Learn Public Speaking: What Hook is and What are Its Common Types (Part 2)

Hey there! It’s nice to see you come back. Just keep on reading and surely, you’ll learn about hooking your audience with questions and quotes! By the end of this article, your hooks will be irresistible! Let’s jump right in!

The third type of hook is question hooks. There are two types of questions you can use: rhetorical, where you ask questions without expecting an answer, and non-rhetorical, where you actually want your audience to respond. The questions you ask the audience will most likely be worded in the second person; this means saying “you” and “your” to your audience. Keep in mind, that this is not the only grammatical form that a question used as a hook can take; however, it is the most common.

Let's say we're going to give a speech on effective study habits. If you were to use a series of rhetorical questions for a hook, it might sound like this: "Are you satisfied with your grades? Or do you always fear receiving your test scores? Do you feel anxious every time exam season approaches?" A non-rhetorical question might go like this: "Who here has ever suffered sleepless nights worrying about upcoming tests?" With non-rhetorical questions, the speaker needs to signal to the audience to raise their hands, and then pause to interact and see the result. This is a particularly effective type of hook if done well because you're interacting directly with your entire audience. Another example of direct audience interaction for a hook would be: "Can you give me one word which describes your feelings towards tests?" As the speaker you can pick up on some of the words which the audience shouts out to you ant start your speech from there.

The fourth type of hooks is quotes. If you search “quotes about (XYZ topic)” online, you’ll find plenty of quotes by famous people on your topic. The quote you use doesn’t even have to be from a famous person. It could be something your grandmother used to say, a proverb, or lyrics of a song. The important thing is to explain the meaning and the relevance of the quote. Choose quotes with words that are powerful and memorable. Make sure you quote the words accurately. For example, if we continue our theme of education, you could use a quote like the following: “Albert Einstein once said, ‘Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.’ Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, telling us why we should be worried about the type of learning experience schools provide.” Notice the explanation of why this quote is relevant. Another way to use quotes is to disagree with them. For example: “According to Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.’ I respectfully disagree. Sure, education is important, but history shows us that the tools of diplomacy, economic policies, and strong justice systems are even more powerful.” After you disagree with someone like Nelson Mandela, your audience is sure to take notice and want to hear the rest of your speech!

So now you know how to hook your audience. Surprise them, make them curious, and give them a reason to listen. Remember, you only have two to three sentences to use a personal anecdote, a shocking statement, questions, or a quote. Don’t hesitate to be creative and find other ways to hook your audience as well. Happy fishing!