A hook is typically the first sentence of your essay. Its purpose is to open your essay and get your reader interested in your essay. There are several forms of hooks.
While there are a variety of methods of writing the hook - for an academic essay it is better to make an assertive statement that informs rather than sensationalizes. In order to maintain an academic tone, rhetorical questions, casual talk, or starting with a quotation is generally not recommended.
Click the link below to view a helpful resource on how to develop an effective hook:
https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/7-sensational-essay-hooks/