How to Create a Hook for a Personal/Reflective Essay

Grab the Attention Tips

Start with a modifying phrase or clause that relates to the main theme. For example, suppose the theme of the story is the Kent State Massacre of May 4, 1970.

As the hot sun rose high on the fourth day of May, the tension on campus grew hotter. 

In the above sentence, the red text is the adverbial clause that describes  extreem atmospheric characteristics -the sun is hot  and high in the sky. Then the main clause in green compares those characteristics to the theme of the story-the tension on campus.

Another Example could be in writing about an experience. For example:

As I begin my travels through Latin America in search of lessons in life, I landed in the city of Oaxaca where I felt like a stranger among strangers. But when one of those strangers gave me a smile, I felt like a friend among friends.

The first sentence begins with an adverbial clause with a vague adverbial phrase- in search of lessons in life.  

The main clause is – I landed in the city of Oaxaca

An adjective clause is –where I felt like a stranger among strangers.

Can you break down the next complex sentence?

“Peace! Now that he’s dead, peace will return to my country” confessed Charlotte Corday when they asked her, “Why did you kill him?”; but the only peace that could be found during those terrible times was the Peace of Mind shining through Charlotte’s smile as they carted her off today guillotine.