verbal jungles. This narrative hook is perfect for short scientific papers where there is only one focus subject.

Business Ethics

White-collar crime refers to the peaceful offense committed with the intention of gaining unlawful monetary benefits. There are several white-collar crimes that can be executed. They include extortion, insider trading, money laundering, racketeering, securities fraud, and tax evasion. Enron Company was an American based energy company. It was the largest supplier of natural gas in America in the early 1990s. The company had a stunning performance in the 1990s. Despite the excellent performance, stakeholders of the company were concerned about the complexity of the financial statements. The company's management used the complex nature of the financial statements and the accounting standards' weaknesses to manipulate the financial records. The white-collar crime was characterized by inflating the asset values, overstating the reported cash flow, and failure to disclose the financial records' liabilities. This paper carries out an analysis of the Enron scandal as an example of white-collar crime as discussed in the video, The Smartest Guys in the Room.

Go to see the full text here: Enron Company’s Business Ethics .

Motivation is the act of influencing someone to take any action to achieve a particular goal (Montana& Chanov, 2008). Employees' motivation depends on the job's nature, the company's organizational culture, and personal characteristics. In this case study, various theories influence and show how employees can be motivated in the workplace.

Continue reading this paper about Motivation Role in Management .

📚 Metaphor Hook for Essays

Naturally, using a metaphor as a hook for your essay comes with some limitations. You should only use this type in literature and sometimes in psychology. However, it serves as a great attention grabber if it’s engaging enough.

Let’s see how you can use a metaphor:

When life gives you dirt, don't try to squeeze the juice out of it. It's better to leave it alone and let it dry out a bit. Kate decided to follow this philosophy since nothing else seemed to work. After the painful divorce process, last week's ridiculous work assignments and managing two kids alone almost drove her crazy. No polite discussions, arguing, or bribing helped take care of seemingly a million tasks these little women had to deal with. Even letting out the anger just like her phycologist recommended did not help much. Instead, Kate referred to the last remedy. She put all the issues aside with the hope that it would get better later.

The recipe is relatively easy – take a cup of self-respect, two cups of unconditional love, half a cup of good health, a pinch of new positive experiences, and mix it all for a perfect state of happiness! We all wish it would be possible, right? However, the mystery of this state of being happy is still unsolved. The concept and its perception considerably change depending on time and values. Happiness is so complicated that there is even no universal definition of it. Besides, humans are social creatures, so associating your level of success with others is not unusual. Therefore, being happy means achieving a certain level of several aspects.

🧩 Puzzle? Yes! Amazing Hook for Your Essay

Doesn’t a good riddle grab your attention? Sometimes you just want to find out the answer. The other times, you want to figure out how it is related to the topic. Such a hook would be great for writings on psychology and even economics or business.

Here are the examples:

How many Google office employees you need to destroy a box of fresh donuts? Google is indeed famous for some of the most accommodating and unique working places around the whole world. However, the success of the company does not only appear from treats for employees. It seems that the organizational culture has many effects on business decisions and overall performance. All the staff working in Google share the same visions and values, helping them cooperate and lead the company to success. However, there is one aspect to consider. The organizational culture needs to be adapted to the ever-changing business environment.

Who survives on dirt-like substance, is never joyful, and only returns to the cave to sleep? It sounds horrible, but the correct answer is human. Nowadays, the demands for any kind of workers are rising, which brings tremendous effects on people. As the number of duties increases, it is getting harder for employees not to chug on coffee and come back home in time for a family dinner. The work-life balance is disturbed, leading to anxiety, relationship issues, and even health problems. Social life appears to be as important as making money. Therefore, the correct distribution of time between personal life and work duties is necessary for happiness.

📢 Announcement Is Also a Good Essay Hook Option

Announcements could be suitable for literary pieces and historical essays.

Such a hook doesn’t have to be too long. It should be significant enough to persuade your readers to stick to your writing. Make sure it aligns with your topic as well.

Ways to use announcements as essay hooks:

It was a revolution! The Beatle's first song came out in 1962, and almost immediately, hordes of fans pledged their loyalty to this new band. Nearly all youngsters became obsessed with their music. No one can deny that the Beatles are still considered the creators of some of the best songs in history. However, the arrival of the British band influences culture as well. Many photos depict girls going crazy on live concerts and guys shaping their haircuts after the Beatles' members. The revolution that the band brought left an impact, evidence that we can still trace in modern British culture and music.

I will never go to Starbucks again! Oh, no, mind me. I love their coffee. At some point in my life, I even thought I had an addiction and had to ask my friends to watch my consumption of Pumpkin Spice Latte. Then, the wind of change turned everything upside down. On my usual Starbucks morning run, I noticed a homeless man holding a paper cup begging for money. At first, I didn't pay much attention since it's a usual occurrence in our area. However, one day, I recognized my old neighbor in him. The only cash I had on me, I usually spent on my cup of coffee, but I decided it was not much of a sacrifice. From that moment, I only showed up on that street to shove a few bucks into that poor guy's cup. One day, to my surprise, he talked to me.

ℹ️ Background Information Essay Hook

Last but not least, give background information on your subject to make a good intro. Such an essay hook is effortless and suitable for practically any paper. Try to find the most unobvious angle to the background information. At the same time, keep it short and substantive.

Here are the ways to use background information essay hooks:

Air Arabia is among the leading low-cost carriers in the global airline industry. The airline is mainly based at the Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Air Arabia, 2012). The airline came into inception in 2003 after His Highness Dr. Sheik Mohammed Al Qassimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, issued an Emiri Decree. Later, Air Arabia was transformed into a limited liability company. For nearly a decade, Air Arabia has witnessed tremendous growth, resulting in increased fleet size and improved sales revenues. At the same time, Air Arabia has created a renowned brand that offers reliable and safe services (Dubai Media Incorporated, 2012). Air Arabia identifies itself as a low-cost carrier by providing low fares in the industry. Some of the key strengths of the airline include punctuality and safety. This aims to ensure that the airline serves its customers most efficiently by observing its safety requirements and adhering to the landing and takeoff schedules (De Kluyver, 2010).

Read the full text here: Air Arabia Company Analysis.

Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in the Arkansas United States in 1962 as a grocery store. The company, which operates a chain of over 8,000 stores in fifteen countries, is estimated to employ over two million employees from diverse backgrounds. Wal-Mart was incorporated in 1969 and started trading in the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. […] Although the company can leave its consumers with a saving due to its low-price policy, it has faced some sharp criticisms over how it treats its employees and other stakeholders. Wal-Mart boasts of its ability to save its customers' money, an average of $950 per year. This, however, has been criticized as harming the community. Also, the feminists' activists have focused on Walmart's misconduct in offering low prices. (Fraedrich, Ferrell & Ferrell 440)

Now we won’t keep you for long. Let’s just go through simple points of essay hook writing.

Someone may think that you have to write your hook first. It comes first in the paper, right?

In reality, though, you can wait until your entire essay is nearly finished. Then go back and rewrite the very first paragraph. This way, you can have a fresh look at what you’ve written in the beginning.

Here’s a simple plan you can follow.

• First, write a basic version of your thesis statement.
• Then, provide supporting evidence for your thesis in every body paragraph.
• After that, reword your thesis statement and write your concluding paragraph.
• Finally, search for an attention-grabbing fact, statistic, or anything from the list above to serve as an engaging essay hook.

Add this essay hook to the beginning of your introduction. Make sure that your ideas still flow naturally into your thesis statement.

⚠️ Pro tip: choose various hooks and play around, adding each hook to your introduction paragraph. Like this, you can determine which one makes the most impressive beginning to your paper.

Some of your choices may sound interesting but may not lead to your essay’s main point. Don’t panic! Paper writing always involves trial and error. Just keep trying your essay hook ideas until one fits perfectly.

That’s it 😊

Good luck with your work!

🔗 References

• Hook – Examples and Definition of Hook
• How to Engage the Reader in the Opening Paragraph – BBC
• Hooks and Attention Grabbers; George Brown College Writing Centre
• Hook Examples and Definition; Literary Devices
• What Is a Narrative Hook? Video
• How to: Writing Hooks or Attention-Getting Openings-YouTube

Research Paper Analysis: How to Analyze a Research Article + Example

Film analysis: example, format, and outline + topics & prompts.

Hook Generator

AI Hook Generator: Write a Perfect Attention-Grabber

What is a hook generator.

In writing, a hook is a sentence or group of sentences that serves as an attention-grabbing opening to a piece of writing. It is a powerful tool to engage readers or listeners and encourage them to continue reading or listening. However, crafting a good hook can be challenging, and that's where a hook generator comes in.

A hook generator, also known as a hook creator or hook sentence generator, is an online tool that provides users with various ideas for hooks that they can use in their writing. These tools help writers save time and effort by providing them with different options for a hook that they can choose from.

Why Should You Use a Hook Statement Generator?

Using a hook generator has several advantages for writers, including:

• Time-saving:  Writing a hook can be a time-consuming process. A hook generator can save writers time by providing them with various options to choose from.
• Increased creativity:  A hook generator can stimulate creativity by providing writers with unique and interesting ideas that they might not have thought of on their own.
• Improved engagement:  A well-crafted hook can improve reader engagement, and a hook generator can help writers create attention-grabbing hooks that keep their readers interested.
• Consistency:  A hook generator can help writers ensure that the tone and style of their hooks are consistent throughout their writing. This can help create a more cohesive and polished piece of writing, which can improve the reader's overall experience.
• Flexibility:  A hook generator can provide writers with different types of hooks that can be tailored to their specific writing needs. For example, a writer may need a hook for an essay, a speech, or a marketing campaign. A hook generator can provide a variety of hook types, such as anecdotes, questions, or quotations, that can be customized to suit the specific type of writing.

How to Use Our Hook Generator?

Our hook generator is easy to use and can help writers generate hooks quickly and efficiently. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Describe the Topic

Enter the topic you want to write about in the text box. This will help the generator provide relevant and specific ideas for hooks.

Step 2: Generate Hook Ideas

Click on the "Generate Hooks" button, and our hook generator will provide you with different ideas for hooks. You can select the ones that you like and save them for later use.

Step 3: Save Hooks with Potential

After generating hook ideas, you can save the ones that you think have the potential to engage your audience. You can copy and paste them into a separate document for future reference.

Step 4: Refine Your Hooks

You can refine the hooks you've saved by making changes to them or combining different ideas to create a more unique hook.

Tips for writing effective hooks

Here are some tips for writing effective hooks:

Know your audience

Before writing a hook, it's essential to know your target audience. Consider what type of reader or listener you are trying to attract and what their interests and values are. This will help you create a hook that is relevant and appealing to your audience.

Hook examples:

• Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list?
• Are you passionate about saving the environment?
• Do you love trying new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen?

Start with an interesting fact or statistic

Sharing a surprising or little-known fact can pique readers' curiosity and make them want to learn more. Starting with a fact or statistic can also establish the importance of the topic you're writing about.

Pose a thought-provoking question

Asking a question can make readers or listeners think and engage with the topic on a deeper level. Make sure the question is relevant to your topic and encourages readers to keep reading or listening.

Thought-provoking hook exa

• What would you do if you had only 24 hours left to live?
• Is it ever acceptable to lie to protect someone's feelings?
• Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?

Use a quotation

Using a quotation from a famous person or a book related to your topic can add credibility and interest to your writing. Make sure the quotation is relevant and memorable.

Quotation hook examples:

• "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
• "The best way to predict your future is to create it." - Abraham Lincoln
• "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." - Charles Darwin

Tell a story or anecdote

Sharing a personal story or anecdote can help readers connect with your writing on an emotional level. Make sure the story is relevant to your topic and highlights the importance of the issue you're discussing.

Story hook examples:

• When I was six years old, I fell off my bike and broke my arm. Little did I know that this event would shape my entire life.
• My grandfather used to tell me stories about his experiences during the war. His stories always reminded me of the sacrifices he made for our country.
• I remember the first time I tasted sushi. It was love at first bite, and I've been a fan ever since.

Humour can be an effective way to engage readers and make them remember your writing. However, make sure the humor is appropriate and relevant to your topic.

• Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!
• I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands instead.
• I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.

Keep it concise

A hook should be brief and to the point. Avoid using long, complicated sentences that may confuse or bore readers.

Concise hooks examples:

• Time is money.
• Life is short.
• Knowledge is power.

Make it unique

A hook should be unique and stand out from other hooks. Avoid using cliches or overused phrases that readers may have seen before.

Your hook should accurately reflect the content of your writing. Avoid using clickbait or misleading hooks that may disappoint or frustrate readers.

How to Write a Good Hook for an Essay

A good hook for an essay should be attention-grabbing and relevant to the topic. It should also be unique and creative. Here are some types of hooks in writing that you can use for your essay:

• Anecdote: Start with a short and interesting story related to your topic.
• Question: Pose a question to your audience that makes them think and want to learn more.
• Quotation: Use a quotation from a famous person or a book related to your topic.
• Surprising fact: Share a surprising or shocking fact that will make your readers curious.
• Definition: Start with a clear and concise definition of a term related to your topic.

Choose Your Type of Hook

After selecting the type of hook you want to use, you can start writing your hook sentence. A good hook should be concise and to the point, but it should also grab your readers' attention.

How to Start a Hook for an Essay

To start a hook for an essay, you need to think about what will capture your readers' attention. You can start by asking a question, sharing a story, or providing an interesting fact. The goal is to create a hook that will make your readers want to keep reading.

Essay Hook Examples

Here are some examples of good hooks for essays:

• Anecdote: "When I was six years old, I broke my leg in a car accident. Little did I know that this event would shape my entire life."
• Question: "Did you know that the human brain can process information faster than the speed of light?"
• Quotation: "As Nelson Mandela once said, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'"
• Surprising fact: "Did you know that the world's largest living organism is a fungus that covers over 2,200 acres in Oregon?"
• Definition: "According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 'procrastination' is defined as the act of delaying or postponing something."

Hook Generators

Aside from our hook generator, there are several other hook generators available online that can help writers create attention-grabbing hooks for their writing. Here are some examples:

Instagram Hooks Generator

Instagram is a popular social media platform that is used by millions of people around the world. If you're looking to create reels on Instagram, you can use an Instagram hooks generator to come up with creative and engaging hook ideas.

An Instagram hooks generator is a tool that generates creative ideas and concepts for reels on the Instagram platform. It is designed to help users create attention-grabbing and visually stunning content to capture the attention of their audience. 

Instagram hook tips: 

• Use a visually stunning image or video that captures the essence of your brand or product
• Use an interesting caption that encourages viewers to engage with your post
• Use a unique hashtag that makes your post easily discoverable

Check out our  AI instagram bio generator

Email Hooks Generator

Email marketing is an effective way to reach potential customers and promote your business. To make sure your emails get noticed, you can use an email hooks generator to come up with attention-grabbing subject lines that entice your subscribers to open your emails.

An email hooks generator is a tool that generates attention-grabbing subject lines for email marketing campaigns. It is designed to help users create subject lines that entice their subscribers to open their emails. Here are some benefits and examples of an email hooks generator:

Email hook tips:

• Ask a question in the subject line that piques the subscriber's curiosity
• Use numbers to make the subject line more specific and compelling
• Use a sense of urgency to create a feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out)

Check out our  cover letter generator and  how to write letter of recommendation with AI . 

Speech Hook Generator

Public speaking can be daunting, but a well-crafted hook can help you capture your audience's attention and keep them engaged throughout your speech. A speech hook generator can provide you with different ideas for hooks that you can use to make your speech more memorable.

A speech hook generator is a tool that generates creative and engaging ideas for speeches. It is designed to help users create attention-grabbing hooks that capture the audience's attention and keep them engaged throughout the speech. 

Speech hook tips: 

• Use a personal story or anecdote that relates to the topic of the speech
• Use a shocking statistic or fact that highlights the importance of the issue being discussed
• Use humor to make the audience laugh and create a relaxed atmosphere

Essay Hook Generator

An essay hook generator can help you come up with creative ideas for hooks that you can use to make your essay stand out. By using a hook generator, you can save time and effort while creating a hook that will make your essay more engaging.

An essay hook generator is a tool that generates creative ideas for hooks for essays. It is designed to help users create attention-grabbing hooks that make their essays stand out. 

Essay hook tips:

• Use a quote from a famous person or a book related to the topic of the essay
• Use a surprising or little-known fact that highlights the importance of the issue being discussed
• Use a personal story or anecdote that relates to the topic of the essay

Song Hook Generator

Writing a catchy hook is essential for creating a successful song. A song hook generator can provide you with different ideas for hooks that you can use in your songwriting.

A song hook generator is a tool that generates creative and memorable ideas for hooks for songs. It is designed to help users create catchy and memorable hooks that stick in the listener's mind. 

Song hook tips:

• Use a catchy melody or rhythm that makes the hook memorable
• Use a simple and repetitive phrase that is easy for listeners to remember
• Use a metaphor or analogy that makes the hook more interesting and memorable

Check out also our  country song generator and  song title generator .

Marketing Hook Generator

Marketing hooks are used to grab the attention of potential customers and persuade them to buy your products or services. A marketing hook generator can provide you with different ideas for hooks that you can use in your marketing campaigns to make them more effective.

In conclusion, using a hook generator can be a valuable tool for writers who want to create attention-grabbing hooks quickly and efficiently. By following the steps outlined in this article and using a hook generator, you can create hooks that engage your audience and make your writing more memorable.

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The Essay Guide for Ambitious Students on How to Write an Essay Hook

What Is an Essay Hook? How Does It Work?

How often do you use hooks for your papers? Do you know how to write a beneficial hook? First things first. An essay hook is an opening statement used to grab readers’ attention. If you wish a hook really works in your paper, you have to select the right one and remember that a good hook refers to the whole topic of your work, not just to some passages. Writing an excellent introduction to your essay makes your paper easier to read as an intro is like a seed. When you drop the right seed in your composition, you will get great results.

How to Find Beneficial Hooks?

Before using good hooks in your essay, you have to know what kind of paper you are going to write. It can be a definition, descriptive, or narrative essay and can be totally different from argumentative and critical ones. So, it means that grabbers for essays are nothing alike. Think of who is going to read your piece of writing. Each generation speaks its language, so if it will be read by children, use a simple style, or if your essay is intended for professionals, you can use a specific language to write an effective essay hook.

Why Do Facts Work as an Attention Grabber?

If you want to make someone read your paper to the end, get hooked him with a good attention grabber for an essay, such as a fact that they may not have known, and that will attract interest to the whole work. You can use a surprising fact which leaves no one indifferent. Let’s consider one of the following hook sentence examples:

Diet Cola will ruin your brain and give your brain cancer.

Admittedly, it’s a shocking fact, but such points usually work in most cases.

Try to avoid too complicated and too long expressions in facts. Otherwise, your essay will be dull from the very beginning.

A Catchy Fact Makes an Audience Read the Entire Essay

If you write a fact essay hook to drag attention to your paper, bear in mind that there are two types of facts: statistical and interesting. The statistical facts are used while writing an essay relating scientific subjects. Interesting facts could be some new information that you faced while investigating your topic, and you want to share it. Look at some examples of essay hooks:

Children aged 0-14 years account for only 12% of the population in Germany while in Kenya, this group accounts for 40%.

If you accidentally rip up 10 Australian dollars, don't get upset - you can use both halves as a five-dollar bill.

Win a Reader With a Joke

If you are eager to make your composition easy to read, catch, and hold a reader, anecdotes or jokes are considered as great hooks for this purpose. You can use a funny story, a story from your own experience, or a figment of your imagination. Your joke should be referred to as the main idea and shouldn’t be offensive. Of course, when a person starts reading your paper, he can ask, “Why did he write this joke? Why do I need it?” but nevertheless keep reading your work to find out why this joke refers to it. Your goal is achieved, your paper hook has worked, and your reader is captured, and he is going to learn your entire essay.

Do Opening Questions Hold Attention: True or False?

An opening question is one of the efficient grabbers for essays. For instance, asking a question such as “ How would you like to make a million dollars in ten minutes?” People would like to learn the answer to the question if your paper is started with a question. The simple trick of setting a question at the beginning will interest your readers. This desire is based on curiosity. So, if you wish to know how to write an opening question hook, rely on people’s feelings and possible emotions. As an option, use a rhetorical question. It’s an affirmation question that does not require an answer. A rhetorical question attracts the audience’s attention, makes them think about the problem, and pushes them to a particular conclusion. For example, People need food and water to live, don’t they? Using similar hook sentence examples is an exciting way of starting a composition on such topics as life values, existence, society problems, etc.

Let’s Write a Brilliant Research Paper Hook

You know that writing research papers can be overwhelming and exhausting. Even knowing that you need to find a suitable paper hook doesn’t make it easier because you have no idea for hooks at all. Here you can find some useful hooks for your research paper.

Famous quote. The usage of a quote from an influential man is an excellent way to support your idea. It will show that you have something in common with the mentioned person.

Setting the scene. It can be used as a good description hook. When you paint a picture with your own words, it draws the audience to read your paper to the end and find out how you have solved the current problem.

Use statistics. It’s a good idea to back up your statements with actual statistics and proven facts.

Set your thesis. It will express your side of the argument, and readers will be inclined to understand why you chose this position, and keep reading.

Persuasive Essay Hooks

Persuasive hook sentences are powerful statements that bring an affirmation about your paper. The technique of a strong statement is suitable here because it doesn’t matter if your readers agree or disagree with you. They just wonder how you are going to support your idea. A persuasive essay hook makes readers’ pay attention to the current issues and starts thinking of how to solve them. An excellent way to catch someone’s focus is to announce the problem or question that is related to the topic.

Good Hooks For Compare Essay

Having a task to write a compare essay, you need to provide good hooks for two points of view, as in this type of essay, the main task is to consider two existing points of view. A good idea for essay hooks can be using statements with pros and cons. For example:

Being a vegetarian has its distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Ways to Create a Paper Hook of the Mixed Type

If you don’t take an easy road, you can try to write an essay hook of the mixed type. It can be rather tricky, but it’s worth the risk. Experienced essay writers combine a narrative hook and an anecdote. As a result, they have a vivid, rich story that can’t help but attract the audience. Or you can start with a thesis statement and add a question to develop your further discussion in your essay. Let’s have a look at some hook mixed examples.

Children must be disciplined. How can we achieve it?

The digression will confuse your readers, so while writing, stick to the main idea of your composition.

A Literary Quote Helps to Express Your Deep Thoughts

An excellent attention grabber for essay is a literary quote. You can start your composition with something that has been written or said a long time ago by outstanding poets or writers. Quotes help you not only to express yourself but also to catch and hold a crowd of readers. We got used to trusting people who succeeded in life, and their words usually have some power. Have you got an idea of creating a good essay and would like to know how to write a good literary hook? Investigate your topic properly and think of writers who have ever dealt with this topic and choose the best one that will be able to characterize your position.

Famous People Quotes Provoke the Reader’s Interest

Quotes from famous people’s inspirational speeches can draw attention to your composition. Their motivational monologues have been divided into hundreds of quotes that are widely used. Let’s look at a hook using quote examples.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Teresa

This quote could be appropriate to discuss people’s relationships or problems of the generation gap.

Effective Ways to Start Your Sentences in an Essay

Good hooks make the difference while writing an essay . Still, it often happens that a person, having enough eloquence, face obstacles in starting an essay. Sometimes you just need to start your first sentence, and then everything is going okay without any hook sentences. If you wonder how to begin your sentence effectively, you can use the following prompts. Don’t forget to use transition words (as well as, due to, for this reason), use words when citing (in fact, for instance, namely), use words to order events (eventually, in the meantime), summarizing words (all in all, in brief).

How to Write a Hook for Essay?

09 October, 2020

7 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

Want to know how to write a hook for an essay? Lack of ideas for a mind-blowing attention grabber? Don’t worry - we’ll guide you through the stern path of ignorance. The primary intention of any writer is to make a strong impression on readers right from the first sentence. After all, there’s nothing better than engaging pieces of writing that preserve attention more intensely than Marvel movies. And that’s a great hook which makes them so easily digestible and memorable. Of course, the process of generating ideas that spark interest is not as challenging as climbing the Everest mountain, but it does require some brainstorming anyway. If your dream is to learn the skill of creating original hooks for essays, then this article is for you.  

What is a hook?

If you wonder how to start an essay , consider beginning with an attention grabber. A hook is a way of reaching your reader by means of capturing their attention to the writing piece. It’s an art of its own; only words is the main weapon here instead of brushes. Long story short, a hook is something alluring, something that makes readers fall in love with your text, forcing them to read every word with excitement. Sounds perplexing? Let’s move to examples.

Good attention grabbers

There are different types of hooks which you can use at the beginning of your paper, depending on the topic. The most commonly used ones include questions, quotes, statistics, or anecdotes. Each of the methods works equally well for any essay, but keep in mind that the way you construct your essay hook will affect the essence of your overall work. Hence, make sure that your attention grabber is totally related to the paper topic. 

Also, a good introduction doesn’t have to be a lip-smacking opening or a jaw-dropping revelation. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, make great hooks that are simple for readers’ understanding and devoid of blatant gibberish, and don’t forget to add cherry on top to catch the interest of your audience. Now, let’s review some examples of good attention getters to get you started:

As you can see, this hook contains a joke, and it is deeply related to the pain most people feel when given a writing task. Therefore, such sentence starters for essays hook from first sight and make readers say “that’s so me!”. Got the idea? Let’s move to the next examples. 

This hook questions readers and provides food for thought from the very first sentence. Also, this opening sentence invites to give an answer to the question and thus intensifies suspense. Ultimately, it makes readers eager to compare their response with that of an author.

This is an example of starting an essay with a quote, in which the introductory sentence begins with a famous quotation related to success. It calls for attention immediately and proves to readers that the text they are about to read will be not just interesting but also informative.

This is a statistic hook which introduces readers to the text with numbers right away. That’s because figures are the most reliable means of keeping attention. This way, the author encourages readers to think in terms of global dimensions and imagine the effect of a single number on the current working conditions. 

From this extract, readers can learn a new, surprising fact they have never thought of before. Such a method of implementing a hook is called misconception revelation. The primary goal of using such a hook is to break one’s beliefs in half and glue them back with a fresh outlook on their previous perception of things.

This is an example of a fact hook. It’s most frequently used in informative pieces of writing, where the critical element of disclosing information is facts. In this case, the author starts the paper by stating a surprising fact which most readers have never heard of. This once again makes the audience wonder what information will follow, and inspires to read the text till the end.

Bonus tips for creating good attention grabbers

There are many different ideas you can use if you’re curious about how to make a right hook. Let’s review the most effective ones: 

Write your hook after the whole essay is done.

Should the hook necessarily come before the main text? Nothing of the kind. It might sound a little weird, but this approach will help you decide on a hook that’ll best reflect the idea of your essay. For this, you can make a couple of easy steps:

• Write a raw version of a thesis statement
• Back up your thesis with evidence using examples for everybody paragraph
• By the end of a paper, restate the thesis and write a conclusion
• Look for ideas for your hook: statistic, anecdote, quotation, facts, etc. 
• Add the hook to the beginning of the introduction, keeping in mind that it should always relate to your essay topic.

Play with several versions of a hook for one essay.

Who said you have to limit yourself with one chosen attention grabber? Look for as many paragraph starters as you need, and then play with them, adding each one to check if they suit or not. It’s just like with shopping – you put on several things to decide on the best color, size, and model. In the case of essay writing, you can jot down a couple of facts or jokes and add each to the introduction until you see that one is the best fit for your work. 

People are hardwired to seek originality in trivial things. Otherwise, their brains refuse to perceive information which they are well aware of. That’s why, as an author of your masterpiece, you should strive to engage readers into the discussion from the start to the end. Remember – hook sentences are not meant to reduce the causes of boredom. They are a treatment for it. So it’s up to you to decide whether to create a catchy hook for your essay or whether to leave readers with nothing to think about.

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Hook Generator for Essays

• ️🛠️ How to use the tool?
• ️📝 Why use the hook maker?
• ️🪝 6 Types of hooks
• ️🙋 Who can benefit from this instrument?
• ️🔝 How to write a great hook
• ️🚀 Boost your skills with our tools

🛠️ How to Use the Hook Generator?

Choose the hook type.

The first thing you should do is choose the type of hook sentence you would like the tool to generate. Is it a question, a quotation, statistical information, an anecdote, a definition, or a personal fact? This step is optional; however, we advise you to specify what hook type will suit your project most.

Choose the Project Type

Next, you can choose the type of project you're working on. Is it an essay, a speech, a research paper, a thesis, a report, a coursework, or a proposal? You are welcome to select the most suitable genre. This step is also optional.

Input Your Topic

At this point, you should input the topic of your project. This is the only obligatory step, as without this information, our hook generator won't produce the attention grabber customized to your needs. You don't have to enter a polished title; a rough idea is enough.

Get the result

Once you click "Generate," the hook will appear under the button. Note that the hook is AI-made and should be used for inspiration and research purposes only. If you're not fully satisfied with the result, you can start from the beginning. The hook generator is free and unlimited!

📝 Why Use the Essay Hook Generator?

Are you stuck starting an essay or research paper? No worries! With this AI-powered attention grabber maker, you will get fresh ideas for your project. The tool will offer you a hook statement tailored to your needs quickly and for free. Use it as many times as you need to get the perfect result.

Thousands of students trust our online writing tools

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various hook types

🪝 6 Types of Hooks in This Generator

It’s a common misunderstanding that one hook sentence will suit any text. In fact, each situation requires a specific approach. Here are the 6 types of attention-getters that this hook generator can offer.

Question Hook

A question hook is a good choice for engaging readers who are interested in the topic. It also works well for audiences who have yet to learn about the topic but enjoy being challenged and thinking critically. This type of hook will work well for many types of speeches .

Example: Need help writing a hook for your essay?

Quotation Hook

A quotation hook statement is excellent for grabbing the attention of readers who are interested in other people's opinions and ideas. It also works well in research papers based on experts' or well-known individuals' insights and perspectives.

Example: “We can no longer save the world by playing by the rules.”

Statistical Hook

A startling fact or statistic hook is good for engaging readers interested in precise data and new information. It can surprise and shock them, making them want to learn more.

Example: According to Sleepopolis and OnePoll, 34% of adults still sleep with a plushy.

Anecdotal Hook

An anecdotal hook is an effective way to engage readers who are interested in personal stories and experiences. It's also perfect for younger audiences looking for relatable content or wishing to learn from others.

Example: When I was ten, I fell off my bike and injured my head. As I lay on the ground in pain, I saw my neighbor, a retired nurse, rushing over to help. She quickly assessed my injury, called my parents, and stayed by my side until the ambulance arrived. That experience not only taught me the importance of wearing a helmet but also ignited my passion for nursing.

Autobiography Hook

This type of hook can be particularly effective for audiences interested in biographical content, such as fans of memoirs. It's perfect for college essays and admission papers .

Example: I look after two rescued dogs: an outgoing, vibrant Malamute and a reserved yet regal American Foxhound. They haven't allowed their painful pasts to influence their moods, and I won't either.

Definition Hook

This type of hook can be effective for engaging audiences who are interested in learning something new. It's perfect for research papers and scientific texts.

Example: We lie when we knowingly say something false. Lying is considered a sin, a vice, a transgression, and an immoral offense.

🙋 Who Can Benefit from This Hook Generator?

Use the hook generator to get an inspiring starting point for your writing.

Generate beautiful, varied, and customized starters for your lectures on different topics.

Job seekers

Generate an exciting cover letter opener that will thrill your potential employers.

Public speakers

Craft the perfect speech beginning that will engage your audience and capture their attention.

Copywriters

Get a heap of fresh ideas on how to start your text on any topic imaginable.

Use this tool whenever you don’t know how to grab the attention of your potential interlocutor.

🔝 How to Write a Great Hook Sentence

Want to hook your readers and make them want to learn more? Crafting a great attention grabber will help you do that. But where do you begin? Follow these 3 steps to achieve success in the art of starting a paper:

• Analyze your topic. Why is it important? What intriguing facts or quotes are related to it? Consider personal experiences that relate to your subject. Use these insights to create a "skeleton" for your hook.
• Know your goal. What reaction do you want to elicit from your readers? Choose a hook that aligns with your essay's purpose and will evoke the desired response.
• Do your research . Explore blogs, books, and articles related to your topic for inspiration. Visiting physical locations and interviewing people are also good options.

Follow these tips, and you'll create a hook that will make your readers curious from the get-go! But let's be honest; crafting a good attention-getter can be a lot of work.

Our hook sentence generator can create stunning results in seconds!

🚀 Boost Your Skills with Our Study Tools

In addition to this essay hook creator, we offer other highly specialized writing tools for students. With them, you’ll quickly polish your project of any genre.

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Best Hooks & Attention Grabbers for Essays

Sourav Mahahjan

A hook statement is essential for all writers as it helps make the essay exciting and intriguing. Generally, people spot lines that are engaging and help in affecting our curiosity.  However, formulating a hook statement is tricky when writing academic essays, which depend on facts and figures. However, the following article will help provide information regarding different ways to help prepare a  hook statement that can help attract the readers' attention.

What is an attention grabber or Hook statement? 

An attention grabber or hook statement is essential as it helps the readers understand the context of the essay and the information presented in the essay.  The first line of the essay is known as a hook, as it helps hooks the reader's attention towards the information presented in the essay. The hook statement is generally presented in the introduction of the essay as most of the readers first read the introduction to gather information regarding the topic presented in the essay. Therefore, it becomes essential for the writer to grab the readers' attention from the first line of the essay. 

Some of the most helpful hook statements for essay

The first and most crucial element in writing a quality hook statement is the readability and clarity of the hook statement.  The effectiveness of the hook statement or attention grabber only increases when it helps to gain the readers' attention for the information provided in the essay.  This will also help the reader to relate to the message and resonate with them. 

Different types of Hook statements used in the essays

• Question hook: The question hook helps attract the readers' attention. Asking an open-ended question to the readers of the essay helps create anticipation in the reader's minds. Using a thought-provoking questions helps motivate the reader to investigate the information provided in the essay to find the answers related to the question.
• Anecdote:  The beginning of an essay in the form of a story related to the main topic can be very helpful in attracting the attention of the readers in the essay.  Including a quality and engaging story can make the readers move forward with the information presented in the essay. The story may not be a real-life experience. However, a well-designed and well-crafted fictional story can also be constructive in grabbing the readers' attention in the essay. 
• Use of famous quotes: The use of famous quotes made by different celebrities and writers worldwide can be beneficial in attracting the readers' attention to the information provided in the essay.  The moment I identify the quotes and the author of the quote, I am naturally motivated towards the information provided in the essay. However, using generic quotes can make a negative impression regarding the essay and reduce the readers' attention toward the essay. 
• Comparison:  Comparison is one of the most helpful ways to make people understand different types of complex information regarding a specific topic. Explaining the concept of baseball as cricket plated with a log can help connect the readers with the game and increase their interest in the information presented in the essay. 
• Humour:  Perfectly timed humour is essential in breaking the silence in different types of conversation. The use of good-quality humour in the essay can be beneficial in reducing the readers' resistance to connecting to the ideas presented in the essay. However, on the other hand, using destructive or harmful humour can make the readers offended and turn out from the information in the essay.  
• Declaration hook: Using a declaration hook helps make a strong statement regarding the topic used in the essay.  These claims are generally connected to the essay's thesis statement and show the essay's importance on the given topic.  A strong statement is very applicable as it does not consider the topic's views. As a result, it attracts the reader's attention as they want to know about the different facts the writer has provided to prove the statement made in the essay.

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Attention grabbers are techniques you use at the very beginning of an essay as a means to hook your readers' attention and get them interested in your topic. You can use one of several techniques, such as a surprising statistic, a generalization or even a story. However, no matter which method you use, you need to make sure that your hook either supports your thesis or provides an opposing stance to which you can argue.

Rhetorical Generalizations

One effective way to grab your reader's attention is to issue a general statement about your subject as a pathway into the argument. Consider the following thesis: "Because recycling technology isn't yet cost effective, we'd be better off relying on traditional garbage disposal while using funds currently allocated for recycling to develop new, efficient recycling technology." You could open with a generalization, such as "We can all agree that recycling is a good idea." A statement like this aligns your sensibilities with your reader's, and simultaneously introduces your subject in a way that leads you into an argument that will challenge the way readers think about recycling.

Surprising Facts

Surprising facts work as attention grabbers because they teach the reader something interesting and unexpected. These facts can take the form of statistics, or obscure information related to your subject. For example, if your essay argues that higher education is a waste of money, you could open with a statistic about the staggering number of college graduates who can't find employment within their fields of study. Remember, if you're going to use a surprising fact or statistic, make sure it works to support your thesis, and isn't just an unrelated gimmick to get your reader's attention.

Quotations, like surprising facts, are effective for engaging your reader with the subject of your argument, and make the reader feel as though they've been dropped right into a conversation about the topic. Using quotations also bolsters your credibility because you are citing an outside source to help prove your thesis. When quoting somebody directly, make sure to place their words in quotation marks, and attribute the quote to its source. For example, if you are writing an essay arguing that the U.S. government should increase funding for NASA to search for alien life on distant planets, you might open with the following quote and attribution: "'To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.' These were Dr. Stephen Hawking's words regarding our need to explore the cosmos."

Perhaps the most effective method of grabbing a reader's attention is to use an anecdote. Anecdotes are short stories that illustrate a point. When used properly, they can captivate your audience, and even make them forget they're reading an essay. When opening with a story, start right in the middle of a scene. Use descriptive language to paint the setting, and strong verbs to describe the actions so your reader can experience the events as though they were reading a novel. Furthermore, don't tell readers how they should feel about the anecdote, show them in a way that allows them to figure out the theme for themselves. For example, if you're writing a personal essay about how your brother always stole from your family and made life difficult, don't say that he's a thief; show him stealing something.

• University of Maryland University College: Introductions
• Scholastic: Five great Hooks
• Brainy Quote: Stephen Hawking Quotes

Christopher Cascio is a memoirist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and literature from Southampton Arts at Stony Brook Southampton, and a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in the rhetoric of fiction from Pennsylvania State University. His literary work has appeared in "The Southampton Review," "Feathertale," "Kalliope" and "The Rose and Thorn Journal."

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12 Effective Attention Getters For Your Speech

Any audience decides within the first 60 seconds whether or not you have something interesting to say. After that, they zone out and it is difficult to win back their attention. This is why there is always so much emphasis on attention-grabbing openers.

Once you take up the stage, you need to establish a presence straight away. There is no time for slow introductions. If you watch some of the more successful speakers, you can notice how they utilize their first 60 seconds of stage time. All the experts are well-versed in the art of engaging the audience right off the bat.

An attention-grabbing introduction must check the following boxes:

• Grab the audience’s attention.
• Establish any credibility or relatability.
• Outline the thesis of the speech.
• Give the audience a reason to listen.
• Clear transition into the body of the speech.

Table of Contents

Ask a Rhetorical Question

Make a bold statement, state the importance , shocking statistics or facts, credentials, paint a picture, give examples, everybody loves a good story, show enthusiasm: , build relatability: , acknowledge the audience: , bonus: effective transition, “the dictionary defines” , hello, it’s me, “good morning/evening”, wrapping up,, 12 attention getters for speeches.

There is a misconception that floats around public speaking. Many people believe that their core material is sufficient to get the audience’s attention. However, without a solid introduction, chances are that the listener will already be distracted by the time you get to the main message. Public speaking is an art-form of persuasion and you will need to be aware of the technical aspects that make a great speech along with writing good content. Here are some attention getters that you can utilize for your introduction.

Questions are always a good way to pique interest. We are automatically wired to respond to a question by either having a response in our minds or being curious to hear the answer. Either way, it keeps the audience active and listening for what’s coming next. This is also a great way to establish relatability. You could begin with something along the lines of “Have you ever wondered whether school uniforms are stifling creativity?” You might connect instantly with a large portion of the audience with a similar thought process. Similarly, something like, “Is religion a dying concept?” can make for a very intriguing beginning that might catch the interest of people on both sides of the argument.

Bold beginnings make for memorable and powerful speeches. No one can deny that the infamous “I have a dream!” left a mark on millions worldwide. A bold statement is your way to convey your passion, to stress the importance of an issue, and to instantly draw eyes. Pair a bold statement with the right body language, and you will be exuding the kind of power that is sure to make your presence noticeable. You can also go for shock-value statements that will keep your audience interested. Such as “I nearly died on my way here today.”

Any topic you pick for your speech is likely important to you. As such, you might not feel like it needs further emphasizing. However, to the listener’s this is still a brand new subject. Highlighting why the issue you are covering needs to be heard will be a good way to win their attention. Any speech on environmental changes is overdone, but if you open by talking about the devastating effects and the immediate danger it poses to us, you can get them listening.

For example: “Pollution is running so rampant that people around the world are now consuming nearly 5 grams in plastic each week.” This statement, states the importance, makes it personal and makes the issue urgent.

Typically, mentioning the key highlights of the speech is done towards the end of the introduction. You can use this in conjunction with other attention-getters. All you need to do is dedicate the last few lines in your introduction to outlining the main points that will be addressed in your speech.

Humor is always an excellent ice-breaker. It breaks the tension and makes the audience feel more at ease. This is one of the best ways there is to make your audience comfortable. Once you get them laughing, they will be much more open to your message. However, this can go either way. You need to really know your audience to apply this well. If you make a joke and it falls flat, it can really hamper your stage confidence and derail the rest of your speech. Make sure you write jokes that are appropriate for the audience that you will address. There is no one-joke-fits-all in this scenario.

Depending on the setting, inside jokes are the best way to make the audience feel like they’re getting a personalized speech. Whether it is about an office incident or a particular teacher, a joke everyone is in on is always a good idea. However, if that isn’t the case then you can go to current events as something most people would be familiar with. Use it as an ice-breaker and follow it up with your main message with a smooth transition.

Many people shy away from using statistics in their speeches. They believe it is boring and will take the audience out of the speech. However, when used right they can really shake things up. For example: “Did you know that about 90% of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet?” or “Did you know that approximately 80.2 million people, aged six and older are physically inactive?” can help create intrigue. Once you surprise them, you create a space where you can emphasize the importance of your message. Make sure you strike a good balance of numbers so as to not overwhelm your audience either.

Perhaps the host will have already announced your credentials before you take up the stage. In case that they don’t, make sure to highlight any expertise you might have in a topic you are speaking about. Especially if you have worked for a number of years in a related field, it will add a lot of credibility to your words. Even if the host has mentioned it, you can highlight your expertise in a sentence or two in your introduction to get their attention.

Facts are good for a speech. It adds credibility and a sense of realness to your speech. However, too much data can make your speech seem boring. Instead, try to paint a picture with your words. Instead of having them decipher graphs and facts, you can give them a visual image or associate a relatable emotion with your abstract idea. Use directions like “imagine” or “picture this” followed by descriptive words. With a little creativity, this can work for virtually any speech topic. Instead of simply stating a problem such as “There are thousands of marine life losing their lives due to ocean pollution every day”, try “Imagine thousands of colorful species being slowly killed by their own ecosystem due to the rampant pollution we are causing.

Your job as the speaker is to make it as easy as possible for the audience to grasp your message. It is a good idea to include an example early on in your speech. Most people run over their main points and put in examples at the end. However, if you pair them immediately it will be easier for the audience to associate them.

Adding examples is also a great way to explore varying languages. It works hand-in-hand with painting a picture. You can utilize similes, metaphors, and adjectives to properly guide your audience. Remember that people will be more inclined to listen to things that they can relate to. This is why you should look to finding examples that are more personal for the audience.

Chances are, you are giving a speech amongst a line-up of speakers. As such, every speaker comes on stage with a question, example, or statistic. An interesting prop, can thus, act like a breath of fresh air for the audience. Whether it is a surprise prop that will keep the audience guessing or simply a demonstration to begin with. It will certainly pique interest and keep the audience watching.  

All good speeches take up the form of a story. It does not have to take up a “Once upon a time” format. You can pick a personal story to relate to your topic. Once you begin with a story, you will automatically get your audience curious about the next turn of events. Especially if your story is relatable one, it will create a stronger connection. Similarly, you can keep your audience’s attention throughout the speech with bits of your story. Keep the audience guessing by introducing twists and turns. This is not just a good tip for the introduction but also for the body of your speech. 

Quotes are a great way to spice up your script. Especially if you can find quotes given by a famous person in a related field. They can add a certain gravitas to your words and help engage the audience. Make sure you double-check the source of the quote as you don’t want to misquote them either. Similarly, you don’t want to just quote someone for the sake of quoting. Make sure it matches the theme of your speech.

Work on Your Delivery

All of the above tips are highly effective, however, delivery also plays a vital role. If you deliver these tips with a monotone attitude, chances are the audience simply won’t catch on to these attention grabbers. Make sure you monitor your enthusiasm and put a lot of it into your introduction.

Your opening sets the tone for the rest of your speech, so you want to keep it upbeat. If you are looking at the floor, looking unsure and mumbling, you will lose credibility in the eyes of the audience. You need to project confidence so the audience feels like you have something to offer. Experiment with vocal variety, pitch, energy, and hand gestures. A good mix of all these elements will create the perfect attention-grabbing introduction for your speech.

How you deliver your first sentence is important to the impact you want to create. You want to stand out. If every speaker before you comes up with a question, by the time it gets to you, your audience will be completely over it. This is why personalized delivery can make you stand out. Here are a few delivery techniques you can experiment with:

A smile is a simple yet timelessly effective way to connect to your audience. It is a universal human gesture and will make the audience warm up to you. Not just for informal speeches but even for formal ones. Make sure to have a warm smile in your delivery rather than keeping a stoic demeaner.

Have you ever met those people who’s energy is simply infectious? Being around them just brings up your own mood. As the speaker, you command the stage. It is your job to direct the audience. This is why you can lead the enthusiasm by exuding it yourself.

People are automatically drawn to people they can relate to. If you are speaking about a relatable topic, make sure you talk about the relatability factor early. No matter what the topic is, you can find a common ground to connect on.

Once you have your script and the preparation ready, you might be tempted to simply take up the stage and begin speaking at once. Believe it or not, this actually takes the audience away from the speech. Making it about them, making them feel like an important part of your speech will get them leaning in to listen.

Speak from your heart. You may have seen a lot of good speakers and naturally, you feel like picking up on their styles. However, audiences best respond to sprinkles of your own personality. So make sure, whatever style you try to incorporate, you don’t lose your honest touch.

These are just some of the ways you can grab the audience’s attention. You can pick one or more of these to make sure you maximize audience engagement. Public speaking is a subtle art and once you master it, it will become second nature to you. Content is king but your delivery, along with all these technical elements ensures your content actually reaches the listeners. The only thing left to do is practice.

As we discussed, an introduction has many roles to fulfill. One of them is to signal to the audience that the body of the speech has begun. To do so, you will need to incorporate an effective transition. Once you learn how to properly utilize these, your speech should flow smoothly from opening, body, to conclusion. Improper transitions can disrupt your natural flow and make your speech seem jumpy or choppy. If you’d like to up your transition game, you can browse our extensive coverage of Transitions in Public Speaking.

Your introduction is really only 10-15% of the total speech. Yet it can have a huge impact on audience engagement and impact. It needs to be long enough to check all the boxes of information that need to be relayed but at the same time short enough to keep it interesting. With the above tips and your awesome content, you will no doubt be able to craft something amazing.

What not to do:

While it is certainly a good idea to experiment, there are some things you should certainly avoid. Here are a few of them:

This trope is extremely overdone. Besides, people can simply google definitions. You want your speech to be authentic and interesting.

While it is encouraged to establish credibility, try not to get carried away. You can alienate the audience if you seem like you’re bragging. Make sure your introduction is concise and relevant.

Unless you’re a naturally humorous person with jokes relevant to your topic, we recommend staying off jokes. Besides you want your message to be the center of your speech. If your joke doesn’t land in the intro itself, it is also likely to affect your confidence.

While welcoming the audience is typically recommended, spending your precious few introduction moments on salutations can be seen as a lack of creativity. You are much better off using this time to grab their attention and save the thank you’s for afterward.

On average, an audience member has but one question at the beginning of every speech, “Why should I care?” It is your responsibility as the speaker to answer this question and win over their attention. Whether it is by presenting shocking information, useful demonstration, entertaining presentation, or a persuasive performance, whichever best suits your style. Take a look at your script and try on the various attention-getters we’ve listed above. Test it out by recording and listening to yourself or having a friend listen to it. Make sure you don’t cut out any practice time. All the best!

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Better & Effective Attention Getters for Essays

Table of Contents

The attention-grabbing beginning is one of the most critical steps in writing a concise and good essay. Many writers struggle with this step since it is challenging to write a concise yet compelling beginning to hook the reader.

This article outlines the different types of attention-grabbing beginnings for persuasive essays to evoke the readers’ curiosity and pique their interest.

Why Is an Attention Grabber Important in an Essay?

An attention-grabbing introduction is essential when starting an essay. It entices your reader and gives them a reason to continue reading by ensuring their interest. It is like a jump-start before the rest of your essay gets started and an invitation to read instead of passing over your paper.

Attention-Grabbing Beginnings for Persuasive Essays

Every writing assignment always has a beginning and an end. The start and endpoints for your essay are where you want your audience’s attention to be. It’s not enough for your beginning to be exciting; it must lead into the rest of your essay.

You need to make the reader want to continue reading; otherwise, your essay is lost. Here are some practical, attention-grabbing beginnings for persuasive essays :

Start With an Interesting Question

Start your essay by posing an interesting question relevant to your topic. This is an effective way to grab the reader’s interest in an instant.

People are naturally curious and want to know the answers to all of their questions. If you begin your essay with a question, readers will know that you will answer the question if they continue reading.

State a Surprising Fact

Surprising facts are good attention grabbers because they teach the reader something new, engaging, and unexpected. These facts could be some statistics or minor details about your essay topic.

If you’re going to employ a startling fact or statistic, make sure it supports your argument. It should not be any unrelated attention-grabbing tool.

Begin With a Strong Statement

A strong and powerful statement hook is a phrase that makes a bold assertion about your subject. It ties in with the thesis statement and highlights the significance of your essay. It doesn’t matter whether your reader agrees or disagrees with your opinion. Starting with a strong statement is a great method because readers will be interested in how you back up your claim.

Use a Metaphor or Simile Hook

By using an attention-grabbing metaphor or simile, you can make your point and also set an interesting stage for the essay. A metaphor or simile hook grabs readers’ attention because it causes them to think of a subject from a different perspective. It makes them wonder what you mean and how you compare a topic to something that appears unrelated.

Use Impactful Quotations

Quotations, like startling facts, are good for getting your reader interested in the topic of your argument. Using quotations also increases your credibility as you use an outside source to support your thesis.

When directly quoting someone, be sure to enclose their words in quotation marks and give credit to the original author. Also, pick quotations that have memorable and impactful words.

Begin With an Anecdote

One way to grab the reader’s attention is to open up with a personal story. Anecdotes are brief stories used to make a point. An anecdote can help people relate to the topic and establish an emotional connection. An anecdote can fully immerse your audience into your essay if used properly.

No attention-getter will instantly make a reader fall in love with your essay. But they are effective in getting the reader interested enough to want to find out more.

Ultimately, the goal of grabbing attention is to keep the reader interested and on the page . This article outlines some of the most effective attention grabbers to keep the reader’s interest throughout your essay.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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ATTENTION GRABBERS: OPENING AND CLOSING

GAMBITS FOR WRITING

Johnie H. Scott, M.A., M.F.A.

Associate Professor of Pan African Studies

California State University , Northridge

Key Concepts:

1)       proactive

2)       gambit

3)       mull

4)       thesis statement

5)       heartfelt

6)       adept

7)       synergy

8)       synergistic

Introduction:

I’ve prepared this with three purposes in mind that are all related to improving the ability of aspiring writers to (1) capture the audience’s attention from the onset with effective, clearly-written and articulated openings for paragraphs and longer compositions, (2) present cleanly-written and carefully-formulated thesis statements, and (3) finish compositions with strong, forceful conclusions that leave the reader talking and with something to think about.

I want to acknowledged a scholarly debt of gratitude to John Langan (i.e., College Writing Skills ), Ronald S. Lunsford and Bill Bridges (i.e., The Longwood Guide to Writing ), Philip Eggers (i.e., Process & Practice ), and Tammy L. Boeck and Megan C. Rainey ( Connections: Writing, Reading and Critical Thinking ) for their own work in the area of opening and closing essay stratagems. At the same time, credit must also be given to Deanne K. Milan (i.e., Developing Reading Skills ) and John Roloff (i.e., Paragraphs ) for the extensive attention they gave to improving the reading and basic writing skills of young writers.

Finally, a sincere note of appreciation has to be extended to my colleagues and associates in the Writing Program of the Pan African Studies Department at California State University, Northridge from the time this was first written some 15 years ago in 1986: Dr. Rosentene B. Purnell (Professor Emeritus and founder of the PAS Writing Program as well as author of Bridges: Ways of Approaching Written Discourse ), Dr. Tom Spencer-Walters (Chairperson of the Department and founding editor of Kapu-Sens ), and Professors King Edward Carter, Professor and author Herbert A. Simmons (i.e., Man Walking On Eggshells , Corner Boy and Tough Country ), and Eric Priestley (i.e., author of Raw Dog and Abracadabra ). I thank each for the insights and observations over the years of commitment to developing voices among the students matriculating through the PAS Writing Program. To Simmons and Priestley, in particular, I give a heartfelt thanks for continuing the Watts Writers Workshop tradition of which we were all part of.

Much has been made over the years about the importance of experience – very simply, of working at one’s craft…whatever that craft might be. In Robert Townsend’s critically-acclaimed feature film The Five Heartbeats, the central character is an aspiring writer. We hear the statement made by this character (played by Townsend) , “To be a true writer, you have to suffer before learning what writing really is.”

Well, my mother, who was not a writer, was not nearly so fanciful in saying to me during my grade school years that I would “have to pay a lot of dues before amounting to anything in this world.” For those reading this, I am saying that writing is not something to be mastered in five easy lessons. Writing has to be worked at – and worked at constantly, every single day. You have to read along the way – whether that reading take the form of newspapers, news magazines, comic books, popular fiction like Walter Mosley’s Walkin ’ the Dog , cultural criticism such as that done by Michael Eric Dyson with Race Rules: Navigating the Color Line , or major writers like Toni Morrison with Paradise or Ralph Ellison’s Juneteenth . The point I’m making is that a person reads in order to develop, expand and appreciate the power of the word, of vocabulary, of being able to express themselves without stretching for meanings beyond their grasp.

Having said that, my intent is to present another approach to writing. This article is based upon my own experiences as a writer and in the classroom – and I do this as someone whose ability and love for writing enabled me to move up out of the Jordan Downs Housing Projects in South central Los Angeles, pass through Harvard, Stanford and Antioch Universities, and settle into a position where I can now share my love for the craft and love of writing itself with others. For those of you concerned solely with writing better paragraphs and essays, what I have to say should offer some insights on accomplishing that task. For those of you, though, who see writing as a means to affect social attitudes and change the way people view issues (and one another), perhaps what I have to say will help jar some now thoughts into existence. I certainly hope so.

“The Hook”: Getting the Reader’s Attention

How many times have you opened your mailbox to see one of those large, brown envelopes with large lettering boldly announcing that you have been “Pre-Approved” and stand to be “An Instant Winner! ” It doesn’t matter that the letter may have come from some publishing clearinghouse. You take a seat in your living room, perhaps at the breakfast nook in your kitchen where you then pause for a moment or two while hefting the envelope from one hand to the other. In your mind, you imagine what it would be like to be a sweepstakes winner – and think back to that happy face of the person who hit the Super Lottery for $70 million. You find yourself thinking of what being an “instant winner” could do in changing your own personal fortunes: payoff outstanding loans, clear past due accounts from your credit report, make it finally possible to take that “Dream Vacation.” Perhaps you even call in family, or a close friend, telling them about this strange letter – wanting them present when you open the envelope.

You do so very carefully, removing the contents which include the facsimile of a $100,000 check bearing your name and a series of numbers --- one of which, you are told, is yours “to keep” and follow in the hope that it will be drawn at a lottery sometime in the not-so-distant future. Excited now with the adrenalin pumping, you put the number series to the side and read on. This is when you get “the pitch” from the company sponsoring the lottery: purchase one or more of their products with the notation that “failing to do so will not detract from your ability to win the $100,000 Grand Sweepstakes Prize!”

In marketing circles, this is referred to as “The Hook”: it is a 20-second window of opportunity wherein marketers gain your attention and make their sale. That 20-second window of opportunity is true for all audiences. Knowing that it exists and how to make the most effective use of that window is one of the reasons why good writers use strategies to immediately gain the reader’s attention. Good writers know that one of the most serious errors that can be made is by opening up right away with the main purpose of the writing – this is an automatic turnoff for the reader!

Think back to that brown, “Pre-Approved Instant Winner” envelope with the facsimile check! Imagine that same envelope in your mailbox, opening it up and immediately being hit on the head with “Buy this.” Without a doubt, that envelope would go sailing into the trash can. With today’s audiences becoming increasingly sophisticated and demanding, there is a premium on the attention span available. You have to make the most of that time. Knowing about and being able to make effective use of the various opening strategies can only enhance your skills as a writer.

There are, as a matter of fact, seven (7) proven opening gambits or strategies for one’s paragraphs and/or longer compositions:

1)       Begin with a broad, general statement that you narrow down to your thesis statement . Keep in mind that the thesis provides the main idea for the entire composition;

2)       Use a question or series of thought-provoking questions . When using this gambit, it is very effective to state these questions as a series of one-liners (i.e., paragraphs) before getting to the thesis. Just keep in mind at all times that the questions you raise do more than merely set a tone for your paper, those questions sooner or later must be answered;

3)       Use quotations. The best quotes are those drawn from popular culture, from the social literature the general public (i.e., your targeted audience) is acquainted with. If you are writing to a politically conservative audience, then you might want to open with a quote from a noted conservative. If the audience is perceived as a hip, upwardly-mobile group of African-American women, then you might want to open with a statement from someone like Joan Morgan, bell hooks, June Jordan, Sonia Sanchez, Alice Walker or Sistah Souljah .   If, on the other hand, you are directing your message to a teenaged readership based in the urban core, you might want to open with a quote from the socially conscious lyrics by one of the leading rap artists or groups. Who would you use, for instance, if the paper was centered on the problems caused by gang violence? Use quotes, in other words, that connect with your audience!

4)       Use an anecdote. All audiences enjoy a story, particularly those with human interest. In this instance, you are putting a face (or faces) to your composition by drawing upon an incident containing a moral center, one that you can then use in leading your audience to the thesis statement. Here again, the best anecdotes are those coming from popular culture: from stories and events that people are aware of and talking about.

5)       State the importance of the topic. You do this by presenting statistical data, facts, figures that underscore the issues about to be discussed. The data must be pertinent, validated and presented in an objective manner free of any editorializing – the facts speak for themselves;

6)       Use the opposite of what you plan to write about. This is done for dramatic effect, as in “What if the world were like this instead of what the world, or situation about to be discussed, truly is?” Readers are often fascinated, intrigued by this type of approach; And lastly,

7)       Use a combination of the strategies. This is best done by using two of the six gambits. Your more skilled writers frequently make use of this, the seventh and final opening gambit.

The Thesis Statement

All of these opening strategies, or essay gambits, have one purpose and that is to focus the audience on your purpose for writing: your thesis statement. This statement is best seen as a single, complete sentence containing the main idea of the entire composition with at least three (3) patterns by which you intend to develop and support that subject. You could not write a very good or insightful essay, for example, if your thesis was “The Hyundai is a great car.” That statement by itself is both vague and general. It has no focus and fails to give the audience anything in terms of where the composition is going. On the other hand, the audience receives a clear sense of direction from a thesis statement that reads “Because of its great gas mileage, low maintenance, and outstanding road handling on highways and city streets, the Hyundai is a great car.”

From this thesis statement, we know that you are going to write about (1) the great gas mileage a Hyundai gets in comparison to other cars, (2) the low maintenance and monies saved in repairs with the Hyundai in contrast to other vehicles, and (3) the responsive way the Hyundai handles on the road in relationship to other cars on the highways and city streets. Those three patterns of development all contribute to and support the main idea, which is that the Hyundai is a great car. They do so in a logical, orderly fashion which is what your readership expects in a well-organized composition.

By the same token, you need to now about the four (4) most common errors made when fashioning thesis statements:

• Do not make announcement. One of the sure signs of the struggling writer is the telltale “In this paper I am going to write about” or the even more deadly (and monotonous) “The purpose of this paper is…” Announcements are a sure way of insulting the intelligence of your readership. Don’t make announcements (“For the next 750 words I am going to…” which leads the reader to start counting your words rather than concentrating on what you are trying to communicate!) or tell the reader what you plan to write about – allow the writing to communicate the story!
• Do not make the thesis too broad. This happens when the writer has failed to carefully think out or plan what the actual subject is going to be. Imagine a thesis statement that asserts “The Civil War was the turning point in American race relations.” Scholars, historians, and many others have written volumes on that subject! This is not the sort of thesis statement you would put forth for a research paper or essay topic due the following week. It is entirely too broad and general.
• Do not make the thesis statement too narrow or specific. Again, this is a result of failing to fully think through what one is going to write about. It is very much like painting oneself into a corner, away from any exit, and being left with no way out. Imagine, for example, having to write a paper with the thesis being “This table is made out of wood.” While such a sentence might lend itself to a few sentences (at best), one certainly could not hope to go any further than that. By always incorporating those three (3) patterns of development into your thesis statement, the error of being too narrow or specific will be avoided; and finally,
• Do not make your thesis statement too vague. This error usually results from fuzzy, unclear thinking. If the thesis is unclear to you, then it will be unclear and, even worse, confusing to your readers. “The California Condor is an interesting bird” does nothing for the reader. It invites confusion by raising too many questions. “Interesting” meaning what? To who? Why? Here, once again, the confusion can be avoided by incorporating those three (3) patterns of development into the thesis statement.

Synergy – Bringing Everything Together:

Effective writing comes, first of all, from being precise and logical in one’s thinking process. When structuring paragraphs, essays and other compositions that work for the reader – and keep in mind that when writing for the public, that audience always comes first! – consideration must be given to capturing and then holding the attention of the reader. You accomplish this by using the opening gambits or strategies that I have identified here, each of which leads the reader to what hopefully will be a well-formulated, clearly-articulated thesis statement (i.e., the main idea of the entire composition). Your reader(s) should be able to follow that thesis in a logical and orderly fashion to the conclusion.

I like telling my students, however, that concluding or wrapping up a paper is just as important as getting the reader’s attention in the first place. You want to writer something that leaves an impression in the mind of your audience, a belief that they have been given something of considerable worth. This is best achieved by using any one of the following six (6) closing gambits (Again, there are actually eight but students who follow-through with me into 155 Freshman Composition will pickup the remaining two at that level):

1)       Restate the main points raised in the paper. What you are doing here is to repeat for your readers those patterns of development first articulated in the thesis statement; in effect, you are now tying the package together.

2)       Close with a quotation. This can be a very effective means for closing out an essay. It adds style and grace to the writing. The best quotes, again, come out of popular culture or wisdom. The quote(s) should be directly related to the subject matter. Using quotes definitely gives your audience the impression that you are in control of the material.

3)       Close with an anecdote. Once more, we are dealing with readability. Audiences love good stories, those that have a core, a sensibility. The writer who can close a composition with a brief story is certainly going to leave a memorable impression on the readers.

4)       Restate the main point and end with a thought- provoking question . Anytime you can focus the audience on the main point of your writing, then leave them with something to mull over once they have finished the reading, then you have succeeded.

5)       End with a prediction or recommendation based upon the subject matter. Remember that the prediction reflects what might or will take place if the assertion in your thesis is not followed through or acted upon. This engages the audience into actions which is always a positive effect. In the same vein, giving the audience a recommendation or series of recommendations is effective in that you are providing them with a list of actions they can take. This moves the audience from passive readers to active doers.

6)       End with a Call for Action. This is proactive, engaging writing that makes your audience aware that what they have read is not merely brain candy, but a serious call by the writer for them to act upon what has been put on the table. This conclusion keeps your readership stimulated.

7)       Close with a thought-provoking question, one that stands by itself and leads the reader to wonder, “ What if?”

Good writing calls for practice and commitment. One of the keys to being an effective writer is remembering your audience, keeping them in mind, understanding that the best audience is one that takes an active rather than passive role in reading what it is that you are trying to get across. The opening and closing strategies that have been discussed here are proven means for accomplishing that exact purpose. At the same time, you have been given a list of the do’s and don’ts in developing thesis statements. To become really adept at writing, though, you have to read: widely and broadly. Reading will give you access not only to new information but, even more, will expose you to different writing styles and ways of expression that can only enhance and improve your own.

Discussion Questions:

1)       The author provides seven (7) different gambits or strategies for starting one’s paper. What are those seven and provide your own original example(s) in explaining each one.

2)       What is a thesis statement? The author lists the four most common errors in the construction of thesis statements. What are those errors and which one(s) give you the greatest difficulty? Why?

3)       In this essay, you have been provided with eight different techniques for concluding one’s paragraphs and longer compositions. Identify each of the eight techniques and briefly give your own, original examples and illustrations in explaining each one.

4)       What has been the greatest value or insight this particular assignment has given you? Why? In what way(s) has it expanded on your previous knowledge and awareness of ways in which to open and close your writing.

Free Attention Grabber Generator for Students

Struggling to write a hook that can really attract your reader's attention? Worry no more! We present to you our free AI-powered attention grabber generator.

To use the free attention grabber generator, follow these 3 simple steps :

• Choose a hook type.
• Select your assignment type.
• Write your topic into the empty field.
• Press "Generate.”
• Get a unique hook that will definitely light a spark in the hearts of your potential readers!
• 🔥 The Perks of Our Generator

⚓ What Is an Attention Grabber?

• 🤩 Types of Attention Getters
• ✍️ Essay Hook Examples

🔍 References

🔥 the perks of our attention grabber generator.

What makes our attention grabber generator so great? Well, there are many things that distinguish it from the rest! Check them out:

An attention grabber is a catchy sentence that piques readers' interest and makes an introduction intriguing. It’s usually located in the first line or paragraph of a text.

All forms of writing need hooks. Research papers, narrative essays, and literary texts all benefit from a well-written attention grabber .

Purpose of Hooks in Essays

A hook aims to attract the reader and motivate them to focus on your paper and read it till the end. A great hook will ensure that your reader remains attentive to your writing, immersing them in your narrative or arguments fully.

The best hooks draw as much interest from the audience as possible. They typically do so by placing the reader in the heart of a dramatic action or arousing curiosity. This effect can be achieved by asking a fascinating question, telling an anecdote, or addressing an important problem.

🤩 Attention Grabber Types

Like a skilled fisherman who chooses the perfect bait for each kind of fish, you need to know which type of hook will get the most attention from your readers.

There are a few different types of hooks that you can use:

• An anecdote hook.
• Statistics hook.
• A question hook.
• Descriptive hooks.
• Joke hooks.

Keep reading to learn more about them!

How to Make the Story Attention Grabber

A personal narrative, an anecdote describing what happened to someone else, or an autobiographic story can successfully attract the reader’s attention. The main requirements are:

• It should be related to the essay's subject.
• It must make the readers curious about what will happen next.

How to Use Statistics as an Attention Grabber

Statistics and shocking facts can do a great job of catching your reader's attention . They offer reliable information on your chosen topic and impress the audience with your expertise right at the beginning of your essay.

Keep in mind that you must present information that is verifiable and true, as well as intriguing.

The Question Attention Grabber

Another classic way to pique a reader's interest is to introduce a captivating question. Readers will be compelled to read your material carefully when it starts with a question that interests them. Just make sure to answer it somewhere in the text!

Descriptive Attention Grabber

A well-written description of a scene or an exciting situation can raise interest even from the coldest readers. If you plan to use a descriptive hook, you might have to make it slightly longer. A proper description usually requires going into detail, so make sure that your word count allows that.

Joke Attention Grabbers

Telling jokes in your hook is another notable way to lighten the mood of your readers and make them more engaged. If you plan to use this type of attention grabber, do it responsibly and avoid joking around too much. We also don't recommend using this type of hook in academic writing or formal essays.

✍️ Essay Hook Examples for Inspiration

If you’re looking for hooks on various topics, look no further! Here are some curious hook examples that will definitely boost your inspiration. We also recommend you check out our free attention grabber generator to get even more creative hooks for your essays.

Hook for Social Media Essay

As you can see, this particular example uses a thought-provoking question. It states the problem and proposes to start a discussion. It's an excellent way to start an essay.

Hook for Abortion Essay

This example uses startling statistics to show the reader why it is important to look deeper into the topic of abortions.

Hook for Great Gatsby Essay

This example starts with a question that fits perfectly with the topic.

Hook for Romeo and Juliet Essay

The example above uses a quotation to strengthen the impact on the reader. It's also taken from the literary work that the essay is about.

And with that, we conclude this article. Don’t hesitate to use our free attention grabber generator if you want to get a perfect hook or just boost your inspiration!

We recommend you also try our sentence rewriter and essay conclusion generator .

❓ Attention Grabber Generator FAQ

❓ what is a good hook sentence for an essay.

Here’s an example of a good hook sentence: "Every day, technological progress changes the face of the Earth. The proof of this is the human-related extinction of numerous species over the past 200 years. However, technology can also help us conserve endangered species.”

❓ What is an attention grabber?

An attention grabber is the first sentence the reader sees in a text. An attention grabber can be a question, quote, piece of statistics, a short anecdote, or even a joke.

❓ What are some good attention-getters?

A good attention grabber must be short and catchy but also logical and based on facts. For example: “American Statistical Association claims that each fifth American citizen dies from smoking-related health issues.”

❓ What is a strong opening sentence?

A solid opening sentence usually begins with a catchy, motivating, or even controversial statement. It can be formulated as a question, quote, or narrative. For example: “Humanity has seen many crises. We’ve conquered the plague, avoided a nuclear catastrophe, and now we’re looking for a way to solve another major issue—a problem of global warming.”

• The Attention-Getter: The First Step of an Introduction: University of Minnesota
• Hooks and Attention Grabbers: George Brown College
• Attention Getters: Grand Valley State University
• 5 Types of Attention Getters in Essays: Classroom