PARAGRAPHS:

Sentences are usually grouped together into paragraphs which are either indented at their beginning or are separated by a blank line in order to make them easier to read.

Paragraphs can vary in length and can even, when you are looking for effect, contain only one sentence.  Usually however, they contain several sentences all of which can deal with one topic or theme.

Exercise

Correct and separate the following passage into sentences and paragraphs.  When you have finished, compare your answer by clicking here.

A Life of Adventure

mary seacole was born in 1805 in kingston jamaica her mother practised as a 'doctress' using medical knowledge which women had brought from africa and developed in the tropics from her mother mary inherited her medical skills as well as her ability to run a boarding house from her father a scottish military man she inherited her fascination with army life marys own medical reputation was established during a series of cholera and yellow fever epidemics she made her own medicines and emphasised high standards of hygiene as well as enforcing strict quarantine on victims by these methods she saved many lives on the outbreak of the crimean war mary volunteered her services to the british army although she had worked for the army before at its own request this time she was turned down undaunted mary made her own way to the war zone once in the crimea she not only nursed the soldiers but also ran a hotel and sold food wine and medicines after the war mary was treated as a celebrity she was decorated by the governments of four countries in england a poem in her honour was published in punch and even the royal family requested her company and medical expertise

Source: Cottrell, S (1999) The Study Skills Handbook, Macmillan Press, Basingstoke.