What is a hook in an essay?

A "hook" is something irresistibly interesting in the first sentence or two of an essay that
draws readers in and inspires them to keep reading. It should match the tone of the piece and
support the main point. A hook can take the form of a quote, an amazing statistic or a little-
known fact. It can be a brief recounting of a hilarious or a frightening moment.

There are several ways to develop a good hook. Start by making a list of the most intriguing ideas
that you plan to include in your essay. Verbally explaining them to someone else and watching
for a reaction will also move you closer to the goal.
Write the body of the essay first. Then return to the first paragraph to refine and shape it. Ask
yourself, "Will these first couple of sentences capture my reader like a fishing hook bites into a
fish?" Be brutally honest for best results.
Read hooks written by published authors in local or national newspapers to get a feel for the
variety of ways this tool can be implemented. Take seriously the power of a well-crafted hook,
because if you can't snag your reader's attention up front, it's unlikely that they will continue
reading what you have to say.

https://www.reference.com/education/hook-essay-254e799c65183f09#

Sample Essay Hooks

TYPE OF
EXAMPLE
HOOK
- General Patton once said, “If a man does his best, what else is there?”

Quotation - When Hillary Clinton said “we must stop thinking of the individual and start
thinking about what is best for society,” she highlighted one of the biggest issues
in American politics
- There was nothing more isolating than being alone in a foreign country, with no
cell phone, no money, and no ability to speak the language.
Anecdote
- It was Christmas of 1995 when my parents taught me a valuable lesson: always
expect the unexpected.
- Have you ever wondered what you would do if you couldn’t fail?
Rhetorical
question
- What’s the one thing you can do to make the world a better place?
- China is going to spend $850 billion to clean up its water supply over the next
decade.
Interesting
fact
- Ancient Egyptians used heavy eye makeup to keep evil spirits at bay and to
protect their eyes from infection.
- When I first went to Japan, it was like a baby bird trying to fly for the first time.
Simile or
metaphor
- The high rate of poverty in America is the country’s elephant in the room.
http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Essay-Hooks
Parts of a Refutation
a) The marker that introduces the opposition’s reason:
“Some may argue that...”
“It has been said that....”
“A commonly held opinion is that....”

b) The reason held by the “opposition”. Sometimes a short explanation is

necessary.

c) Another marker to show that you disagree with the reason just
presented:
“This idea, however, lacks validity / is fallacious / misses the point / is incorrect
/ is far less important than it may appear / may be true in a limited context,
but..... / etc.”

d) Support to show that the reason is wrong or less significant than initially
apparent.

Please note, also, how the introduction presents a problem (frequently the
position held by the “opposition”), but NOT the reasons that support that
position. Those reasons should be dealt with (as refutations) in the body of the
essay.