In American usage, end punctuation should be placed inside the quotation marks. And the only way a person can know the answer to that question is by reading your writing. For instance, a quotation from Microsoft founder Bill Gates can interest people to listen to a speech about the power of computers. Remember, that the hook should be related to the main topic or idea of the piece of writing. People are inquisitive. For more specific examples, you can do some research on the citations of quotes for your specific formatting type. There are different methods on how to write a hook for your essay. I have students put a quote by itself at the beginning of the paper. First, write a basic version of your thesis statement. Changes should be made only to preserve clarity or to change length, not to manipulate the content of the quotation. Kristie Sweet has been writing professionally since 1982, most recently publishing for various websites on topics like health and wellness, and education. This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD. Heres an example of an interesting question hook When you back up your ideas with such sources, listeners become more open to your suggestions, giving your speech more credibility and authority. For example, you could say, "According to some, dreams express 'profound aspects of personality' (Foulkes 184), though others disagree." By listing a proven fact or entertaining an interesting statistic that might even sound How to write a hook . Imagine this; you are at a bookstore looking for interesting books to buy. Failing to use quotation marks may result in plagiarism. Whatever you do, do not overdo it, especially not with too many quotes throughout. Some people may find it catchy and interesting. While there are many different approaches to writing introductory paragraphs, you may want to consider beginning your essay with a quotation. Use a well-known quote but contradict it. Be sure to keep the original intent of the quotation when making changes. A good speech opens with an attention getter or hook that engages listeners in the presentation. Quote a person saying something that someone would not expect them to say. You can overcome this by doing it very well. The answer to the question is 'no.' For tips from our English reviewer on how to find the perfect quotation to start your essay, read on! The most important thing to remember when quoting a famous person is to make sure that your hook is Follow a guide to take your readers attention with a great topic, strong thesis containing the main point and idea, and valuable information. A good speech opens with an attention getter or hook that engages listeners in the presentation. If you begin with the quote, be sure to place a comma after the quote and then provide a verb and attribute the quotation to the source. The subject of the sentence will be the person who said the quote, and the verb will most likely be a synonym of said. For example, "Jane Smith said, 'blah blah blah. Use the quote as a sentence predicate. Quote someone who is not universally famous. Assess your hook again after completing your introduction paragraph to ensure it hooks readers to keep reading. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. Be particularly aware of quotations found on social media such as Pinterest, or on quote aggregators such as Brainyquote. Find a quote that is meaningful to you, not just one you found in a list on the internet. If you really cant stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If it is someone obscure or you think they will not be familiar, consider providing additional (brief) details. For instance, a speech about the effects of obesity generates more buy-in from an audience if statistics from a credible source like the American Heart Association are included. Then, provide supporting evidence for your thesis in every body paragraph. You can also add a hook at the beginning of conclusion (learn how to write conclusion). If you introduce the quote with the speakers name and a verb, provide a comma before the beginning of the quotation. Be sure that the quotation you use supports your thesis. For example: "Jane Smith said, 'blah [blady] blah.'". Quotes from famous people; When you start an essay with a quote from an influential person, you spark the interest of the readers. We know ads can be annoying, but theyre what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. You can't use more than 1-2 hook sentences in your paper because you risk having high plagiarism level and making your reader lost. Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/cliches/, http://academics.smcvt.edu/writingctr/Beginning.htm, http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/beginning-academic-essay, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/01/, http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/writing/history/skills/ethics.html, http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/quotations/, http://www.otago.ac.nz/classics/otago055219.pdf, commencer une dissertation par une citation, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. A statistical fact . If the quote does not relate clearly to your purpose, your audience might be confused and start thinking about the quote rather than listening to the rest of your presentation. Be sure that using the quotation enhances, rather than distracting from, your argument. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If it's a free standing quote to begin the essay, you don't need to reference it through MLA format. Determine whether the audience will be familiar with the person who you are quoting. These sources are notorious for mis-attributing and even making up famous quotes. The answer to the question is 'no.' Include the date to stress the idea's currency and other information needed to establish the relevance or dependability. Essay hooks are a great way to intrigue all your readers. If you're writing your essay using MLA formatting, there are numerous ways you could cite a quote, including putting the author's name and the relevant page number in parentheses behind the quote. "It gave me another dazzling idea on how to effectively and properly credit a quotation when used in an essay. How will you decide which one to go for? If the context and wording of the quote speak to you, youre more likely to connect it to your essay effectively. You can't use more than 1-2 hook sentences in your paper because you risk having high plagiarism level and making your reader lost. Use your thesis statement to inspire a good hook for your paper. If you want to use a quotation for a hook, make sure you quote the words exactly. ", "Helped me better understand use of quotes.". Introduce quotes with your own language, and briefly explain their connection to your topic. How should this be formatted in MLA? Paraphrased material (someone elses idea put into your own words) need not have quotation marks around it, but should be attributed to the original speaker. You should write an introduction with a hook to pique the audiences attention. By using our site, you agree to our. Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. Using this approach you will demonstrate that youve made a thorough research on the topic. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Try to choose only one powerful hook as the opening sentence of paper's introduction. Some topics lend themselves to the inclusion of research. Strike a balance between assuming your audience knows everything and assuming they know nothing. Select your favorite 2 types of essay hooks. Do not use a quote that could be offensive to the audience unless you plan to contradict the quotation. When you write essays, research papers, or other academic papers you can use different types of hooks relevant to your requirements. Some of the different attention grabbing hooks are: Question hook, Quoting Famous people, Statistics, Anecdote, For instance, a speaker could say, "According to a 2013 publication from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 32 percent of people infected will die from the disease.". Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 312,214 times. Meanwhile, others may not find it an irritating and hackneyed way to start an essay. Learn how to start - get help from the professional writing service online. If you need to substitute a word, place square brackets around the word to indicate that you made a change. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, How to Start a College Essay With a Quote, How to Quote a Person When Writing a Paper, Colorado State University: Attention Getters, Colorado State University: References to Outside Research, Six Minutes Speaking and Presentation Skills: How to Use Quotes in Your Speech -- 8 Benefits and 21 Tips, Toastmasters: Speaking and Leadership Tips From Toastmasters International. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Start-an-Essay-With-a-Quote-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-an-Essay-With-a-Quote-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Start-an-Essay-With-a-Quote-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1357602-v4-728px-Start-an-Essay-With-a-Quote-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

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