Chaya W.

asked • 02/12/15

I need a "hook" for and introduction to an essay

I need to write an essay on an essay titled " the many paths to success, with or without a college education" where the author argues that one must not go to college to be successful.
I need to start my introduction with a "hook" but I can't seem to think of one.
Any ideas?

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Kris P. answered • 11/29/15

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Education/Research/Media/Communications Specialist: FACTOTUM: FOR HIRE

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I once thought I could avoid going to college and still be successful ...
 
... until I failed to come up with a good hook to begin this essay ...
 
... without going on WyzAnt to ask college edumicated WyzAsses how to write a successful opening to this essay!
 
Now, methinks the author of the essay "The Many Paths to Success, With or Without a College Edumication" is an idiot who flunked out of college and is simply writing essays to pretend he's a success, rather than admitting to the world he lives in his divorced mother's basement, considers deep fried Snicker Doodles for one a gourmet meal and posts online claingbto be a teenage girl with a tattoo business wanting all of us to like her site that she can like us back ...
 
... and edumicated shit like that!
 
--------------
 
That's the hook I'd write ...
 
... if I were you!
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Kris P.

... claiming to be ...
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11/29/15

Deborah M. answered • 02/12/15

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Experienced High School and Middle School English Teacher

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Dear Chaya, 
 
Sometimes it helps to think about and plan your essay before you write the hook. Think about how you plan to argue your point and support it with evidence. Once you have an idea of what evidence you plan to use, such as the life of a successful person who did not attend or graduate from college, you may wish to develop your hook based upon that person and/or an event in his/her life.  
 
Good luck! 
 
Deborah 
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Chaya W.

I need to write the essay based on an essay, not based on my own experience, or my own thoughts....
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02/12/15

Deborah M.

Do you agree or disagree with the essayist's thesis? What will you be stating in your essay about the original piece? 
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02/12/15

Chaya W.

Below is my essay. I think I need a better hook. Any other suggestions for a hook, or in general for the essay?
 
Did you know that only 28% of Americans have a college degree? According to author Kati Mather, that might not be too bad. In her essay titled “The many paths to success with or without a college education”, she argues that while Americans tend to believe that one must have a college education in order to succeed, that is not completely true.
Though Mather concedes that a college degree is admirable, she still insists that a vocational education should be considered as well. We cannot exist as a society without those who occupy in specialized labor such as construction and automobile repair. Those careers are as important as science, teaching, and accounting, and should not be disposed as inferior.
Numerous successful people have proven Mather right. To put it bluntly, many Americans idolize specifically those who do not take the expected path. Many actors, singers, and performers make millions of dollars a year, without a single college credit under their belt. They are living examples proving that a college education is one of many paths, but not the only path.
While it is true that a college education can lead to upward mobility in a career, it does not necessarily follow that you will find a job in the field you study. For instance, I know someone who graduated college with an engineering degree, but took a job as a construction foreman, because of the tough job market. Though I agree that his college background helped him succeed, I believe that had he spent his time and energy on the jobsite, the extra experience would have aided his success as well.
I agree with Mather that there are many paths to success. While I personally choose the path of traditional college education, I believe that embracing diversity is essential to all of us. I have nothing but respect for those individuals who choose to contribute to society in a different way.
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02/12/15

Deborah M.

Dear Chaya, 
 
You have a nice writing style and I particularly love your fourth paragraph, which contains your thesis statement. Think about your statements here, "embracing diversity…essential to all of us" and "respect for…choose to contribute to society in a different way." You can draw from these beliefs to write an impactful, universal hook which will draw in your readers. 
 
Good luck! 
 
Deborah M. 
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02/12/15

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