Paragraph is a section of a written work that consists of one or more sentences constructed and arranged to function as a unit. The first line is normally indented. The subject or topic of a paragraph is often stated in the first sentence, called a topic sentence. Paragraphs may range in length from a single word used for emphasis, such as “Never!,” to several hundred words. However, most paragraphs are from 100 to 200 words long.
An effective paragraph must be unified, ordered, and complete. A paragraph is unified when all the sentences contribute to creating a single idea. A paragraph has order when the sentences form a pattern, such as leading from cause to effect or from the particular to the general. A paragraph is complete when the writer brings its idea clearly into focus.
