

They are instead used to deliver a point. Rhetorical questions are not meant to be answered. It is also a good idea to start your essay with a rhetorical question that compels readers to think about the topic and generates interest to read further. It makes smart people think they cannot lose.

Similarly, if your topic revolves around success and leadership, you can begin by quoting Bill Gates – Success is a lousy teacher.If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.


The goal of the hook is to immediately grab the reader’s attention and make them curious. It should also be concise and get straight to the point without using too many words. How many lines should a hook have?Ī compelling hook should be no more than two lines long- any longer than that, and it might lose effectiveness. As per our academic writing experts, essay hooks should be limited to 1-2 sentences. The first sentence of your essay has the power to make or break it, so ensure you choose the ‘hook’ well. What are essay hooks?Īs the name suggests, an essay hook refers to the first one or two sentences of your essay that ‘hooks’ your reader instantly and generates interest right from the beginning. Let’s face it – attention spans are getting shorter with time, making it all the more important to use a powerful essay hook. If you manage to do that, it’s safe to say that you have won half the battle. It needs to engage the reader and make them want to continue reading. Now, that’s the impact you want the first line of your essay to have. What happens when you come across an article that starts this way? “By 2025, half of the world’s population will live in water-stressed areas.”
