Hooks

Hooks

A hook is an opening statement (which is usually the first sentence) in an essay that attempts to grab the reader’s attention so that they want to read on.

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​What is a Hook?

​Types of Hooks.

• ​question

• quote

• statistic

• anecdote

​Types of Hooks.

• Be mindful that the hook has to be related to the overall topic of the paper.

​Question Hook

• A question hook is when you ask the reader something that they can visualize and try to think of in their own minds. Then, the writer answers the question.

​Question Hook (cont.)

• Example: Have you ever watched the high-flying, jump shooting, slam dunking, ankle breaking players that play in the NBA? Every time I catch a game on television and I witness the thrill of the game, I can’t help but watch another one.

​Quotation Hook

• ​A quotation hook is when a quote is used and explained that has relevance to the topic at hand. The quote should come from a credible source. The quote should also be explained so the reader isn't confused.

​Quotation Hook

• ​Example: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen” said Michael Jordan, arguably the best player to ever play in the NBA. Here, Jordan talks about how people want, dream, wish, and pray that they will one day make it to the big stage. These are usually the people that never make it. It is only when these dreamers and wishers take matters into their own hands and strive to be the best that they actually get to play professional basketball in the NBA.

Statistic Hook

A statistic hook is used more for informational writing pieces. The writer uses a quote from a source that relates to the paper's main idea, but the quote must have some type of statistics (numbers, decimals, or and/or percentages). The statistic should be explained.

Statistic Hook (cont.)

• Example: “Just 0.00545 percent of the 550,000 boys playing high school basketball each year in the United States become a first-round draft pick — 1 in 18,333,” stated Jeff Rabjohns, a writer for The Indianapolis Star, in an article titled “Prep players face long odds of making it to NBA.” Only a few high school players will make it to the NBA. Even though many strive, play, train, practice, and fight to be great, most of them do not.

• When a writer uses an anecdote to relate to the topic and gain the reader's attention, they use a short story. This story can be a short, personal story or one that is made up.

• Make sure that it relates to the paper's main idea and shows its relevance to the topic.

​Anecdotal Hook

• Example: When I was in high school, I remember playing in an AAU basketball league. We had to travel to downtown Philadelphia on the weekends for basketball practice. Every time we had basketball practice (which was at 8 a.m.), there was a boy around my age in the gym by the time we arrived. He was always covered in sweat, throwing up shots, practicing his layups, dribbling, and running laps around the gym. He was in such great shape. One day, I mustered up the courage to ask him about his ambitions, and he told me that he would get up at 5:30 a.m. to go to the gym and practice hard until my team came in for practice. A few years later, this guy was entering the NBA draft from high school. When I saw him get drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, I knew exactly why. All that hard work had paid off for him. This is the complex work ethic and mindset everyone wanting to make it to the NBA should have.

​Anecdotal Hook

Multiple Choice

Identify what type of hook this is:

Are you keen on spending money, or are you a proud saver?

• Question

• Quotation

• Statistic

• Anecdotal

Multiple Choice

Identify what type of hook this is:

It is estimated that 99% of all the species that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct.

• Question

• Quotation

• Statistic

• Anecdotal

Multiple Choice

Identify what type of hook this is:

“The author must keep his mouth shut when his work starts to speak.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

• Question

• Quotation

• Statistic

• Anecdotal

Multiple Choice

Identify what type of hook this is:

1. “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

• Question

• Quotation

• Statistic

• Anecdotal

Multiple Choice

Identify what type of hook this is:

1. I got off the train and pulled my luggage behind me.  A cab pulled up to the curb, and the driver got out.  He lifted my luggage and said, “Miss, I’m just going to put your stuff in the boot.” 

• Question

• Quotation

• Statistic

• Anecdotal

Multiple Choice

Identify what type of hook this is:

1. How long does it take to get familiar with a new project?

• Question

• Quotation

• Statistic

• Anecdotal

Multiple Choice

Identify what type of hook this is:

1. A powerful hook in writing boosts reader engagement by 50%.

• Question

• Quotation

• Statistic

• Anecdotal