1. What is a hook?

The hook is the first sentence (or two) of your essay. It should make the reader want to keep reading. Avoid generic openers like “Since the beginning of time…” or “In this essay I will discuss…”.

2. Types of hooks

• Question — a thought-provoking question (use sparingly; don’t overdo it).
• Quote — a short, relevant quote from a source or expert.
• Statistic or fact — a striking number or fact that supports your topic.
• Brief story or scenario — one or two sentences that illustrate the issue.
• Strong claim — a clear, debatable statement that leads into your thesis.

Choose a hook that fits your argument or persuasive purpose and audience.

3. Structure of the introduction paragraph

A typical order: Hook → context/background → thesis statement. The hook grabs attention; the next 1–3 sentences give context (why the topic matters, key terms, or brief background); the last sentence is usually your thesis. For a 5-paragraph essay, the introduction is one short paragraph; for longer papers it can be two short paragraphs.

4. Tips

• Keep the hook short and specific.
• Connect the hook to your thesis — don’t leave the reader wondering how it fits.
• You can write the introduction after drafting the body; then the thesis and hook will match the content.
• Use transition words to move from hook to context to thesis.

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