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How to Write a Hook and Engage Your Audience

This 3:42-minute closed captioning video provides how to captivate your audience with a compelling opening. Includes multiple techniques for crafting exciting hooks.

Downloadable Notes:

First, what is a hook, and why do I need it? A hook consists of the first few sentences of your introduction that are used to captivate or hook your audience so they want to keep reading or listening. The hook should be intriguing and related to the essay or speech topic so that your audience starts engaging with your ideas.

How do I create a Hook?

Vivid description or story - One option is to create a vivid description or a story. This technique immediately engages your audience because they need to imagine the scenario you're painting with your words. Use vivid verbs to show what someone is doing and add only relevant details that will easily transition to the topic of your essay.
Quote from an authority - When you can't think of a way to hook your audience, another option is to let someone else do it by using a quote. The quote should be from someone with authority on the topic you're writing about, and it should be something interesting. Make sure it's not too long, since you don't want it to run on and have the reader lose interest. Do cite your hook if you're introducing facts/statistics or information you got from another source.
Interesting facts or statistics - show me the # numbers. Do cite your hook if you're introducing facts/statistics or information you got from another source. Another way to hook your audience is to start with an interesting fact or statistic. The point or statistic should be relatively unknown and something that may slightly shock the audience. Again, remember to cite your information correctly.
Another way is to ask meaningful questions. Students often ask a rhetorical question, but it's not always meaningful. Other times, students will ask a question that repeats the prompt. To create a meaningful question, think about what you'd ask your audience if you want your audience to care about your topic. What aspect of your topic would they connect with?
Finally, the BEST way to hook your audience is to combine the story technique with another technique. Combine any of these techniques with the story technique.

Why the emphasis on a story? Cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner suggests we are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it has been wrapped in a story. Why? Because stories are memorable. Stories help us grab the gist of an idea quickly. They trigger our emotions. Injecting complex numbers into your story will raise the stakes and clarify your call to action.

Dos and don'ts for writing hooks.

Do - Keep it short and precise, 1-3 sentences are ideal.
- Make sure your hook introduces and leads to your main topic. You don't want your hook to focus on a topic not covered in the essay.
- Another tip is to make sure you cite outside information to avoid plagiarism.
Do - Even though your hook is the first part the audience reads, try to write it last. It helps establish your argument and lets you think of an appropriate hook.
Don't - Start with a dictionary definition. Definitions tend to be dry and dull and don't engage audiences.

In summary, when writing a hook, put yourself in your audience's shoes and think about what would get them excited or interested in your topic. Lastly, if you are assigned a topic that you don't find interesting, it's your job to be your essay's cheerleader and hype it up!