"Hooks" in Your Introduction

Are you looking for a quote as your HOOK in your Introduction paragraph?  Read the information below about HOOKs, and then come back and click HEREto find a quote that might qwork for your topic.

I am using parts of Mr. Morton's website to provide you with assistance with your writing.  I would normally just provide the direct link to his page; however, there are some areas where we differ on the approved structure for an essay.  In our class, you will be scored on the logical steps to crafting paragraph work or an essay.  PLEASE KEEP THE INTRODUCTION, BODY, AND CONCLUSION CONTENT (WRITTEN DIRECTLY BY ME—below) IN MIND WHEN DRAFTING YOUR ESSAY.

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"HOOKS" or Attention Catchers by Mr. Morton

The attention catcher or lead should be the first sentence in the persuasive essay. It is the writer’s first chance to make an impression on the reader, so it should not be spent thoughtlessly. A good attention catcher is angled in a way that immediately pushes the reader toward the writer’s position. Here is an example of what I mean:

Example of a Weak Attention Catcher

Do you think students should have to wear uniforms?

Notice that this question is open-ended and does not provide an opinion. If my students wrote this, I would not know which side they were arguing. This should not be the case. The writer’s position should be clear before they even mention it [in the Thesis] based on the strength of their attention catcher.

Example of a Strong[er] Attention Catcher

Do you think students should be forced to wear pants when it is over 100 degrees?

This example is much stronger because the writer’s position is clear from the first line [even though they are still asking a question].  They ask a question to which they already know the answer [and presumably the audience would be able to know the answer to very quickly].

Persuasion is about forcing others to think along your lines. Practice this in your writing by using attention catchers that are angled toward your position. It may take more time to write your attention catcher than any other sentence in your essay, but this is time well-spent in my opinion.

Attention Catching Techniques

Here is a short list of attention catching techniques for persuasive essays. This list is not to be thought of as exhaustive, but rather as a few guiding examples to help you get started. I encourage you to combine and experiment with these techniques as your writing develops. [If any of these styles are not approved by your instructor, then do not use them—check the outline and essay directions as well as your syllabus to see if you should avoid any of these in your specific course.]

Asking a Question: This is my favorite technique [for beginners] because it can be used on any topic at any time. Additionally, it has a strong rhetorical effect on readers [just beginning the essay]: people are conditioned to think about questions because answers are often expected of them. When you ask a question in your paper’s introduction “HOOK,” readers are more likely to consider your ideas. As with any attention catcher, you’ll want to take your time making a good one that begins persuading your audience immediately.

Quotation: A wise person once said, “No matter what you’re trying to say, someone else has probably said it better.” I find that in most cases this statement is true. While you are unlikely to have access to the necessary resources to dig up quotes for a timed essay or standardized test, if you do have time (example: a high school application letter), using an appropriate quote is a classy way to start off your essay. Just be sure that the quote is connected to your topic in some easily identifiable way.

Anecdote: An anecdote is a short story. Beginning your essay with an anecdote that is clearly related to your topic is another great way to get the reader’s attention and briefly demonstrate your descriptive writing ability. There are a couple things to keep in mind, however, when using an anecdote to catch the reader’s attention:

Stay on Point: as with everything in your paper, your attention catcher, especially if it is an anecdote, should be related to your topic and position.

Stay on Mode: Remember that you are writing a persuasive essay, not a narrative. Your anecdote should be limited to a few sentences [at most—a one-sentence anecdote is preferred], lest your writing may be perceived as off mode.

Startling Fact or Statistic: Did you know that two out of three persuasive essays do not begin with a proper attention catcher? Using a startling fact or statistic is another great way to pique the reader’s interest, assuming that you can locate just such a fact. I’ve heard other people suggest that students should fabricate facts or statistics when other sources are unavailable, but I personally don’t support that approach as it seems academically dishonest.

Imaginative Scenario: Picture this! You have forty-five minutes to write an essay and you need an attention catcher fast. What do you do? One way to do this is to create an imaginative scenario such as the one that I just described. Immerse your reader in an example of the problem and show them why they should care. Use descriptive writing and sensory details to either positively or negatively charge your writing; however, as with telling anecdotes, be careful not to stray off mode. Remember that your main purpose is to write arguments not to tell stories.

Combinations: You might find yourself using some hybrid of two or more of these techniques, which is completely acceptable. You can begin with an imaginative scenario and end with a question. Try something wild. When it comes to writing, the most restrictive limitations are the bounds of your own imagination. I encourage you to stretch those bindings whenever you have the opportunity.