I'm ok with clear plot hooks, but since i don't like strongly guided stories (or railroad in general) when i dm a group of new players i usually put in the group someone with experience to help them with insight if happens that they're stuck somewhere. Or another way is to begin the oneshot, campaign, whatever it is with something big, like "you guys begin in a tavern, you're all joyfully and happy enjoying your lifes, but those happy moments soon come to an end when in the blink of an eye the roof of the tavern disappears, being snatched away by a Hill giant" and then make the giant run away and make someone propose them a lot of money to kill it. But this is only my opinion (sorry for my english, i'm italian)