What is the purpose of a hook in an introductory paragraph?

a to establish the tone of the essay
b to grab the interest of the reader
c to state the perspective of the writer
d to introduce the main topic of the essay

The purpose of a hook in an introductory paragraph is b) to grab the interest of the reader.

The purpose of a hook in an introductory paragraph is to grab the interest of the reader.

The purpose of a hook in an introductory paragraph is to grab the interest of the reader.

To arrive at this answer, we can analyze the given options and understand their roles in an introductory paragraph.

Option a states that the purpose of a hook is to establish the tone of the essay. While it is true that the tone can be influenced by the hook, the primary purpose of the hook is not to establish the tone but rather to capture the reader's attention.

Option c states that the purpose of a hook is to state the perspective of the writer. However, the hook is meant to engage the reader, so stating the writer's perspective comes later in the essay, usually in the thesis statement or the body paragraphs.

Option d states that the purpose of a hook is to introduce the main topic of the essay. While it is common for the hook to be related to the main topic, it is not the primary purpose. The hook is designed to arouse the reader's curiosity and make them want to continue reading the essay.

Option b, which states that the purpose of a hook is to grab the interest of the reader, aligns with the commonly understood function of a hook. The hook is typically a captivating sentence or phrase that entices the reader to continue reading the essay. This is why option b is the correct answer.