Random Paragraph Generator

Why do we use paragraphs?

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. Though not required by the syntax of any language, paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

The purpose of a paragraph is to express a speaker or writer's controlling idea and to support it with specifics. Most paragraphs in an essay have a three-part structure—introduction, body, and conclusion.

The introduction (first sentence) sets the stage for what follows and states the main point. The body (sentences 2-4) develops that point with supporting details and explanation. The conclusion (last sentence) reaffirms the main point or sums up what has been said.

A history of paragraphs in language

The creation of paragraphs, which are an essential component of text and communication, can be found in ancient times. Writing in classical times typically consisted of periods or paragraphs that separated the text into smaller sections. The writer was able to concentrate on one idea at a time because this particular layout had the ability to interrupt the flow of thought. This use of paragraphs first appears in the writings of Greek historians like Herodotus in the middle of the fifth century BC. In his histories, Herodotus divided events into paragraphs to make them easier to remember and connect. His classmate, the historian Thucydides (5th century BC), used paragraphs to organize his work similarly to Hermanotus. The paragraph's history can be followed from Greco-Roman culture in Europe to the Middle East and Western civilization. There is evidence that the Psalms were divided into paragraphs in the Hebrew Bible. Puncutation was also used by Arabic poets to separate stanzas in their works. The Qur'an, which may have been the first writing to use paragraphs in medieval times, is one example from the Arab world. Paragraphs first appear in written English in the Western world, particularly in manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries. Indentations and even tiny drawings were used by writers at the time to divide their works into sections. By the time of the Renaissance, more writers were using paragraphs in their writing, and the style of indentation became more consistent. The epistolary tradition, which focused on communicative pieces divided into shorter, alternating paragraphs, emerged during the 16th century. The first "modern" paragraph appeared in the middle of the 17th century. William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe both made use of the paragraph structure we know today. The text was divided into sections by this straightforward arrangement, making communication simpler and more efficient. William Mitchell, a contemporary of Shakespeare, published a collection of works on the structure and layout of the modern paragraph, perfecting its usage and style. Certain components of the paragraph have been added or removed over time. For instance, some texts now rely on embedded links and images that may have previously been deemed unnecessary. Nevertheless, the paragraph's foundation remains the same: a section of text that is separated from another by punctuation or format, allowing the author to concentrate on one idea at a time without being interrupted.

5 questions to help you come up with paragraphs

1. What are the main topics I want to discuss in my paragraph?
2. What examples and evidence can I include to support my points?
3. What tone and style should I use for my paragraph?
4. What specific words, phrases or images should I use?
5. Where does the paragraph fit into the broader context of the writing?

Can I use the random paragraphs that this tool creates?

Yes you can. The Story Shack claims no copyright on any of these names, but it is of course possible that some of the values this name generator provides are already owned by anyone else, so please make sure to always do your due diligence.

How many ideas can I generate with this Random Paragraph Generator?

The Random Paragraph Generator can generate thousands of ideas for your project, so feel free to keep clicking and at the end use the handy copy feature to export your paragraphs to a text editor of your choice. Enjoy!

What are good paragraphs?

There's thousands of random paragraphs in this generator. Here are some samples to start:

More on paragraphs across the web

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