connects the hook to the thesis statement
summarizes the overall claim of the paper
» Opening with a Story (Anecdote)
A good way of catching your reader’s attention is by sharing a story that sets up your paper. Sharing a story gives a paper a more personal feel and helps make your reader comfortable.
This example was borrowed from Jack Gannon’s The Week the World Heard Gallaudet (1989):
Astrid Goodstein, a Gallaudet faculty member, entered the beauty salon for her regular appointment, proudly wearing her DPN button. (“I was married to that button that week!” she later confided.) When Sandy, her regular hairdresser, saw the button, he spoke and gestured, “Never! Never! Never!” Offended, Astrid turned around and headed for the door but stopped short of leaving. She decided to keep her appointment, confessing later that at that moment, her sense of principles had lost out to her vanity. Later she realized that her hairdresser had thought she was pushing for a deaf U.S. President. Hook: a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic.
Transition: connects the hook to the thesis statement
Thesis: summarizes the overall claim of the paper
» Specific Detail Opening
Giving specific details about your subject appeals to your reader’s curiosity and helps establish a visual picture of what your paper is about.
Hands flying, green eyes flashing, and spittle spraying, Jenny howled at her younger sister Emma. People walked by, gawking at the spectacle as Jenny’s grunts emanated through the mall. Emma sucked at her thumb, trying to appear nonchalant. Jenny’s blond hair stood almost on end. Her hands seemed to fly so fast that her signs could barely be understood. Jenny was angry. Very angry. | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
» Open with a Quotation
Another method of writing an introduction is to open with a quotation. This method makes your introduction more interactive and more appealing to your reader.
“People paid more attention to the way I talked than what I said!” exclaimed the woman from Brooklyn, New York, in the movie American Tongues. This young woman’s home dialect interferes with people taking her seriously because they see her as a New Yorker’s cartoonish stereotype. The effects on this woman indicate the widespread judgment that occurs about nonstandard dialects. People around America judge those with nonstandard dialects because of _____________ and _____________. This type of judgment can even cause some to be ashamed of or try to change their language identity.* | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
» Open with an Interesting Statistic
Statistics that grab the reader help to make an effective introduction.
American Sign Language is the second most preferred foreign language in the United States. 50% of all deaf and hard of hearing people use American Sign Language (ASL).* ASL is beginning to be provided by the Foreign Language Departments of many universities and high schools around the nation. The statistics are not accurate. They were invented as an example. | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
» Question Openings
Possibly the easiest opening is one that presents one or more questions to be answered in the paper. This is effective because questions are usually what the reader has in mind when he or she sees your topic.
Is ASL a language? Can ASL be written? Do you have to be born deaf to understand ASL completely? To answer these questions, one must first understand exactly what ASL is. In this paper, I attempt to explain this as well as answer my own questions. | a specific example or story that interests the reader and introduces the topic. connects the hook to the thesis statement summarizes the overall claim of the paper |
Source : *Writing an Introduction for a More Formal Essay. (2012). Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://flightline.highline.edu/wswyt/Writing91/handouts/hook_trans_thesis.htm
The conclusion to any paper is the final impression that can be made. It is the last opportunity to get your point across to the reader and leave the reader feeling as if they learned something. Leaving a paper “dangling” without a proper conclusion can seriously devalue what was said in the body itself. Here are a few effective ways to conclude or close your paper. » Summary Closing Many times conclusions are simple re-statements of the thesis. Many times these conclusions are much like their introductions (see Thesis Statement Opening).
Because of a charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln and because of the work of two men, Amos Kendall and Edward Miner Gallaudet, Gallaudet University is what it is today – the place where people from all over the world can find information about deafness and deaf education. Gallaudet and the deaf community truly owe these three men for without them, we might still be “deaf and dumb.” |
» Close with a Logical Conclusion
This is a good closing for argumentative or opinion papers that present two or more sides of an issue. The conclusion drawn as a result of the research is presented here in the final paragraphs.
As one can see from reading the information presented, mainstreaming deaf students isn’t always as effective as educating them in a segregated classroom. Deaf students learn better on a more one-on-one basis like they can find in a school or program specially designed for them. Mainstreaming lacks such a design; deaf students get lost in the mainstream. |
» Real or Rhetorical Question Closings
This method of concluding a paper is one step short of giving a logical conclusion. Rather than handing the conclusion over, you can leave the reader with a question that causes him or her to draw his own conclusions.
Why, then, are schools for the deaf becoming a dying species? |
» Close with a Speculation or Opinion This is a good style for instances when the writer was unable to come up with an answer or a clear decision about whatever it was he or she was researching. For example:
Through all of my research, all of the people I interviewed, all of the institutions I visited, not one person could give me a clear-cut answer to my question. Can all deaf people be educated in the same manner? I couldn’t find the “right” answer. I hope you, the reader, will have better luck. |
» Close with a Recommendation
A good conclusion is when the writer suggests that the reader do something in the way of support for a cause or a plea for them to take action.
American Sign Language is a fast growing language in America. More and more universities and colleges are offering it as part of their curriculum and some are even requiring it as part of their program. This writer suggests that anyone who has a chance to learn this beautiful language should grab that opportunity. |
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Gallaudet University, chartered in 1864, is a private university for deaf and hard of hearing students.
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1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:
If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.
2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.
3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.
4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.
Example of an analytical thesis statement:
The paper that follows should:
Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:
Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
Now here’s the clue.
If you want to wow your teacher, polish the introduction. Add something interesting, funny, shocking, or intriguing. Good essay hooks help you build an emotional connection right from the start. Think of an essay hook as bait for your readers.
Our expert team has prepared numerous examples of hooks for essays. You’ll find hook examples for an argumentative essay, personal story, history essay, and other types of papers.
For 100% clarity, we provided examples using each hook tactic. And a short part about how to write a good hook.
We highly recommend reading all the methods and examples, so you don’t have any questions.
The hook of your essay usually appears in the very first sentence.
The average length of an essay hook should be 3-7 sentences, depending on the topic.
But first, let’s quickly go through the key questions.
An essay hook (or narrative hook) is a literary technique that writers use to keep their readers engaged. It shows that the content below is worth reading.
The hook can have different lengths. Some writers make it last for several pages. Though, it better be a short paragraph or even a sentence.
Writing the right hook is essential for a few reasons:
Hook ideas | Where to use | Hook sentence examples |
---|---|---|
Elon Musk once said, “We are running the most dangerous experiment in history right now, which is to see how much carbon dioxide the atmosphere can handle before there is an environmental catastrophe.” | ||
Have you ever thought about how you can become happier? | ||
It had been all summer since we’d seen each other, and now I was standing face to face with my old enemy – my Math teacher, Mrs. Parker. | ||
According to the Annapolis Police Department, nearly 42% of teenagers have been bullied online, and almost one in four have had it happen more than once. | ||
Sunlight is clear and colorless until it reaches the earth’s atmosphere. Then, spread by air molecules, it paints the sky blue. |
Next, we will discuss these hook types in more detail. We’ll also provide essay hook examples of less common yet intriguing types: dialogue, story, contradiction, comparison, definition, metaphor, puzzle, announcement, and background information hooks.
Use a famous quote as a hook for your essay on history, literature, or even social sciences. It will present you as an established writer. It shows how knowledgeable you are and motivates the readers to engage in the text.
⬇️ Check out examples below ⬇️
Hilary Clinton once said that "there cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard." Which creates a discussion about how perfect democracy should look like. If it is a form of government that considers all opinions, why are women silenced so often even nowadays? The truth is that we need to ensure completely equal opportunities for women in politics before we talk about establishing the correct version of democracy. And even the most developed and progressive countries are still struggling to get to that level of equality. It can be achieved by various methods, even though they might only work in certain countries.
"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country." These words of wisdom from John Kennedy reflect the perspective we need to teach the younger generations. For some reason, it has become popular to blame the government for any problem arising in society. Is it their fault that we don't think about waste and keep trashing our home? Social responsibility is a real thing. The well-being of our countries starts with the actions of every separate individual. It is not entirely right to wait until the government fixes all the issues for us. The best strategy is to start thinking about what we can do as a community to make our home even a better place.
It doesn’t have to be rhetorical – any type of question addressed to your audience will do its job. Such a universal kind of hook can spike the interest of your readers immediately.
Some useful patterns of rhetorical questions:
And more in examples:
Wouldn't free access to education for everyone be wonderful? The answer would most likely be positive. However, it is not as simple as it seems. As much as the governments try to achieve this goal, there are still many uneducated people. On the bright side, in the era of technology, learning has never been so easy. Of course, some young adults just prefer the shortcut option of taking a student loan. Other ways are much more challenging and require a lot of responsibility and patience. Finding free educational resources online and gaining experience with the help of video tutorials might sound unprofessional. Still, you will be surprised how many experts hired in different fields only received this type of education.
Is there anything that can help you lose weight fast? You have probably heard of this magical keto diet that is getting more and more popular worldwide. People claim that it helps them shred those excess pounds in unbelievably short terms. But how healthy is it, and does it suit anyone? The truth is that no diet is universal, and thanks to our differences, some weight-loss methods can even be harmful. Keto diet, for example, leads your body into the state of ketosis. What happens is that you don't receive carbohydrates, and in this state, fat is used as the primary source of energy instead them. However, it carries potential threats.
This type would usually be more suitable for literary pieces or personal stories. So, don’t use it for formal topics, such as business and economics. Note that this hook type can be much longer than one sentence. It usually appears as the whole first paragraph itself.
It wouldn't be Kate if she didn't do something weird, so she took a stranger for her best friend this time. There is nothing wrong with it; mistakes like that happen all the time. However, during only five minutes that Kate spent with the stranger, she blabbed too much. Thinking that she sat down at the table that her friend took, Kate was so busy starting on her phone that she didn't notice that it wasn't her friend at all. Sure enough, the naive girl started talking about every little detail of her last night that she spent with her date. It was too much for the ears of an old lady. Kate realized she took the wrong table only when it was too late.
Do not ever underestimate the power of raccoons! Those little furry animals that may look overly cute are too smart and evil. It only takes one box of pizza left outside your house by the delivery person for the disaster to begin. When they smell that delicious pizza, no doors can stop them. They will join the forces to find a hole in your house to squeeze into. Even if it's a window crack four feet above the ground, they know how to get to it. Using their fellow raccoons as the ladder, they get inside the house. They sneak into the kitchen and steal your pizza in front of your eyes and your scared-to-death dog. Not the best first day in the new home, is it?
Looking deeper into your essay topic, you might find some numbers that are quite amusing or shocking. They can serve as perfect hooks for economics- and business-oriented writings. Also, it is better if they are less known.
The UAE workforce is culturally diverse since around 20% of employees (usually called expatriates) come from different countries. Ex-pats tend to take managerial positions, which makes communication within companies quite tricky. The training focused on raising cultural awareness is getting more common, but such educational strategies as games (or gamification) are still rarely applied in the UAE companies. Yet, gamification was a useful tool in other places, making it an attractive UAE team building method. It can significantly help integrate ex-pats and create a more culturally aware environment.
The United Arab Emirate's debt has been rising drastically in past years, from about US$17 billion in 2003, which is almost 19 percent of GDP, to US$184 billion in 2009. Only a small proportion of the debt can be tracked directly to the public sector. A report by UBS bank shows that most of the debt comes from the corporate sector. Most of the companies that hold the main section of the debt are financial institutions. The public sector partly owns them. Banks in the UAE have been accumulating their debt amounts in the years mentioned above and could now account for 75 percent of the total foreign debt. The discussion is about the reasons why the UAE debt has been rising at an alarming rate.
Very similar to a statistical hook, a fact can serve as a perfect engaging introduction. Search your field for some shocking phenomenon and gently insert it in the beginning.
Don’t forget to include a reliable source reinforcing your words!
Nowadays, much attention is paid to the problem of shark finning around the world. Millions of sharks are killed annually for their fins, and many of them are dropped back to the ocean finless, where they die because of suffocation. In many countries, the idea of shark finning remains illegal and unethical, but the possibility of earning huge money cannot be ignored (Dell'Apa et al. 151). Regarding available technologies, market economies, trade relations, and cheap employment, it does not take much time to organize special trips for shark hunting. The Trade of shark fins is alive and well developed in countries like the United States and China. However, the number of people who are eager to try shark fin soup has considerably decreased during the last several years because of the popularity of anti-shark fin soup campaigns and laws supported worldwide (Mosbergen). The situation continues to change in China.
Daniel Stacey and Ross Kelly observed that long lines and a new gray market trend for bigger screen phones marked Apple's new iPhones debut. As expected, new phone models drew Apple fans outside retail stores (Stacey and Kelly). Global critics, however, noted that this year's lines were generally longer relative to previous periods mainly because of the developing gray market for Apple products. The new Apple's iPhones have larger screens than the previous models. Also, they boast of improved battery life, faster processors, and an enhanced camera. Tim Cook called them "mother of all upgrades" (Stacey and Kelly).
Dialogue is another type of hooks that goes perfectly with pieces of literature and stories. It can even make your short essay stand out if you include it at the beginning. But don’t forget that it only concerns specific topics such as literature and history.
Here it is:
– Why did you do it? – I don't know anymore… That's why I'm leaving for a little bit right now. I need time to think.
With these words, Anna stepped back into the train car and waved goodbye to Trevor. She couldn’t even find the right words to explain why she ran away on her wedding day. It wasn’t that she didn’t love Trevor, but there was this deep, natural, and unexplored feeling that told her it wasn’t time yet. But the only thing Anna realized was that the city made her sick. That day, she took off her wedding dress, bought a ticket on the next flight leaving that afternoon, and hopped on the train taking her to the airport. She couldn’t even remember the country’s name she was going to so blurry everything was from her tears.
– If we still had inquisition, we could probably set him on fire. – Some dark magic, indeed, my friend! It would have probably been a real dialogue if we knew who was the first automobile inventor for sure. People were undoubtedly shocked to see the cars moving by themselves without horses. However, since they started appearing around the globe around the same time, it is almost impossible to identify who was the original creator of the idea and the first automobile itself. The credit was usually given to Karl Benz from Germany, who created a gasoline car in 1885-1886. But there are also much earlier records of a gentleman named Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, who built the first vehicle powered by steam in France in 1769.
A universal essay hook is a story. You can use this trick pretty much anywhere. The main challenge is to be as authentic as possible, try to tell something fresh and engaging. The more specific and narrow the story, the more chances for a successful introduction.
Dell started fast and strong. The original company was founded in 1984 when the founder was only a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas. Four years after the inception of the company, Michael Dell became the Entrepreneur of the Year. Eight years after he started the company from his dorm room's comfort, Dell was chosen as the Man of the Year by PC Magazine. […] The company was acknowledged as the world's leading direct marketer of personal computers. At the same time, Dell was known as one of the top five PC vendors on the planet (Hunger 9). […] However, the company's journey encountered a major hurdle down the road. Even after recovering from an economic recession in 2010, the company continued to experience declining sales.
Everybody loves to start an argument by contradicting some facts. Therefore, you simply need to add a controversial statement at the beginning of your essay. People of all ages and beliefs will not be able to stop reading it!
Challenging your readers works well for social sciences, business, and psychology topics.
Examples of contradictory statements essay hooks:
If you think being a manager is a calm and relatively easy task, try surviving on five cups of coffee, a sandwich, and two packs of cigarettes a day. You would rather believe that managers only walk around the office and give their staff orders, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, the reality is much harsher than such rainbowy dreams. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. A whole set of personal qualities and professional skills must keep up with the successful strategic planning, assessment, and development. All the tasks the managers need to attend to are nerve-wracking and sometimes almost impossible to do. The stress from the demanding managerial position is often overlooked or underestimated.
Video games have been ruining our kids' lives and leading to an increase in crime. Since the gaming industry's development in recent years, the fear of its adverse effects on the younger generations' brains has become a significant concern. There is such a wide variety of games, ranging from educational to violent shooters and horrors. Almost immediately, caring parents jumped on the latter category, claiming that its impact is too significant and children become more aggressive and uncontrollable. Some supporters of this theory went even further. They decided to link real-life crimes to the effects of violent video games on child and adult behavior. However, as we will see later in this article, there is no or little scientific evidence supporting those ideas.
Introducing your topic with an engaging, vivid comparison is a universal strategy. It is suitable for any kind of writing. The main idea is to grab your readers’ attention by showing them your unique perspective on the topic. Try to make the comparison amusing and exciting.
Comparison Essay Hook Options:
Check out examples:
For many people, flying feels like a dream come true. More and more people take their first-ever flight thanks to the rapidly developing aviation technologies. Aircraft and airports are advancing, and air traveling is getting cheaper. However, except for transporting eager travel addicted and business people, planes are used in other ways. It appears that the whole economies across the world depend on the effectiveness and efficiency of airlines. Import and export demand this kind of transportation to work at all times. Aviation development seems like a great thing. However, just like any other technological breakthrough, it comes with a price. Environmental issues did not wait too long to show up.
Leaving home for the first time as a freshman can only be compared to the level of stress you had in childhood when your mother left you in the line at the checkout for too long. Indeed, becoming a student and moving out of the parent's house comes with a great deal of stress. All the unknown that lies ahead makes youngsters too anxious. Then, the difficulties of financial planning and increased academic pressure come as additional sources of worries. However, it does not have to be such a negative experience. Particular techniques can help students overcome their stress related to the separation from their parents.
Another versatile essay hook option is introducing a qualitative definition. Try to make it capacious, and don’t fall into verbal jungles. This narrative hook is perfect for short scientific papers where there is only one focus subject.
White-collar crime refers to the peaceful offense committed with the intention of gaining unlawful monetary benefits. There are several white-collar crimes that can be executed. They include extortion, insider trading, money laundering, racketeering, securities fraud, and tax evasion. Enron Company was an American based energy company. It was the largest supplier of natural gas in America in the early 1990s. The company had a stunning performance in the 1990s. Despite the excellent performance, stakeholders of the company were concerned about the complexity of the financial statements. The company's management used the complex nature of the financial statements and the accounting standards' weaknesses to manipulate the financial records. The white-collar crime was characterized by inflating the asset values, overstating the reported cash flow, and failure to disclose the financial records' liabilities. This paper carries out an analysis of the Enron scandal as an example of white-collar crime as discussed in the video, The Smartest Guys in the Room.
Motivation is the act of influencing someone to take any action to achieve a particular goal (Montana& Chanov, 2008). Employees' motivation depends on the job's nature, the company's organizational culture, and personal characteristics. In this case study, various theories influence and show how employees can be motivated in the workplace.
Naturally, using a metaphor as a hook for your essay comes with some limitations. You should only use this type in literature and sometimes in psychology. However, it serves as a great attention grabber if it’s engaging enough.
Let’s see how you can use a metaphor:
When life gives you dirt, don't try to squeeze the juice out of it. It's better to leave it alone and let it dry out a bit. Kate decided to follow this philosophy since nothing else seemed to work. After the painful divorce process, last week's ridiculous work assignments and managing two kids alone almost drove her crazy. No polite discussions, arguing, or bribing helped take care of seemingly a million tasks these little women had to deal with. Even letting out the anger just like her phycologist recommended did not help much. Instead, Kate referred to the last remedy. She put all the issues aside with the hope that it would get better later.
The recipe is relatively easy – take a cup of self-respect, two cups of unconditional love, half a cup of good health, a pinch of new positive experiences, and mix it all for a perfect state of happiness! We all wish it would be possible, right? However, the mystery of this state of being happy is still unsolved. The concept and its perception considerably change depending on time and values. Happiness is so complicated that there is even no universal definition of it. Besides, humans are social creatures, so associating your level of success with others is not unusual. Therefore, being happy means achieving a certain level of several aspects.
Doesn’t a good riddle grab your attention? Sometimes you just want to find out the answer. The other times, you want to figure out how it is related to the topic. Such a hook would be great for writings on psychology and even economics or business.
Here are the examples:
How many Google office employees you need to destroy a box of fresh donuts? Google is indeed famous for some of the most accommodating and unique working places around the whole world. However, the success of the company does not only appear from treats for employees. It seems that the organizational culture has many effects on business decisions and overall performance. All the staff working in Google share the same visions and values, helping them cooperate and lead the company to success. However, there is one aspect to consider. The organizational culture needs to be adapted to the ever-changing business environment.
Who survives on dirt-like substance, is never joyful, and only returns to the cave to sleep? It sounds horrible, but the correct answer is human. Nowadays, the demands for any kind of workers are rising, which brings tremendous effects on people. As the number of duties increases, it is getting harder for employees not to chug on coffee and come back home in time for a family dinner. The work-life balance is disturbed, leading to anxiety, relationship issues, and even health problems. Social life appears to be as important as making money. Therefore, the correct distribution of time between personal life and work duties is necessary for happiness.
Announcements could be suitable for literary pieces and historical essays.
Such a hook doesn’t have to be too long. It should be significant enough to persuade your readers to stick to your writing. Make sure it aligns with your topic as well.
Ways to use announcements as essay hooks:
It was a revolution! The Beatle's first song came out in 1962, and almost immediately, hordes of fans pledged their loyalty to this new band. Nearly all youngsters became obsessed with their music. No one can deny that the Beatles are still considered the creators of some of the best songs in history. However, the arrival of the British band influences culture as well. Many photos depict girls going crazy on live concerts and guys shaping their haircuts after the Beatles' members. The revolution that the band brought left an impact, evidence that we can still trace in modern British culture and music.
I will never go to Starbucks again! Oh, no, mind me. I love their coffee. At some point in my life, I even thought I had an addiction and had to ask my friends to watch my consumption of Pumpkin Spice Latte. Then, the wind of change turned everything upside down. On my usual Starbucks morning run, I noticed a homeless man holding a paper cup begging for money. At first, I didn't pay much attention since it's a usual occurrence in our area. However, one day, I recognized my old neighbor in him. The only cash I had on me, I usually spent on my cup of coffee, but I decided it was not much of a sacrifice. From that moment, I only showed up on that street to shove a few bucks into that poor guy's cup. One day, to my surprise, he talked to me.
Last but not least, give background information on your subject to make a good intro. Such an essay hook is effortless and suitable for practically any paper. Try to find the most unobvious angle to the background information. At the same time, keep it short and substantive.
Here are the ways to use background information essay hooks:
Air Arabia is among the leading low-cost carriers in the global airline industry. The airline is mainly based at the Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Air Arabia, 2012). The airline came into inception in 2003 after His Highness Dr. Sheik Mohammed Al Qassimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, issued an Emiri Decree. Later, Air Arabia was transformed into a limited liability company. For nearly a decade, Air Arabia has witnessed tremendous growth, resulting in increased fleet size and improved sales revenues. At the same time, Air Arabia has created a renowned brand that offers reliable and safe services (Dubai Media Incorporated, 2012). Air Arabia identifies itself as a low-cost carrier by providing low fares in the industry. Some of the key strengths of the airline include punctuality and safety. This aims to ensure that the airline serves its customers most efficiently by observing its safety requirements and adhering to the landing and takeoff schedules (De Kluyver, 2010).
Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in the Arkansas United States in 1962 as a grocery store. The company, which operates a chain of over 8,000 stores in fifteen countries, is estimated to employ over two million employees from diverse backgrounds. Wal-Mart was incorporated in 1969 and started trading in the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. […] Although the company can leave its consumers with a saving due to its low-price policy, it has faced some sharp criticisms over how it treats its employees and other stakeholders. Wal-Mart boasts of its ability to save its customers' money, an average of $950 per year. This, however, has been criticized as harming the community. Also, the feminists' activists have focused on Walmart's misconduct in offering low prices. (Fraedrich, Ferrell & Ferrell 440)
Now we won’t keep you for long. Let’s just go through simple points of essay hook writing.
Someone may think that you have to write your hook first. It comes first in the paper, right?
In reality, though, you can wait until your entire essay is nearly finished. Then go back and rewrite the very first paragraph. This way, you can have a fresh look at what you’ve written in the beginning.
Here’s a simple plan you can follow.
Add this essay hook to the beginning of your introduction. Make sure that your ideas still flow naturally into your thesis statement.
⚠️ Pro tip: choose various hooks and play around, adding each hook to your introduction paragraph. Like this, you can determine which one makes the most impressive beginning to your paper.
Some of your choices may sound interesting but may not lead to your essay’s main point. Don’t panic! Paper writing always involves trial and error. Just keep trying your essay hook ideas until one fits perfectly.
That’s it 😊
Good luck with your work!
Film analysis: example, format, and outline + topics & prompts.
How do you write a good introduction such that your readers will read the rest of your paper? You need to have a good hook. What is a hook and how is it used? This article explains this concept and provides an example.
I encountered many tips on how to write introductions. All those tips make sense, but the bottom line of it all is that the one concerned has to develop his or her own style of writing the introduction. A common goal is such that the reader of the introduction should be able to thoroughly understand and appreciate what the researcher wants to do.
Have you ever read something that holds your attention after reading just a few lines of words? Things that push you to read on to find out what’s next? And even read it all the way to the end?
If that’s the case, then you’re hooked! You have read an introduction that has a good “hook.” The “hook” is the writer’s way to attract your attention. It’s not an empty hook. It is something that pulls you around to follow what the author wants you to follow closely, i.e., without you consciously knowing that you were captivated by what you have just read.
Well, how do you write a good “hook?” It’s a matter of style. You can start with something that’s intriguing or an issue that is timely and appealing to people so that they would want to know more about it.
Here is an example of how a good hook should be written:
The high rate of albinism among newly born babies in a mango-growing community alarmed concerned government agencies. A task force from the Department of Health was dispatched to the area to find out the reason behind the occurrence of such condition. Initial queries among the affected families revealed that all mothers who gave birth to albinos ate young mangoes while they were pregnant. Is there something wrong with the mangoes? The group explored further and tried to see if mango consumption is a good lead to undertake an investigation. They asked questions about anything related to mango production.
After this hook, you may then proceed and introduce what you intend to do to verify if indeed there is a link between pesticides and albinism.
Don’t you think the above account will spark your curiosity to go on and read what’s next? Well, I hope you do agree with me because the reason there was a high rate of albinism is quite interesting. What did the researchers find in the more rigorous investigation that followed the scoping or exploratory survey ?
To cut the story short, the culprit of albinism among children are the contaminated young, green mangoes which pregnant mothers crave to eat while conceiving. In our local vernacular, we call this “paglilihi sa hilaw na mangga.” As a result, mothers consume mangoes laced with pesticide, which, incidentally, has an ingredient that prevents the production of melanin. Melanin is a natural substance produced by the body that gives color to hair, skin, and the iris of the eye. It is produced by cells in the skin called melanocytes.
Is this a good hook for writing a good introduction? Did it spark your curiosity to know more? Write your thoughts below.
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ChargePoint's initial investing thesis was easy to believe in, but are current challenges changing that?
ChargePoint ( CHPT -1.38% ) was an easy company to root for and invest in amid the powerful, early hype surrounding electric vehicles (EV). As far as investing theses went, it had a rather simple one: The world needed EV charging infrastructure badly, and ChargePoint was one of few leaders with its network of 30,000 charging spots.
However, that investment thesis has been incredibly slow to play out for ChargePoint, and its second quarter results serve as another reminder of its challenges.
The news out of ChargePoint's second quarter wasn't all bad. Adjusted gross margins increased to 26%, which was a massive jump over the prior year's 3% and the third consecutive quarter of growth. Over those same three quarters, ChargePoint's GAAP operating expenses as a percentage of revenue declined, with the second-quarter metric checking in at 81%.
Another positive takeaway was that second-quarter subscription revenue came in at $36 million, which was good for 21% year-over-year growth. In a bid perhaps to raise investor confidence, management has implemented an action plan to create efficiencies while further reducing operating expenses.
On the bad side of things, growth continues to be a challenge for the company. Second-quarter revenue clocked in at $108.5 million, down 28% from the prior year's $150.5 million and missing analysts' estimates. Much of that decline was driven by networked charging systems revenue, which posted a 44% decline compared to the prior year.
ChargePoint also announced plans to cut 15% of its workforce after posting slower growth. It's a more concerning trend when you consider that in September 2023 it already cut roughly 10% of its workforce. The reorganization is expected to result in restructuring costs of roughly $10 million.
Cash burn continues to be a primary concern with investors although the company does have cash and cash equivalents of $243.7 million, $150 million that remains undrawn in its revolving credit facility, and no debt maturing until 2028.
CHPT Cash and Equivalents (Quarterly) data by YCharts
Another large concern facing ChargePoint is growing competition at a time of slow growth. Tesla is well known for its much larger collection of fast-charging ports (numbering more than 50,000), and after opening up its charging technology to other automakers, it has inked a number of partnerships and deals to license its North American Charging Standard (NACS) ports.
Further, recently Toyota became the eighth automaker to join Ionna, a young EV fast-charging network with plans to build 30,000 high-power fast-charging connectors. It's a concerning sign that automakers may prefer to build out their own networks in hopes of improving customer satisfaction and potentially generating their own slice of subscription revenue in the future.
The charging infrastructure addressable market is massive, but the second quarter was a reminder that growth may be much more challenging than the initial hype for ChargePoint led investors to believe.
Daniel Miller has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
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The Board of Trustees has bestowed NC State’s highest nonacademic honor on Ann Goodnight, Jake Hooks and Charlie Stallings for their dedication to advancing the university through their volunteer leadership, advocacy and financial generosity.
Three longtime volunteers and donors joined the ranks of NC State’s Watauga Medalists earlier this month.
Ann Goodnight, Jake Hooks and Charlie Stallings received Watauga Medals on Sept. 5 at a dinner and ceremony hosted by the university’s Board of Trustees in the ballroom at Talley Student Union.
Since 1975, the Board of Trustees has bestowed the medals as the university’s highest nonacademic honor on individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of NC State.
“Our Watauga Medalists help us achieve our university’s mission of creating economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and beyond,” said Ed Weisiger Jr., chair of the Trustees, who served as official host for the evening. “Medalists play different, important roles in our Pack. Their contributions can include volunteer service, behind-the-scenes advocacy, philanthropy and so much more.
“They lead and they inspire.”
Prior to this year, 132 people including alumni, staff members and friends of NC State had received Watauga Medals. Annually, medalists return to the ceremony as guests, and this year, three previous winners — Gayle Lanier, Suzanne Gordon and Chuck Flink — introduced the newest honorees.
The ceremony included brief remarks by Chancellor Randy Woodson, who is retiring at the end of the academic year. Weisiger briefly recognized the leadership of Woodson and his wife, Susan, with the crowd quickly responding by giving the Woodsons a standing ovation.
“He and Susan have led an incredible transformation of our academics, faculty, research, arts, athletics, campus, reputation and more,” Weisiger said. “They have set up the Wolfpack for even more incredible things to come.”
Meg Day, assistant professor of English, recited original poetry. Day, past winner of an Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, is the 2024 poet-in-residence at the Solomon Guggenheim Museum.
Learn more about the 2024 Watauga Medalists and their commitment to NC State:
Ann Baggett Goodnight grew up in Lillington and Fayetteville, attending Meredith College after high school graduation.
Instead of eventually transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill, her original plan, she transferred to NC State and finished her degree in political science in 1968. Two years earlier, she had married Dr. Jim Goodnight, then an assistant professor and, later, the founder and CEO of SAS Institute.
Ann’s deep commitment to NC State has included 16 years of service on the Board of Trustees (1999-2007 and 2015-2023), with terms as the board’s vice chair and secretary/treasurer.
Other leadership roles include service on the Achieve! Campaign Steering Committee, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board, the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation’s National Advisory Board, Coalition 2000 and the Institute for Emerging Issues Gallery Advisory Committee. Along with Jim, she served as a co-chair of the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign.
She also was an eight-year member of the UNC Board of Governors.
Goodnight is passionate about improving public education at every level, for students and for educators, as an advocate, volunteer and donor. She often makes connections between people to help address issues and meet needs, and former Gov. Jim Hunt once publicly called her “North Carolina’s number-one citizen and leader for education for all time.”
At NC State, through their financial generosity, the Goodnights have impacted the lives of more than 1,000 students (from 90 of the state’s 100 counties) majoring in STEM and STEM education fields by endowing the Goodnight Scholarships, launched in 2008 to benefit students from middle- and low-income North Carolina families.
Beginning in 2017, Transfer Scholars from the state’s community colleges were added to the program.
In addition to full scholarships, these students benefit from an array of programming, enrichment, travel and service opportunities, with a mantra of “pay it forward.”
Currently, there are nearly 350 Goodnight Scholars on campus, and that number is poised to grow significantly in the years ahead. More than 40% of current Scholars are the first in their families to attend college, nearly half hail from the state’s most underserved communities and nearly half are students of color.
Goodnight has been a constant at Goodnight Scholars events, engaging in thoughtful conversations with students and learning more about their achievements and plans. She demonstrates commitment to them in ways large and small.
More recently, the Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship was established to provide support for over 140 talented graduate students.
The Goodnights have impacted teaching and discovery at NC State by establishing 28 named, endowed faculty positions along with the College of Engineering’s deanship. Through the Goodnight Early Career Innovators Award program, they support 75 promising faculty.
Their philanthropy has made a difference for the Student Emergency Fund, the Libraries, Arts NC State, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, and colleges and programs across campus.
Along with Susan Woodson, Goodnight co-founded Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy (WWIP), an initiative helping more women connect with one another and discover their passions at NC State. She served as the group’s first committee chair for Leadership and Advocacy, which, among other goals, has worked to build a stronger pipeline of women leaders for volunteer boards across campus.
WWIP discussions often touch on how everyone can make a positive impact through their time, talent, treasure, ties and testimony, Lanier said. “We could have no greater role model in that than Ann Goodnight.”
Goodnight’s professional résumé includes senior director of community relations for SAS Institute and director of the Goodnight Educational Foundation, as well as founder of the Umstead Hotel and Spa and of Cary Academy.
A lifetime member of the NC State Alumni Association and the Friends of the Libraries, she has previously been honored with the CHASS Alumna of the Year, the Darrell and Carolyn Menscer Cup, the DesignLife Award, the Park Scholars’ William C. Friday Award and the Dare and Do Women’s Honors.
Jacob T. “Jake” Hooks Jr. — who earned his bachelor’s degree from NC State in materials science and engineering (MSE) in 1978 — previously served eight years on the NC State Engineering Foundation Board and is back on the board for a third term. He also is a member of the NC State University Foundation Board.
On the Engineering Foundation Board, particularly during his time as that group’s development chair, he was a strong advocate for fundraising for Fitts-Woolard Hall, among other priorities. Hooks led critical conversations around supporting that facility. He also set an example with a naming gift for the dean’s suite in Fitts-Woolard Hall and a naming gift for the third-floor atrium in Engineering Building I, becoming a member of the Fitts-Woolard Hall Cornerstone Society.
Hooks established a scholarship in his home department in honor of his father, Jacob T. Hooks Sr., who earned his NC State degree in agriculture in 1927. Along with his wife, Jennifer, he also named a distinguished faculty position in MSE, which was awarded for the first time two years ago to Veronica Augustyn. Most recently, the Hookses made a 2024 Day of Giving gift that will help establish a new Advanced Battery Materials Center.
Members of NC State’s R.S. Pullen Society and residents of Wilmington, North Carolina, the couple believes deeply in higher education and strongly supports Jennifer’s alma mater, UNC-Greensboro.
Jake himself is a lifelong learner, having completed the executive program at the University of Michigan and the global leadership program at Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck School of Business in recent years. At NC State, he said, he learned problem-solving and engineering skills that opened doors to a successful future.
After graduation, Hooks started work as a product engineer for Aeroquip, which was acquired by Eaton Corporation in 1999. Eaton is a power management company that provides energy-efficient solutions to manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently and sustainably.
Hooks held many leadership roles over a 35-year career and retired as president of Eaton’s Automotive North America business in 2013.
Growing up in the Wayne County town of Fremont, he never really wondered where he’d attend college. His father, who had captained NC State’s freshman men’s basketball team in 1924, passed on his love for the institution.
“Jake, simply put, is a State man,” Gordon said.
He has inspired NC State students through serving as a guest speaker at events like the College of Engineering’s freshman welcome. A 2015 inductee to the MSE Hall of Fame, he received the College of Engineering’s 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Award and is a lifetime member of the NC State Alumni Association.
Hooks also has financially supported the Wolfpack Club, the Engineering Leadership Fund, the MSE department and the Women and Minority Engineering Programs.
Although deeply immersed in engineering, he has been involved in other areas, too, such as serving on the Park Scholars Selection Committee.
Charles E. “Charlie” Stallings has been volunteering for the Wolfpack as an alumnus for more than four decades, starting in the 1980s with his role as a founding member of the NC State University Investment Board of Directors.
He worked with the Alumni Association to establish the NC State Club of Richmond and, as president of that club, championed an effort to have NC State-branded license plates issued within Virginia.
Stallings, who grew up in Raleigh, graduated from NC State in 1977 with a degree in business management. The university, he said, set him on the path for a successful, award-winning career in finance and accounting.
That career included licensure in several professional areas and important roles at Connecticut Mutual Insurance (now Mass Mutual), Bank of Virginia/Signet Bank and BB&T. Since retiring in 2019 as senior vice president for the institutional fixed income group at BB&T, Stallings has found a new career as a steady volunteer at his alma mater.
As a student, he got his first taste of fundraising by leading a successful dance marathon to benefit people with muscular dystrophy. His community service experiences with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity laid the groundwork for Stallings to chair a long list of fundraising events for a wide range of nonprofits and to serve on a variety of community boards.
He brought that experience and a passion for strategic giving to NC State — sharing best practices, fundraising and marketing ideas to volunteer roles that have included serving on the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign Cabinet and chairing the NC State University Foundation Board. Stallings has been an enthusiastic part of Day of Giving, encouraging many others to give and get involved.
“You do not want to get between Charlie and a Day of Giving Challenge!” Flink said.
Stallings’ wife, Jeanne, has gotten involved, too, with efforts like Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy and support for the arts on campus.
Charlie has volunteered as a judge for student showcase events at Poole College of Management. He was an early leader in the Wolfpack’s efforts to navigate and leverage the NCAA’s Name Image Likeness ruling with our student-athletes, helping with structure and with connecting athletes to the community.
The Stallingses have been generous supporters of the Charles E. Stallings Family Scholarship Endowment in Poole College of Management as well as the Stallings Family Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship, with a preference for a student involved in an NC State arts program or affiliated department.
Members of the R.S. Pullen Society, in addition to consistent support for Poole College of Management, they have invested in areas like the College of Education, the University’s Greatest Needs Fund and the Wolfpack Club.
Stallings was recognized as Poole College of Management’s 2014 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
This post was originally published in Giving News.
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Techniques for Good Essay Hooks. Here are a few techniques that you can use to write a good essay hook: Use a Quotation: Sometimes, a relevant quotation from a well-known author or expert can help establish the context or theme of your essay.Next time you're conducting research for an essay, keep an eye out for a really compelling quote that you could use as your hook for that essay.
A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why. The best thesis statements are: Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don't use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
4 Anecdote. Anecdotes are often used as hooks in personal essays. A personal story makes the essay relatable, creating familiarity with the reader that makes them want to read more. An example of an anecdote hook is a persuasive essay about rerouting traffic on campus that starts with a personal story of a vehicular close call.
Here are seven ideas to choose from: 1. Story. Everyone likes a good story. If an interesting story or anecdote relates to your essay topic, the hook is a great place to include it. For example: In January 2023, two children were playing outside in a Los Angeles neighborhood.
Example of a hook for a personal narrative. Writing a personal narrative involves a high degree of vulnerability. You are letting readers see past your exterior and glimpse who you really are. Therefore, a good hook for such a narrative should lean into this emotional rawness while telling us more about who you are as a person.
A descriptive hook works best when writing an explanatory or opinion-led essay. Descriptive hooks, as the name suggests, illustrate a topic in detail to create context for the essay. It's a good way to build awareness for and educate readers on lesser-known themes. But a descriptive hook can easily become too plain or unexciting to read.
Determine the effect you wish to accomplish before selecting a hook. Choose a hook at the end of the writing process. Even though it should be the first sentence of your paper, it doesn't mean you should write your hook first. Writing an essay is a long and creative process. So, if you can't think of an effective hook at the beginning, just ...
Here are a few surefire ways to pen a perfect hook. 1. Understand Your Message. When writing a catchy hook, it's critical to understand the theme and purpose of your content to keep readers interested. It will help ensure that the hook accurately reflects the message of the content and draw your audience in.
5. Leave your reader with questions. Most techniques to hook a reader have one thing in common: They force the reader to ask questions. A good hook—whether it uses action, emotion, a strong statement, or another technique—will have your reader guessing about your characters' motivations, backstories, and more.
A thesis statement isn't necessarily the first sentence in an essay; typically you'll want to hook the reader in an engaging way in the opening sentence before inserting your central idea or argument later in the first paragraph. ... If you already know the answer, write it down—that's a good start for your thesis statement.
Here's an example of the steps you can follow that help you outline your essay. First paragraph: Establish the thesis. Body paragraphs: Supporting evidence. Last paragraph: Conclusion with a restatement of the thesis. Revisit the first paragraph: Find the best hook. Obviously, the first step is to determine your thesis.
It is a brief statement of your paper's main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about. Organize your papers in one place. Try Paperpile. No credit card needed. Get 30 days free. You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the ...
200+ Creative Hook Examples: Ready, Set, Hook. As a student, you know how important it is to grab your reader's attention right away. Stories without strong starts can leave readers feeling uninspired and bored—and that's not what we want! After all, compelling stories require creative hooks to seal the deal.
Example 2: Reality TV offers crucial life lessons. (This is an example of a more surprising "hot take," since readers may not expect to hear that important life lessons can be learned from seemingly-frivolous reality TV. If supported thoughtfully, this hook can demonstrate the applicant's confidence and humor).
Table of contents. Step 1: Hook your reader. Step 2: Give background information. Step 3: Present your thesis statement. Step 4: Map your essay's structure. Step 5: Check and revise. More examples of essay introductions. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.
This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point. 3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.
What is a hook? The "hook" is the first sentence of your essay introduction. It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it's interesting. To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader's curiosity.
2) Transition: Sentence that connects the hook with the thesis. 3) Thesis: Sentence (or two) that summarizes the overall main point of the paper. The thesis should answer the prompt question. The examples below show are several ways to write a good introduction or opening to your paper. One example shows you how to paraphrase in your introduction.
An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.; An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.; An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an ...
Then, spread by air molecules, it paints the sky blue. Next, we will discuss these hook types in more detail. We'll also provide essay hook examples of less common yet intriguing types: dialogue, story, contradiction, comparison, definition, metaphor, puzzle, announcement, and background information hooks.
If that's the case, then you're hooked! You have read an introduction that has a good "hook.". The "hook" is the writer's way to attract your attention. It's not an empty hook. It is something that pulls you around to follow what the author wants you to follow closely, i.e., without you consciously knowing that you were ...
Hooks Should Be Specific and Relevant to the Thesis. Hooks are attention-grabbing statements that writers use to start their essays. A hook can be a claim that connects to the essay's thesis statement and theme, or big idea, through disagreement. Example.
The good news The news out of ChargePoint's second quarter wasn't all bad. Adjusted gross margins increased to 26%, which was a massive jump over the prior year's 3% and the third consecutive ...
Jake Hooks. Jacob T. "Jake" Hooks Jr. — who earned his bachelor's degree from NC State in materials science and engineering (MSE) in 1978 — previously served eight years on the NC State Engineering Foundation Board and is back on the board for a third term. He also is a member of the NC State University Foundation Board.