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Learn how to create a compelling introduction that hooks your reader and introduces the topic of your essay. Explore different strategies and examples of effective hooks.
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Effective Introductions You never get a second chance to make a good first impression
What should I include in my introduction? • Hook • Background information – Why is this an issue worth arguing about? • Claim Statement
Effective Hooks You want a sentence that grabs your reader’s attention from the very beginning. These are effective hook strategies: • Quotation • Personal Story/anecdote • Surprising statistic/fact/detail • Set the Scene • Draw-in Question • Fact-based Question No matter what you choose your goal is to create a hook that grabs the reader’s attention while also introducing the topic of the essay.
Hook Examples Topic: Passing laws banning specific types of dogs should be illegal.
Hook Examples Quotation: "There is really no way to tell if a dog is or is not a pit bull, and the determination is made by animal control officers' subjective judgment" (Tom Skeldon Ohio Dog Warden).
Hook Examples Personal Story/anecdote: Many people consider their pets to be more than animals - they consider them to be members of their families. After a pitbull ban was passed in Moreauville, Louisiana, a service dog belonging to a severely disabled 6-year-old girl was seized and euthanized. This dog was a certified therapy animal.
Hook Examples Surprising statistic/fact/detail: In Los Angeles alone there are 200 Pit Bulls killed every single day. Every day. That is 1,400 Pit Bulls killed each week and 72,800 Pit Bulls euthanized every year in Los Angeles alone (Save-a-Life Harbor Animal Shelter Facebook Page).
Hook Examples Set the Scene: It was night, and we—my daughter and I—were walking our dog. His name was, and is, Dexter. He was, and is, a pit bull. We had just gotten him. We'd had him for four days. An ambulance came slowly and silently up the street, its light whirling. It stopped in front of a house, and we watched an emergency technician climb out (Tom Junod).
Hook Examples Draw-in Question: Why should a dog who has never shown any aggression be banned merely because of the shape of his head? Do you still think you can't be affected by breed specific legislation because you don't own a pit bull? If so, think again...
Hook Examples Fact-based Question: Why do cities continue to pass dog breed specific bans when there has been no decrease in reported dog bites in most cities with these bans? Why are significantly more pitbulls killed in American shelters than other breeds of dogs?
Why do I need to include background information in my introduction? • Allows readers to better understand the issue being presented. • Provides context and history that is important to explaining and arguing your point.
Background Information Example Argument: There should never be a military draft in the United States. Background information: The United States draft was first brought into effect on September 16th 1940.Even though the draft ended in 1973, today men are still required to register as a back-up plan incase the need for another draft arises (HSP 219).
Background Information Example Argument: Smoking should be banned from all public places. Background Information:“Tobacco use kills more than five million people every year – more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined” according to the World Health Organization (Thompson 119).
What does it take to be a team player?Athletes need to do their best while respecting themselves, others, and their bodies. Athletes who use illegal drugs even prescription drugs in the wrong way lack respect for anyone, allowing for greater injuries to themselves, teammates, and other players. Student athletes should be randomly tested for drugs allowing coaches to look for pain medications, performance enhancing drugs, and to encourage students to remain drug free.
