The best argumentative essay is one that has a hook good enough to draw a professor’s attention to a written work.
Your intention should be to immerse them into an “aha” moment that naturally gets them to read the rest of the paper. And if you can do this even for topics that evoke controversial debate, you’re more than likely to bump up your grades.
While writing a solid hook isn’t rocket science, it isn’t as easy either. You might find yourself writing and rewriting your the introduction paragraph before you come up with the most fascinating hook. But the process should be smooth if you have the right lead.
In this guide, we give you some pointers that you can use to get this done fast. So continue reading to learn more.
Key Takeaways
- You can start with a quote that fits in your argument or a misconception often confused with a fact.
- Write a story your audience can relate with or use statistics to raise their curiosity.
- You can ask a rhetorical question to get your reader guessing what it is that’s in the rest of your essay.
What is a Hook in an Argumentative Essay?
A hook is an opening statement that introducesthe focus of your topic in one or two sentences, and its purpose is to grab the attention of your reader so that they read the next consecutive paragraphs.
It’s important to understand that a hook is not an introduction of the essay. It’s a part of it, and it comes immediately after the title of your argument.
You don’t necessarily have to present yourself as a formal writer to an audience when writing a hook although doing so is important. Your goal should be to write in a way guaranteed to grab your reader’s attention. So you might have to wear a creativity hat for your topic.
6 Different Ways to Hook a Reader to Your Argumentative Essay
Below are six different ways to write a hook that can grab the attention of your teacher to your argumentative essay:
1. Start with a Quote
We hardly ever recommend starting an essay with a quote, and for good reasons.
- Quotes are not your work. Because they present someone else’s thoughts, they’re likely to keep you from presenting your original ideas.
- Quotes can make it difficult for you to express yourself. The result may be a weak introduction that shows less engagement and creativity.
However, you can still use the quote in your work if it’s unique and if it falls within the context of your argument. Also, the quote you choose to include in your essay should be relevant to the topic and to the thesis statement.
2. Share a Common Misconception
One of the best ways to grab a reader’s attention to a written work is to present a common misconception. This technique works well even for an argumentative essay.
A common misconception is a lie that many people believe to be true. It can be anything from a person and an event to a person and anything in between.
Misconceptions make great hooks because they first startle and then intrigue a reader, resulting in their urge to read the rest of the essay to learn more about what you intend to say.
3. Tell a Story
Stories are hard to write. However, if you can tell yours in one or two sentence, it can be a good hook for your paper.
We understand that stories tend to work well for descriptive essays and narrative topics. Still, they can fit well in an argument if you know exactly how to incorporate them.
It should be clear that you don’t have much room to create the first great impression with your story. So make it short and direct to the point.
A good story is one to which you can relate, but it must be free from personal feelings because arguments require objectivity, reason, and strong evidence to make a point. It’s unlikely your teacher will ask you to use personal pronouns in your arguments, so your story shouldn’t have personalization. Another important point is that your story must relate to the thesis statement of your essay.
4. Use Statistics
Statistics have the power to pique curiosity, welcome readers to unfamiliar facts and information, and draw their interest to the rest of the essay.
To ensure accuracy, conduct preliminary research to validate statistics before incorporating them into your essay. Additionally, ensure you provide proper attribution by including the source of the data for reference.
5. Ask a Question
Starting an argument with a question has the potential to captivate readers and generate interest in the topic.
However, the effectiveness of questions hinges on their specificity rather than being overly general or apparent.
For example:
- Are smartphones bad?
The question above lacks depth and fails to engage readers because it’s too familiar and require yes or no answers, leaving zero room for debate.
The best approach is to use employ rhetorical questions as a strategic tool.
For example:
- Should kids own smartphones before going to college?
The question not only sparks interest from the start but also invites readers to engage in critical thinking and fosters room for debate.
6. Hire a Professional Writer
You can hire someone on this website if you would like to have a professional writer do the work for you. The purpose of this service is to save you time, which you can spend on other school projects, particularly those that need your urgent attention.
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