A good research paper instantly captures the attention of readers and makes them excited for new information. A hook sentence, or the first thing you state, can do just that and a little bit more. The question is, how to make it work the right way? It’s true that you can’t buy the gift to write perfectly, but you can develop the corresponding skills, so here are ten steps to write a nice hook.
1. Begin by determining your audience
It’s no secret that students usually write academic texts according to the demands of their professors. However, it’s possible that you’ll have to read your research to the entire class or present it with slides. In this case, you should prepare the assignment so that it pleases your fellow learners with creativity, not only rigor! Try to imagine the people who’ll read your paper and you’ll see how your tone changes since you’ll know whether to go for more or less formal words and phrases, and what additions suit best. For example, you’ll have to make more graphs and visual aids for a scientific project you’ll present to an audience.
2. Think of a narrow topic
One doesn’t just tell the audience “something about dolphins” and call it a research paper. You already know who you’re writing for, so now it’s time to look at requirements and think about what those people are looking for in a scientific work. The insights about this never come cheap, so here are several questions to help you.
- If it’s your college professor, how would they do it? Analyze their lectures to see what’s really important for that person. Do they need numbers? Detailed analysis?
- If it’s a larger audience, what is their age? What goals are they pursuing? For example, if your peer’s dream of employment in a large company, it’s always a good idea to add more practical information and experiences to your research.
3. Define your key terms
A hook for a research paper is more than one well-formulated sentence. To make it custom, ensure that you understand what all key terms mean. Imagine that each reader is your customer and you have to impress them by combining excellent English, in-depth knowledge of the topic, and the broader context. After all, that’s what makes a good scientific essay an excellent one. Besides, you can’t rely on your imagination when it comes to precise data.
4. Do initial research
Never underestimate the internet! You can get so much information for free that you simply must go online and select credible sources for your research. Utilizing the data from real companies that published some of the cases can make you sound like an expert from the very beginning! Still, if you choose to skip this step, you’re likely to end up with a hook that feels disconnected from the rest of the paper. That’s something people don’t want in their essays since it ruins the first impression.
5. Formulate a thesis statement draft
Many people miss this step, but it can help you imagine what you want your hook to look like since the thesis is the primary message it’s going to reinforce. You’ll just need to write what you want to prove. At this point, there’s no necessity to be formal or establish the ultimate order of all the arguments. However, if you struggle there, it’s always possible to find assistance among your peers or online. For example, you can contact CustomWritings and send your “write my research paper” request online. It is a professional academic writing service providing learners with easy-to-follow research examples.
6. Think of a topic sentence for each paragraph
Now it’s time to see what arguments you have since all academic papers need clear structure. Your topic sentences need to explain why the thesis is true. Consider only the most objective and professional perspectives that can partly rely on what you’ve already read about your topic. However, remember to be as original as possible because all audiences will be looking for your own thoughts and insights. That’s why personalized research is the best and usually has the most engaging hooks.
7. Start gathering quotes
Review the articles you’ve found when you were developing a deep understanding of the subject. Select the quotes that enforce your topic sentences and copy them, making sure you write down who they were written by. Now you can see how your arguments evolve, and that will definitely do you good service when you create the hook. That way, every writer can instantly understand what to mention first to capture the essence of the paper.
8. Paraphrase what you found
If you want perfect reviews and an effective hook, you’ll have to present your own take at every citation. Scientific communities across the UK and the USA highly value individual perspectives, so you should see how each quote fits the context of your own ideas. Paraphrasing should make it clear why the selected thoughts resonate with you and why you chose one website and not the other. At the same time, you shouldn’t change the meaning of someone else’s words—the primary goal is outlining your paper.
9. Modify your thesis to suit all ideas
Now is the time to write a formal thesis that will include all the aspects of your work. In a way, your hook will always echo the main statement, so their quality is usually interconnected. No matter if you’re researching the essential services of large organizations in your field or describing entirely new data, you should craft a thesis before the hook, and all the steps above are necessary to come up with top ideas along with the most precise formulations. Once you’ve included all the key points, make the final step.
10. Write a hook
Now you know who you’re trying to engage, you’ve got your best topic, and you understand precisely what point you’re about to prove. That means it’s finally time to write the hook sentence! Give your thesis context and lead up to the key points, and you’re done. Good writers usually go for broader formulations that can easily draw attention and help their readers focus.
Bottom line
Hopefully, this guide with effective ways and easy steps will help you craft your best hook for a research paper. Remember that every next time will be better, and the writing process will definitely become easier and less stressful for you. It’s also important to understand that creating a unique scientific text from scratch is a real challenge, so no student should be alone with this task. Moreover, it’s totally fine to ask for assistance, no matter if it comes from your friends, teachers, or reliable online services.
