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 thesis statement and theme, or big idea, of the essay.

Example

Theme: the value of teachers

Thesis: Elementary school teachers deserve to be paid higher salaries.

Strong Hook

Elementary school instructors inspire curiosity, teach important skills like teamwork, and change the way students see the world.

This hook is strong because it presents a specific claim about what teachers do to add value to their students’ lives, connecting it to both the thesis and theme.

Broad Hook

Throughout any given school day, students spend most of their time around teachers.

This hook does not connect to the thesis’s specific claim about the importance of teachers. Therefore, the hook is too broad.

Off-Topic Hook

Elementary school students often learn as much from each other as they do from their textbooks.

This hook is weak because it does not mention teachers, making it off topic from the thesis and theme.

Tip

If you’re writing on a fictional work, then make sure that your hook is relatable even to people who haven’t read or seen the work.