Paragraph

A paragraph is a group of sentences that relate to one main idea.

The main idea of a paragraph is usually stated in the paragraph’s topic sentence.

The remaining sentences support, explain, or illustrate the topic sentence.

Example of a paragraph:

Cats make wonderful house pets. They tend to be neat eaters, and cats make no messes on the floors. Most clean themselves frequently. Waste is deposited in a litter box rather than on the carpet. Since cats do not bark, owners are not bothered by disruptive sounds. These members of the feline family are known to be very affectionate.

All of the sentences contained in the paragraph above support, explain, or illustrate the topic sentence.