Writing Introductions Five Ways to begin a Hook

Writing Introductions

Five Ways to begin a “Hook” 1. Historical Review: Some topics are better understood if a brief historical review of the topic is presented. It should be very brief so it doesn’t take over your paper. Ex. The victory brought pure elation and joy. It was May 1954, just days after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. At NAACP headquarters in NY the mood was euphoric. Telegrams of congratulations poured in from around the world; reporters and well wishers crowded the halls. 1.

Five Ways to Begin a “Hook” 2. 1. 2. Anecdotal An anecdote is a little story. Everyone loves a good story. Begin your paper by reciting a small story that leads to the topic of your paper. Ex. I remember the World Series of 1988. I was in 8 th grade and my whole family was rooting for the Dodgers. It was the last game, the Dodgers were down with two outs, ninth inning. Kirk Gibson was up to bat. He had two strikes on him and the bases were loaded. We all sat on the edge of our seats watching hopefully that the Dodgers could possibly win the World Series. When that last pitch was thrown, we watched the screen in disbelief as Kirk Gibson swung that bat and hit the ball clear over right field into the crowd. He did it. He hit a grand slam when the Dodgers needed it the most.

Five Ways to Begin a “Hook” 3. 1. 2. Surprising Statement A surprising statement can catch the reader’s attention. There are many ways a surprising statement can do its job. The statement can be disgusting, joyful, or even shocking. Ex. Have a minute? Good, because that may be all it takes to save the life of a child— your child. Accidents kill nearly 8000 children under the age of 15 each year.

Five Ways to Begin a “Hook” 4. 1. 2. Famous Person People like to know what celebrities say and do. Dropping the name of a famous person at the beginning of a paper usually gets the reader’s attention. It may be something that a person said or did, they may be dead or alive, and they may be good or bad. Even if the person is not directly relevant to the topic, a good writer can convince the reader that it is relevant. Ex. The most widely read author today is not Stephen King, Michael Crichton, or John Grisham. It is Margaret Milner Richardson, the Comissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, whose name appears on the “ 1040 forms and instructions” booklet. I doubt she wrote the whole packet, but the introductory letter bears her name.

Five Ways to Begin a “Hook” 5. 1. 2. Declarative In this pattern, the writer simply states straight out what the topic of his/her paper is going to be about. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom is a must-read for anyone of any age and walk of life. It is a story that will draw even the toughest to tears simply by its honest and realistic portrayal of a man whose disease forced him and those around him to look death and life square in the face.