peel method for essay

How to Write a Well-Structured PEEL Paragraph for Your English Essays

Are you writing an English essay and feeling a little confused about how to structure your body paragraphs? Maybe you’ve heard about the PEEL paragraph structure but you’re unsure about how to use it.

If that’s the case, you’ve clicked on the right article! 

We’ll unpack what the PEEL paragraph is and walk you through how to write one, using ‘Persepolis’ — a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi , so that you can ace your next English essay! 

What are you waiting for? Let’s dive in!

What is a PEEL paragraph? Step 1: Identify Your Point Step 2: Incorporate Your Example Step 3: Explain How Your Example Supports Your Point Step 4: Finish Off With Your Link Constructing the PEEL Paragraph

What is a PEEL Paragraph? 

PEEL is a mnemonic (a pattern or word that can help us remember an idea or concept) used to organise your writing and ensure that you’re focussing on a single clear argument in each paragraph.  

This mnemonic stands for: Point, Example, Explain, Link. 

Something to keep in mind is that PEEL is a quite generic structure and as your writing gets more advanced, it’ll start to look more like PEEEEEEL! This is because you’ll be including a lot of examples and explanations to build a strong, convincing argument. 

Why should you use PEEL Paragraphs? 

Each of these components of PEEL (Point, Example, Explain and Link) are super important when writing body paragraphs for English essays!

If you’re missing any one of these, it’ll be harder to get your point across, which means you won’t be able to achieve a high mark in your essay.   

Are you trying to lift your marks for English? If so, fixing your essay structure is a great place to start! We have English tutors in the Hills District and all across Sydney who can provide a personalised improvement plan for you! We also have tutors in Queensland and Victoria (+ anywhere remotely!)

Using the PEEL structure will make sure that you’re covering each of these components , which will make your argument more convincing and help you achieve that top mark! 

Download your own copy of our PEEL paragraph template here!

Step 1: Identify Your Point

Your paragraph should start with a sentence that establishes the point you’re trying to make and answers the essay question by using key words from the question.

The Point, or topic sentence , should be clear and succinct because this is what the marker is going to read first. If they don’t understand the Point, it weakens the rest of your argument. 

For example, if you’re responding to the question, “How does ‘Persepolis’ explore Marji’s conflicted identity throughout her childhood in post-Revolution Iran?” your Point could be: 

In ‘Persepolis’, Marjane Satrapi interrogates her conflicted identity during her childhood in post-Revolution Iran through her use of graphic novel form and features to reflect on her personal experiences. 

In this sentence, “through her use of the graphic novel form and features” directly answers the “How” part of the question. The incorporation of keywords like “conflicted identity” and “post-Revolution Iran” also clearly respond to the essay question. 

The sentence essentially tells the marker what this paragraph is about and what point it’s trying to make.

Keep in mind that even though the PEEL structure only has four key components, you don’t have to restrict yourself to four sentences!

If your Point is getting too long and wordy, it might be a good idea to split it into two sentences so that it flows better. 

It’s not too late to get individual support on your writing. Our Sydney English Tutors will tailor 1-1 sessions that suit your specific needs. Sessions can be held in your own home or online.

Step 2: Incorporate Your Example

Example is where you bring in evidence from your text to support your Point. Depending on your text, the Example can be a quote , image, scene from a film, or more. 

The key to finding good examples is to make sure that there are plenty of techniques to unpack! It’s also really important to find quotes that are unique and uncommon so that you stand out from other students.

Backing up your argument with examples that haven’t been used by everyone else adds a lot of depth and strength to your Point! 

When you’re including the Example in your body paragraph, make sure you contextualise it .

A little sentence or even just a few words about the broader plot and context behind the quote can go a long way! It shows that you’re engaging with the text on a deeper level. 

For example, going back to our ‘Persepolis’ example, a good Example to support the Point would be: 

Satrapi reflects on her personal experiences growing up while the Islamic Regime consolidated its power as she narrates, “I really didn’t know what to think about the veil. Deep down I was very religious but as a family we were very modern and avant-garde.”

One thing to note here is that ‘Persepolis’ is a graphic novel memoir, so even though the example shows a quote, make sure to discuss and analyse both the quote and the visual! 

Also, notice how the Example also adds a sentence about how “Marjane Satrapi reflects on her personal experiences growing up while the Islamic Regime gained and consolidated power.” This situates the example within the text as a whole and also within its historical context. 

Step 3: Explain How Your Example Supports Your Point

Now that you have your Example, you need to Explain how it supports the Point. 

This is where your analysis really shines! You’ll flesh out your key points, introduce different techniques and go into greater detail about the deeper meanings of the text and your Example. 

When you’re trying to Explain, it can be easy to just slip into recounting the plot but it’s super important to steer clear of recounting! You can avoid doing this by always bringing your discussion back to the Point. 

Going back to our ‘Persepolis’ example, here’s what your Explanation would be like if you’re only retelling/recounting: 

Her narration uses juxtaposition and symbolism to demonstrate how Marji is caught between the oppressive and extremist religious ideas of the regime and her family’s modern and avant-garde ideas, which shows how her identity is conflicted as she grows up in post-Revolution Iran. 

Here, as we Explain the Example, we’re mostly retelling what’s already been said in the quote, but with a brief mention of techniques and the Point. 

Instead, you want to make sure you flesh out the relationship between the Example, the techniques it uses, and the effect/significance of this. This would look more like: 

Satrapi’s narration creates a juxtaposition between modernism and the religious fundamentalism of the Islamic Republic, which is elucidated by the visual juxtaposition between industrial images such as screws and cogs that represent modernity and traditional religious patterns that symbolise religion. The protagonist Marji is centred between the two juxtaposing backgrounds with only half of her hair covered by a veil. This visual juxtaposition paired with Satrapi’s narration reveals how Marji’s identity and sense of self are conflicted as a result of her experiences during the new Islamic Regime. 

Step 4: Finish Off With Your Link

The final step is to just wrap it all up! Your Link should sum up what you’ve discussed in your body paragraph and tie it up so that it’s cohesive and clearly organised.

But the Link shouldn’t just repeat your Point! It should also link back to the essay question and directly respond to it.

 Using our ‘Persepolis’ example, here’s what the Link could look like: 

Satrapi hence uses the form and features of graphic novels such as juxtaposition to highlight her conflicted identity and reflect on the challenges of growing up in the tumultuous social and political context of post-Revolution Iran.

We’ve taken a look at the four steps of writing PEEL paragraphs and now it’s time to put it all together!

Constructing the PEEL Paragraph

When you’re writing your body paragraph, do a little checklist to see if you’ve included all four components of PEEL. Feel free to go more in-depth with your Example and Explanation so that it looks more like a PEEEEEEL paragraph! 

Here’s what your final PEEL Paragraph might look like: 

Each component of PEEL has been highlighted for your convenience, Point (yellow), Example (green), Explanation (purple), Link (blue). 

So there you have it! We’ve looked at the four easy steps that will help you write a PEEL paragraph. Now it’s time for you to ace your next English essay. 

If you’d prefer to use a different paragraph structure, then you should check out how the STEEL paragraph structure , TEEL paragraph structure or the PETAL paragraph structure works!

On the hunt for other English resources?

Check out some of our other articles and guides below:

• How to Elevate Your Essays in English Using the ‘Thesis + 3’ Technique
• The Top 3 Tips For Improving Your English Writing Skills
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Analysing English Texts (Textual Analysis Examples Included!)
• HSC State Ranker’s #1 Strategy for Acing Unseen Essay Questions in HSC English

Heads up! NSW English has changed its syllabus – we’ve shared the major updates you need to know about!

Looking for some extra help with the PEEL paragraph structure?

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We’ve supported over 8,000 students over the last 11 years , and on average our students score mark improvements of over 20%!

To find out more and get started with an inspirational English tutor and mentor, get in touch today or give us a ring on 1300 267 888!

Maitreyi Kulkarni is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education and is currently studying a Bachelor of Media and Communications (Public Relations and Social Media) at Macquarie University. She loves writing just about anything from articles to poetry, and has also had one of her articles published with the ABC. When she’s not writing up a storm, she can be found reading, bingeing sitcoms, or playing the guitar.

• Topics: 📚 Study , ✏️ English

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How to Write a PEEL Paragraph Essay: With Examples

Writing a PEEL Paragraph Essay

A PEEL paragraph essay is one of the most vital elements in academic writing. The purpose and structure of a Peel essay are quite similar to an academic essay but with a major difference: instead of writing about a topic, you require to come up with your own original concept and then develop this idea from different angles, thus creating a well-rounded piece.

Also Read: How to Write a Discussion Essay for University: How to Start

What is a Peel Paragraph?

What is a peel (Point, Example, Explain, and Link) paragraph? The peel is a technique writers use to highlight a specific point in their writing.

The peel paragraph is used in many types of writing, including essays, research papers, and literature reviews.

A peel paragraph is a paragraph that pulls the reader in and keeps them reading. It can be used to warm up a cold introduction or the last paragraph of your essay. A peel paragraph is a great way to end your essay on a high note, but that doesn’t mean you should just tack on a few extra words at the end and call it done.

The idea behind a peel paragraph is that you want to draw attention to something specific in your opening or closing lines. You want those lines to grab readers’ attention and make them want to read more about what you have to say. When writing an effective peel paragraph:

The peel is a device writers can use to highlight a particular idea or section of their essay. There are three types of peels:

• Point Peel:  This type of peel highlights one main point of the essay. It is usually placed at the beginning or end of an essay and includes specific details about the topic as well as supporting evidence from the body paragraphs.
• Example Peel:  This type of peel includes an example from an outside source that illustrates the main point in your essay. This type of peel works best when you want to emphasize your arguments by using real-life examples or situations.
• Link Peel:  This type of peel connects one idea in your essay with another idea or section by providing links between them. This kind of peel should be used when you want to connect ideas together so they are easier.

Also Read: Essay Reading: Practice and Importance of Reading Essays

How to write a Peel Paragraph

1. identify your point.

The first step in writing a peel paragraph is to identify your point. What is the main argument you want to make? This can be tricky because your reader may not agree with you. The important thing is to take their objections seriously and address them head-on.

For example, suppose I want to write an article about why people should eat fewer fast food meals. My main argument is that getting fat and unhealthy leads to physical problems such as diabetes and heart disease, which are expensive to treat. 

But some people might object that not all fat people have serious health problems or that excessive eating doesn’t necessarily cause health problems.

In this case, my job is to convince readers of the truth of my claim and its importance. They might stop reading right there if they think it’s silly or irrelevant!

Understand what makes your point important before you write it. Your main points are usually related directly to your topic sentence, but they shouldn’t be wordy or boring — they should be clear and concise.

Include as many details as possible when describing your point. Don’t just tell people your point; show them exactly how it works!

For example, if you’re writing about how government policy affects citizens’ lives, including specific examples from personal experience or research done by other experts in the field.

2. Incorporate your Example

Peel paragraphs are those that begin with an example, usually from the content of your article. They can introduce a new idea or show how you’ve applied something in practice.

The example should be clear and specific, so the reader understands exactly what you’re talking about. It shouldn’t be too complex, though, because this will make it harder for readers to understand what you mean.

You can use a quote from someone else as an example if you don’t have time to write one yourself. Include their name at the beginning of your paragraph and give them credit for their words (or even the full quote) in your introduction.

3. Explain how your Example Supports your Point

To create a peel paragraph, you must explain how your example supports your point. This is called “transforming the example” or “building support.”

You can do this by:

• Pointing out that the example illustrates your point. For example, if you argue that “a little learning is a dangerous thing,” show how someone who gains knowledge quickly becomes arrogant and foolish.
• Explaining why the example supports your argument. For example, if you are arguing that “a little learning is a dangerous thing,” show how someone who gains knowledge quickly becomes arrogant and foolish.

If you are talking about how college students are not doing enough to prepare for the job market after school, you might say:

There’s a difference between knowledge and skill. The vast majority of students don’t apply what they learn in college to the real world after they graduate. Instead of developing valuable skills, they spend paramost of their time playing video games or watching TV.

This example shows an imbalance between knowledge and skill in our society today. It also explains why this imbalance exists and what it means for people who have been educated on how to write a peel paragraph.

 4. Finish off with your Link

When you’ve finished your paragraph, it is time to finish it with your link. This is the most important part of the whole article, and if you do not include this in your writing, it will be difficult for readers to find your page and read more about what you have written.

As well as providing a link back to your site, there are some other things you need to include with it:

• It should be short and simple but also informative and interesting for readers.
• It should not contain any advertisements or links to other sites that may not be relevant to their interests.
• It should immediately impact the reader, so they can decide whether they want to know more at universities or other institutions of higher learning.

The setup for this type of ending is that you start with an interesting statement or question, followed by some evidence or proof of the statement, and then your conclusion. This can be as short as one or three sentences long.

Also Read: How Students Cheat on Google Forms: And How Teachers Prevent

Peel Paragraph Examples

The latest technology has changed our lives in many ways. We can now enjoy the best of both worlds: surfing the web, shopping online, and ordering things online.

Many companies are now using e-commerce to increase their sales by providing their customers with an efficient service and a wide range of products at competitive prices.

E-commerce is also helping small businesses to grow by providing them with a way to reach out to customers they may not have employed before.

This new way of doing business has created jobs for people who only know how to use computers and how to do business through the Internet, as well as more jobs for people in general because they can make more money working from home than they could if they had stayed in an office all day long.

Jessica Kasen is experienced in academic writing and academic assistance. She is well versed in academia and has a master’s degree in education. Kasen consults with us in helping students improve their grades. She also oversights the quality of work done by our writers.

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How to Write Powerful Essay Paragraphs With the PEEL Method

In this episode, I dive into the PEEL method, a powerful tool for crafting clear and persuasive essay paragraphs. Whether you're aiming for a first class essay or just looking to improve your writing skills, this episode will provide you with practical steps to enhance your essay structure. I'll explain how to make your points stand out, support them with solid evidence, and ensure your arguments are clear and convincing. By mastering the PEEL method, you can make your essays more structured and compelling, ultimately boosting your marks and confidence. Join me to learn how to write paragraphs that truly shine. 

This post originated as a podcast episode which you can listen to below or search for episode 158 of the Chloe Made Me Study podcast. Or, if you’re more of a learn-by-reading student, carry on for the rough-and-ready blog version based on the podcast script.

Ways to listen:

• Listen in the player above
• Click to listen on Apple Podcasts .
• Click to listen on Spotify .

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Welcome to episode two of this six-part series all about how to write better essays. Last week’s episode, episode 157, shared the 5 simple, essential requirements of every first class essay . So be sure to check that one out if you haven’t yet.

In this week’s episode, I’m going to walk you through how to use the PEEL method to write powerful, persuasive, clear paragraphs – so you can nab the high marks you really want.  

Combatting confusion with the PEEL method

A 3,000-word essay is not an intro, conclusion and then 2,500 words splurged onto a page and roughly split into paragraphs. Your essay needs to be CRAFTED and STRUCTURED. It needs to guide the reader around all your great ideas that you’ve spent so much time on. Your essay needs to be structured so that all your great points stand out and your ideas and arguments are understandable – to tick all those boxes to get you great marks.

I often review students’ work that is unclear and confusing. I get half-way through a paragraph before I’m sure what the paragraph is about. Or the first sentence of a paragraph tells me one thing and then the rest of the paragraph tells me another.

Introducing the PEEL method

So, a great place for you to focus your study skills effort is on improving your paragraph structure. And there’s a popular method that you may have heard of called the PEEL method – P-E-E-L. And I’m going to walk you through this in this episode.

Outside your introduction and conclusion, which have their own rules for writing them, you can use the PEEL method, or a variation of it, to structure all of the paragraphs in the main body of your essay.

The four steps of the PEEL method

Now it can sometimes be a bit confusing to know how big a paragraph should be, and when you should start a new one. Each paragraph can be seen as a partial answer to your essay question. Using the PEEL method will then help you to recognise what to include in each of these partial answers so it’s easier to know when to start a new one. Using the PEEL method correctly will also help you proofread your essay as it’ll be easier to spot weaker sections, and it will help you write your conclusion because you’ll have already started your answer with your ‘link back to the question’ sentences.

The P in PEEL stands for POINT. This means that the first sentence in each of your paragraphs needs to POINT the reader in the right direction. You don’t want the contents of your paragraph to be a surprise to the reader. Instead, you want the first sentence to explain what the paragraph is going to be about.

For example, for a business essay about the most effective approach to strategy, a great opening POINT for a paragraph could be…

There are numerous benefits to organisations of taking a bottom-up approach to strategy

This POINT makes it clear to the reader that this paragraph is going to share a number of benefits of this strategic approach. If the paragraph doesn’t actually do this, you’ll create potential confusion for your reader which will lose you marks for structure AND mean that it’s harder for them to give you marks for your ideas.

The next part of PEEL is the first E which stands for EVIDENCE. This part of your paragraph could be two, three or more sentences that provide EVIDENCE for your POINT. One of your jobs as an academic essay writer is to put forward arguments – but these HAVE to be grounded in solid proof from your course or wider reading – theories, concepts, research, examples, statistics. So, this is the part of your paragraph where you give the reader reason to take your ideas seriously, where you make them trust you. You find ideas from your course and include them with accurate referencing to make it clear that you’re not pulling your idea out of your butt.

Let’s return to our example. The POINT was: There are numerous benefits to organisations of taking a bottom-up approach to strategy.

So there are lots of options for EVIDENCE here. Relevant sentences might include:

• A reference to a study that found that a bottom-up approach to strategy led to higher employee engagement – with a statistic
• A reference to another study that found innovation was improved for organisations that used a bottom-up approach.

EXPLANATION

It’s not enough to just make a POINT and then add in some relevant references. You also have to EXPLAIN what your EVIDENCE means, why the information is valuable and how your points are in any way relevant to the essay question.

Hopefully you know what you’re talking about in your essay, but that doesn’t mean the reader will be able to grasp this automatically. You don’t want to assume that your tutor is a mind reader. Instead, you want to make your ideas super clear with EXPLANATION.

Let’s go back to our example…

The POINT was that ‘ there are numerous benefits to organisations of taking a bottom-up approach to strategy.

We’ve followed it up with our EVIDENCE – references and statistics showing that employee engagement and innovation are improved with this approach.

Then we want to EXPLAIN ourselves. Here we might define and describe what a bottom-up approach to strategy is – which is where strategic decisions are not just made by leaders of an organisation. Ideas are taken from the bottom up – from the lower-level employees who are involved in everyday activity and who might be closer to the end users.

Then we would want to EXPLAIN our findings from the EVIDENCE. The EVIDENCE said that employee engagement could be increased by a bottom-up approach – so let’s explain the nuts and bolts of how that happens. The same with innovation – why and how is innovation improved with a bottom-up approach? The trap here is just assuming that your tutor knows that you know this stuff. Nope – you’ve gotta make it super clear with EXPLANATION.

The last part of PEEL is LINK. This is where you round out your paragraph. A lot of tutors say that LINK means linking to the next paragraph. This is sometimes the right answer, but it might be more appropriate to finish your paragraph by linking your idea back to the question, to really drive home each paragraph’s partial answer to the question before you move onto the next one.

Let’s look at two options for our example about the most effective approach to business strategy.

LINK back to the question by summarising the overarching benefits of a bottom-up approach, recommending that organisations should integrate this approach to harness the full potential of its workforce.

LINK to the next paragraph by summarising the benefits of a bottom-up approach but then explaining that this approach may not be effective for all organisations, where a top-down approach may be more appropriate. This is a great sentence for a few reasons. It demonstrates critical thinking by showing a different perspective. And it signposts to the reader that the next paragraph is going to move the essay forward by talking about the situations or types of organisations where a bottom-up approach is less effective. 

Flexibility with the PEEL method

This brings me onto some of the problems I have with PEEL, or potential issues. The PEEL method can sometimes be a little prescriptive. It’s not the perfect model or structure for every single paragraph in every single essay so I recommend flexibility.

1. You might want to switch up what you do with your LINK sentence or sentences. Sometimes linking to the next paragraph and sometimes linking back to the question. I would actually argue that the latter is more important. I would rather you always LINK back to the question – including those key words from the question and guidance to drive the relevance of each paragraph home to the reader. Linking to the next paragraph is less important as long as the ideas of the next paragraph flows.

2. You might want to switch around EXPLAIN and EVIDENCE. In this example about business strategy, you could make your POINT about there being numerous benefits to the bottom-up approach, then EXPLAIN what the bottom-up approach is. Then include EVIDENCE backing up your claims of the benefits then go back to EXPLAINING the findings from the evidence.

3. The standard PEEL framework does not include another important E – EVALUATION. This is where you test the strength and value of the EVIDENCE, by including counter EVIDENCE and other perspectives where necessary. Including EVALUATION will depend on your essay question – if you’re expected to include analysis and critical thinking then you will want to weave your EVALUATION into your paragraphs. For this business strategy example, the EVALUATION part would be including the perspective that it’s not as simple as saying that all organisations should adopt a bottom-up approach. Instead, there are different contexts and situations which make the approach more or less relevant.

Recommended approach for the PEEL method

So, to round out this episode, here’s how I recommend incorporating the PEEL method to make your paragraphs more clear and powerful – so you can achieve higher marks.

1. Make your first sentence of each paragraph SUPER clear. It needs to explain the main argument/idea of the paragraph

2. Always LINK back to the question in the final sentence or sentences of your paragraph – using the keywords from the question and guidance

3. If you want to, add in a LINK to the next paragraph as your final sentence, but you may be able to incorporate that into your next paragraph in the POINT. E.g. However, the bottom-up approach may not be relevant for all organisations.

4. Your other sentences in your paragraph need to include EVIDENCE, EXPLANATION and EVALUATION (where relevant) but this can be in any order as long as it makes sense!

So there we have it, a breakdown of the four elements of the PEEL method with a handy example to help you apply it to your own subject. The PEEL method can be a little confusing so be sure to take my advice on how to get the most benefit of this method while being flexible to make it work for your specific essays.

Resources and links:

• Check out my membership, the  Kickbutt Students Club .
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• Sign up to my awesome email newsletter – Students Who Graduate .
• Grab a copy of my book –  The Return to Study Handbook .

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Writing Powerful PEEL Paragraphs with Resources

• Dylan Callens
• September 1, 2023

The Importance of Good Writing

When I think about the many skills I’ve gained over the years, good writing stands out as one of the most valuable. Not just because it’s a means of communication, but because it shapes the way we think, learn, and express ourselves. For students, particularly, writing is more than just a medium to convey ideas—it’s a tool that molds reasoning, reinforces learning, and builds a bridge between thought and expression.

Students are at a phase in their lives where they’re introduced to complex ideas and theories. These ideas are like puzzle pieces that need to be assembled in the right order to see the complete picture. Writing logically allows students to assemble these pieces correctly. When they write in a structured and coherent manner, they’re not just creating content for readers, they’re also reinforcing their own understanding of the topic.

That’s where the PEEL paragraph structure comes into play. It provides a framework to present, explain, and link ideas effectively. It’s not just a writing tool; it’s a thinking tool. By following the PEEL format, students can ensure that their writing is clear, structured, and persuasive.

In essence, learning to write logically using structures like PEEL isn’t just about improving grades or being understood; it’s about honing a skill that will empower you for a lifetime. In the next sections, I’ll delve deeper into the PEEL structure and how you can master it to enhance both your writing and thinking.

*Click here to skip to the free downloadable resources.

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What is PEEL Writing?

Whenever I encounter someone unfamiliar with PEEL writing, I liken it to a guide that ensures every part of your writing serves a distinct purpose. Just as every layer of an onion adds depth and flavor, each element of the PEEL structure ensures your writing is rich, coherent, and impactful.

PEEL is an acronym that stands for Point, Evidence, Explain, and Link. This structure helps writers create clear and concise paragraphs, ensuring that every idea is well-developed and solidly supported. Let’s peel back the layers and understand each component:

Point: This is the foundation of your paragraph. Start with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea you’ll discuss. Think of it as the headline of your paragraph—it should give readers a glimpse of what’s to come.

Evidence: After making your point, it’s time to back it up. Provide evidence that supports your point. This could be in the form of statistics, quotes, examples, or any other relevant information. By adding evidence, you’re not just making a statement; you’re showcasing that your point has weight.

Explain: While evidence provides support, the explanation is where you clarify how that evidence relates to your point. It answers the question, “Why does this evidence matter?”. It’s your opportunity to delve deeper, providing insight into the significance of the evidence you’ve presented.

Link: The final layer is the link. This part connects your paragraph to the main theme or the subsequent paragraph. It ensures your writing flows, guiding readers seamlessly from one idea to the next.

The beauty of the PEEL structure is its versatility. Whether you’re writing an essay on Renaissance art, crafting a persuasive piece about climate change, or dissecting a Shakespearean play, PEEL can be your guiding star. By adhering to this structure, not only do you ensure your paragraphs are well-organized, but you also enhance the readability and persuasiveness of your content.

An example paragraph, broken down into the four parts of PEEL

Point: Exercise is crucial for maintaining good health 

Evidence: A study from Harvard University revealed that individuals who engage in 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week reduce their risk of heart disease by up to 30%. 

Explain: This indicates that consistent exercise can significantly decrease the likelihood of cardiovascular ailments, helping in promoting not just physical well-being, but also ensuring a reduced burden on the healthcare system and potentially longer lifespans. 

Link: Thus, it’s evident that incorporating regular physical activity into one’s routine can have profound long-term health benefits.

A Sample PEEL Paragraph Lesson Plan

Note: This lesson plan makes use of the free, downloadable materials. You can get them here.

– Students will understand the structure and components of a PEEL paragraph.

– Students will be able to effectively organize their ideas using the PEEL structure.

– Students will practice writing a full paragraph using the PEEL structure.

– Slideshow presentation

– PEEL organizer handout

– Writing paper or notebooks

• Introduction (5 minutes):

– Begin the lesson by asking students if they are familiar with the concept of PEEL paragraphs. Allow a brief discussion.

– Explain that PEEL stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation, and Link, and it is a structure used to write clear and cohesive paragraphs.

– State the objective of the lesson.

• Slideshow Presentation (15 minutes):

– Present a slideshow that explains each component of the PEEL structure.

– Use visual aids and examples to illustrate each section of the paragraph.

– Encourage students to take notes during the presentation.

• PEEL Organizer Activity (15 minutes):

– Distribute the PEEL organizer handout to each student.

– Provide a sample topic or prompt for students to work on.

– Ask students to fill in the organizer with relevant information for their chosen topic or prompt.

– Circulate around the classroom, providing guidance and support as needed.

• Group Discussion (10 minutes):

– Divide students into small groups.

– Instruct each group to share their PEEL organizers and discuss their chosen topics or prompts.

– Encourage students to provide feedback and suggestions to their peers.

– Facilitate the discussion and address any questions that arise.

• Assessment – Writing a Full Paragraph (15 minutes):

– Instruct students to use their completed PEEL organizers to write a full paragraph.

– Remind them to follow the PEEL structure and use appropriate transitions between each section.

– Allow students to work individually or in pairs.

– Collect the paragraphs at the end of the activity for assessment purposes.

• Conclusion and Review (5 minutes):

– Recap the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of using the PEEL structure to write effective paragraphs.

– Address any remaining questions or concerns.

– Provide positive feedback and praise for students’ efforts.

Extension Activity (Optional)

– For students who finish early, provide additional writing prompts or topics for them to practice writing PEEL paragraphs.

– Encourage students to peer-review each other’s paragraphs and offer constructive feedback.

Assessment:

– Assess students’ understanding of the PEEL structure through their completed PEEL organizers and paragraphs.

– Evaluate their ability to effectively use the PEEL structure, provide supporting evidence, and explain their ideas coherently.

Note: Adjust the timing of each activity as needed to fit your class period.

*Lesson plan generated at https://educatorcompanion.com/lesson

In our journey through the art of writing, we’ve peeled back the layers of the PEEL structure, revealing its potential to enhance clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness in our paragraphs. It’s more than just a writing technique—it’s a blueprint for logical thinking, guiding us to present our ideas with precision and depth. For students and professionals alike, mastering the PEEL structure is a step towards more impactful writing. As we continue to write, let’s remember the essence of PEEL: to give every idea its due spotlight, supported by evidence, and woven seamlessly into the larger narrative. In doing so, we don’t just communicate; we resonate. Here’s to clearer, more compelling writing, one PEEL paragraph at a time!

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• Academic writing
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PEEL Paragraphs

• Linking/transition words
• Paraphrasing
• Proofreading
• Terms and definitions
• Action Words: What is description, application, analysis and evaluation

What is meant by 'Link'?

In this case, it's not a web link that is required, but a suggestion in the text about either what you are going to analyse next or relating a point to the overall topic. If the link is at the end of the paragraph, it leads your reader easily to the next point.

For example:

X is not the only potential solution to this problem.

The link between X and [main topic] is clear, which demonstrates ...

Links help your reader to identify the logical order you are using to structure your written work.

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Academic writing can feel tricky sometimes; having to include all the information required and to analyse it fully. One writing tool which can be used to make sure you are hitting all your requirements is a PEEL paragraph.

PEEL stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link. 

When writing a paragraph ask yourself, does it PEEL?

• POINT  - Make and introduce the reader to your point.
• EVIDENCE  - Back it up, support the point you are making with examples or evidence. Typically with academic sources such as textbooks, journals or specialist products.
• EXPLANATION  - Explain how the evidence or examples support your point. Critically analyse what would happen if the theory was or was not applied. Explain: why? how? what is the impact? for each point.
• LINK  - Link this point to the next point that you will be making in the following paragraph, or link it back to the main point.

Once you have perfected the PEEL paragraph, add a C to make a PEELC paragraph! 

PEELC stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link, Critical Point

Apply your critical thinking skills to the literature / evidence you have used and make a point about it. This does not necessarily need to be at the end of the paragraph.

Some ideas of critical points you can make:

• comment on how recently research was carried out
• consider the methods that were used in research
• point out limitations to the research
• identify barriers to implementing recommendations made by the researchers

See the Critical Thinking guide to see how you can develop this skill.

For more information on assignment types, check out the   Types of Assignments  Library guide! 

Paragraph length

How long should a paragraph be?

There's no definite answer to this - it depends a lot on your subject, the topic and your own writing style.

Be aware that:

• Paragraphs that are short (one, two or three sentences long, for example) are unlikely to provide the analysis and critical points required and can make your work 'clunky' to read.
• Paragraphs that are too long can be hard to follow as they can overload the reader with information. 

Whatever the size, you should aim for your paragraphs to all be about the same size across the whole piece of work which will make your writing easier to read. As with many things related to academic skills, consistency is key! 

Following the PEEL model can help you to avoid these issues!

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Ultimate Guide to PEEL Paragraphs

Peel paragraphs are largely associated with essay writing, and teachers today are keen to integrate these learning methods into school, college, and even university students to ensure that they know how to formulate essay paragraphs correctly. In this article, you will find the ultimate guide to P.E.E.L. paragraphs, explaining what it stands for, and how you can properly structure your essays around this format so that you can get your best achievable grade. 

What is a PEEL Paragraph?

E = evidence/example:, e = explain:, practicing peel paragraphs:, adopt the ultimate p.e.e.l. paragraph method, faq’s.

P.E.E.L. is more than just an acronym; it’s a mnemonic device that can transform your writing abilities. This method can help those to better structure paragraphs to be centred on a single compelling argument. 

What does PEEL stand for?

Let’s break down P.E.E.L. and by understanding what each letter stands for will help you to structure your essay arguments professionally so that you can follow your argument better as well as your assessor. 

Every argument has to begin with a Point. Start your first paragraph with a robust topic sentence that sets the stage for your argument. Your Point should align seamlessly with your essay’s overarching thesis or argument.

For instance, consider this example: “Fast food advertising plays a significant role in contributing to childhood obesity rates.” This also acts as a hook to catch your readers’ attention. At the same time, this hook, or point, should not be overly long; keep it simple and to the point . Doing it this way will make it easier for you to follow and will ensure that you are not juggling too many balls at once when constructing your argument.

The Evidence/Example will build further upon your initial Point, adding more substance into the mix. Here, you will need one or more pieces of evidence to justify your point.

Your Example can take various forms—a quote, an image, a gripping film scene, and more. Choose an example that will particularly stand out, ones that your peers may not have thought of. 

But don’t let your Example hang in isolation; provide context. A brief sentence or a few words about the broader plot or context behind the quote elevates your engagement with the text.

Consider this Example: a study published in the American Journal of Pediatrics found that children exposed to frequent fast food advertising on television were more likely to consume high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, leading to weight gain and increased risks of childhood obesity.

As you can see, this example follows the “Point” in the first paragraph. It provides concrete evidence to support the point made in the paragraph’s opening sentence. The evidence is specific and refers to a study published in a reputable journal, demonstrating how exposure to fast food advertising can lead to poor dietary choices among children, ultimately contributing to childhood obesity. This evidence strengthens the argument presented in the paragraph.

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Now that we’ve presented our Example, it’s time to learn about the second “E” of PEEL paragraphs —Explain. This is where your analysis is important towards defining your overall argument, as to why you chose that particular example, and how it relates more to your point and example. Many people here may be tempted to reiterate what was said in the original point; however, you need to provide more unique evidence and explain more of your argument that, so far, has been unsaid.

Following on from the example about fast food, here is an explanation that adds more detail to that argument: Constant exposure to fast food ads creates a sense of desire among children, leading to a higher consumption of unhealthy foods, which adds to the increased risk of obesity-related health issues. 

This Explanation serves the purpose of PEEL paragraphs by offering a thorough understanding of how the Example reinforces the original Point. However, in your argument, you may need to provide one or more paragraphs in your explanation depending on how detailed that you want your argument to be. So long as you structure your argument evenly, and do not lose sight of the overall narrative, you are offering further insights into your argument without losing the attention or confusing the reader.

As we draw this P.E.E.L. paragraph explanation to a close, it’s time to address the final letter—L, which stands for Link. This critical step ensures your paragraph cohesively ties together and, more importantly, links back to your essay’s central question, topic, or thesis.

The Link serves to wrap up your argument, making it clear and organised. However, it’s important to remember that the Link shouldn’t be a repetition of your Point; it should conclude your argument evenly without repeating what has already been said.

Here is an example of a Link to our argument: To conclude, the evidence suggests that fast food advertising indeed plays a significant role in shaping the dietary habits of children, ultimately contributing to the concerning rise in childhood obesity rates. Our initial Point , which highlighted the impact of fast food advertising, is now reinforced by the concrete Example of the study from the American Journal of Pediatrics. Through the Explanation , we uncovered the intricate mechanisms at play, solidifying the connection between advertising exposure and unhealthy food choices.

This Link encapsulates the essence of PEEL paragraphs by summarising the Point, demonstrating how the Example supports it, and reiterating the importance of this relationship. Whilst we added the ‘Point,’ ‘Example,’ and ‘Explanation’ within this text, this was merely as reference to you to easily follow this argument, and how you should initially format it when it comes to writing your assessment. 

Learn P.E.E.L and much more

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Let’s put the PEEL structure into practice with a fresh example:

Topic: Should public transportation be free in metropolitan areas?

Thesis/Argument: Public transportation should be made free in metropolitan areas to reduce traffic congestion and promote environmental sustainability.

Point : Public transportation in metropolitan areas should be provided for free as it can alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the environmental footprint caused by excessive car usage.

Evidence/Example : A recent study conducted in major metropolitan cities across the world, including New York and London, demonstrated that when public transportation was made free during designated hours, there was a noticeable decrease in traffic congestion during those times. The study’s data revealed a 20% reduction in traffic volume during the morning and evening rush hours.

Explanation : The reason behind this reduction in traffic congestion is clear. When individuals are offered a convenient and cost-free alternative to driving their own vehicles, they are more likely to choose public transportation. This not only eases the burden on roads but also diminishes the emissions from numerous vehicles, contributing to a greener and more sustainable urban environment.

Link : In summation, this example underscores the potential benefits of making public transportation free during peak hours in metropolitan areas. It aligns with the broader argument that free public transportation can lead to reduced traffic congestion and a more eco-friendly urban landscape. As we explore the practical application of the P.E.E.L structure, it becomes evident that this method equips us with a powerful tool for crafting persuasive essays.

Each element – Point, Evidence/Example, Explanation, and Link – plays a distinct role in advancing your argument. And don’t forget the importance of proofreading to ensure your paragraph flows smoothly, to truly convey your message effectively.

And if you are having problems with your writing, here is how you can understand the four main writing styles .

And that is how you can use the PEEL paragraph method for your essay. From understanding its mnemonic origin to breaking down each component—Point, Evidence/Example, Explanation, and Link—we’ve equipped you with the skills to craft compelling paragraphs. Whether you’re an English High-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) aspirant or a student aiming to elevate your writing, the P.E.E.L. method offers a roadmap to clarity, coherence, and persuasive prowess in your essays.

Having this knowledge will be especially helpful for those learning about becoming a teaching assistant .

To include evidence in PEEL paragraphs, select relevant and compelling examples or data that support your point. Ensure the evidence is well-contextualised and directly related to your argument.

Teaching P.E.E.L. writing involves explaining each element (Point, Evidence/Example, Explanation, Link), providing examples, and practicing together. Encourage students to apply the structure in their writing assignments to enhance their skills.

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17 May 2022 - 2 min read

Being a lecturer at the university means I often supervise a lot of master's students from all over the world. One of the common issues I always seem to face while reading countless drafts of their work, however, is that almost all students face challenges in mastering academic writing. Then one morning while I was having my freshly brewed coffee in the spring sunshine in the garden with my wife, I asked her if I should write about academic writing styles. My wife is also an academic and is currently undertaking her doctoral research at the university, and she thought it was a great idea, encouraging me by saying, "Of course, you should, after all, isn’t that what a lecturer should do, make innovative ways of helping students?" I fully agreed with her. To give you more insight, below I discuss the PEEL paragraph method of academic writing. Read on to find out how you can improve your writing style without much effort - all you need is a bit of thought and planning.

What is the PEEL paragraph method of writing?

PEEL stands for Point, Evidence, Explain and Link .  Put simply, it’s a method of writing where students can construct their writing assignments in an easy, structured and comprehensive way which allows them to link opinions and facts with evidence. Ultimately when you're undertaking academic writing, you want to put your points across so that the reader can clearly understand what you're trying to say, why you are saying it, and how you came to a certain viewpoint. It cuts away the waffle and keeps your writing specific, to the point, and engaging. 

Looking at the PEEL framework in your opening paragraph you start with the ‘P’, or POINT. The key here is to make your point by being specific and concise.  This could be your opening sentence (i.e., the topic sentence), for instance, where you're telling the reader what you're pointing, or rather, what the paragraph they're about to read will be about. 

At this stage, it's important to use evidence and examples to support your point. Academic writing is all about the evidence and supporting references to your statements. You want to gain the trust of your reader while establishing the validity of your point, and adding evidence to your writing is one of the easiest ways to achieve this. At the end of the day, you want your reader to see that your points are based on quantifiable evidence.

Once you've added your evidence (or examples) into your writing, you'll then want to elaborate. While any evidence is great to add and often makes your point clear, supplying evidence without then further explaining is like looking at a glass half full. In other words, when you add evidence you need to explain it so that your reader gets a look at the full picture by explaining what the evidence means and why that information is valuable.  While every reader will have their own perspective and may even disagree with your stance on a topic, explaining what the evidence you provided means and how it supports your point so that the reader can see it from your viewpoint is imperative.  Keep in mind that you can also switch around Evidence and Explain with the PEEL method if it makes more sense for you. 

Finally, it's time to complete your paragraph. If you've followed what I have mentioned above, all you'll have to do is to link your current paragraph's point to the next point in the following paragraph. Alternatively, you can circle back to your main point or this is where you could introduce the opposing argument. Think of linking as a bridge between all the key points that you would like to talk about. Linking happens right at the end of a paragraph because it acts as a gateway to your next point where the entire PEEL process will start once again.

Example of PEEL writing

Now that I have given you a quick overview of what the PEEL writing method is, below I've provided a working example.

POINT – Organisational leaders should always lead with fairness within the organisational culture. 

EVIDENCE – A recent experiment with ICS Learn showed that when senior-level management was seen to be fair in their day-to-day dealings with all levels of company employees, this was directly linked with improving employee motivation. This allowed the employees to perform their duties better. In essence, this study clearly shows... 

EXPLAIN – When employees see that everyone is treated fairly by the leadership team it motivates them more to go the extra mile as they feel more supported and understood, and are willing to work harder for a business that works hard for them too. 

LINK – While it's very clear why the leadership level management should be seen as being fair in their day to dealings, it could also be argued that...

POINT (next paragraph) – Fairness alone is not enough to improve employee motivation this is because >> Evidence >> Explain >> Link and the process carries on.

Final thoughts

So now that you have a better idea of the PEEL writing framework, I hope this will help you structure your writing better and also give you direction with your writing.  If you’re an ICS Learn student, you can find more resources for essay writing within the Student Community, or get in touch with your tutor for advice!  Want to enhance your career? Enrol on a 100% online professional qualification today to get started. 

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• December 31, 2021

Paragraph Structure: The PEEL Method

In the second writing task of IELTS, you’re given a statement and then asked to evaluate it using specific examples and clear explanations. The PEEL method of paragraph writing ensures that you meet all the requirements of a high score.

Before we start, you should know what PEEL stands for:

P: Make a point

E: Explain the point clearly

E: Expand on your point (usually by a specific example)

L: Link your idea back to the question

Now, imagine you want to write a paragraph about this question:

Why do some students take a gap year between finishing high school and starting university studies?

Here’s how you can use this method to develop your paragraph:

Make a point

The first sentence of your body paragraph should include its central topic. This is where you put your main idea. Simply put, this sentence is what you’re going to support in the rest of the paragraph.

Students who find it rewarding to take a gap year often claim that it provides them wi th invaluable benefits and lessons . 

Note: If you pay attention, you’ll realize that this is a claim which needs to be explained so that I convince the reader that my point is valid. As you can see, I have mentioned two reasons for taking a gap year: benefits and lessons . Therefore, I need to discuss these two benefits in the rest of the paragraph.

Explain the point

Now that I’ve made my claim, it’s time for me to explain what I mean by benefits and lessons. In other words, I now need to start convincing the reader that my point makes sense.

Simply put, by working and earning money before they embark on university studies, students will find it much easier to manage the high expenses and tuition fees of their tertiary education. Moreover, the ones who opt to travel gain life experience, which will help them improve their quality of life.

Now, if you’re the reader, you might say, “Oh, now I see how a gap year can be beneficial. Now I see why students opt for it, but is there an example of a student who has done this? What have been the effects?

This is where you go for a specific example to make your argument more convincing.

Provide a specific example

An example is what makes an argument super clear. However, some students make the mistake of explaining the same thing in other words and call it an example. This won’t make your point clearer; plus, your cohesion and coherence score will go down because of unnecessary repetition. 

A bad and repetitive example:

For example, students who travel before starting their university studies return home with a mature and open mind.

Note: This is not a specific example. It just paraphrases the previous sentence and adds nothing more. We need an actual example with tangible effects.

Good and specific example:

For instance, in my country, many high school graduates travel to Japan, a country known for its people’s high life expectancy. This way, they learn about the Japanese’s healthy lifestyle and are encouraged to adopt their practices. As a result, the students break their unhealthy habits and start leading healthier lives upon their return.

Note: Which kind of example is well-developed? Why? The second example is better because it’s far more specific and uses step-by-step development to reach the benefit (students opting for a better and healthier lifestyle). This is what I have generally mentioned in my topic sentence, but everything is now crystal clear.

Now, the reader knows what benefits (earning money) and lessons (ways on how to live better) I’m talking about. It’s time to wrap things up and reach a nonrepetitive conclusion.

Link your idea back to the question

A body paragraph in an essay should have three parts: topic sentence, supporting sentences, and conclusion. This kind of conclusion is different from the one we use to end an essay. In a paragraph conclusion, we use the argument in the paragraph and reach some sort of conclusion. It should have three qualities:

• It should be nonrepetitive. In other words, paraphrasing your topic sentence will not result in a good conclusion. You should use your topic sentence and add something to it.
• It should wrap everything in the paragraph up.
•  It should link back to the main topic.

Therefore, by taking a gap year, university students will not only have a better focus on their studies due to having no financial worries but also enjoy a better quality of life.

Important note: Make sure you don’t include an undeveloped idea in your conclusion. Do I need to explain how a gap year results in a better focus on studies and fulfilled lives? No, because I have already discussed how it leads to these ultimate benefits.

The full paragraph: 

Students who find it rewarding to take a gap year often claim that it provides them wi th invaluable benefits and lessons . Simply put, by working and earning money before they embark on university studies, students will find it much easier to manage the high expenses and tuition fees of their tertiary education. Moreover, the ones who opt to travel gain life experience. For instance, in my country, many high school graduates travel to Japan, a country known for its people’s high life expectancy. This way, they learn about the healthy Japanese lifestyle and are encouraged to adopt their practices. As a result, the students break their unhealthy habits and start leading healthier lives upon their return. Therefore, by taking a gap year, university students will not only have a better focus on their studies due to having no financial worries but also enjoy leading a better life.

An issue with body paragraph conclusions:

As you can see, each supporting point you use in a body paragraph should reach a point or conclusion. In the paragraph above, I have kept my conclusions (better focus on their studies and a more fulfilling life due to being healthier) to the last sentence. It is not repetitive in that I haven’t mentioned the fact that better focus comes with a better financial standing. I also haven’t written that being healthier makes people enjoy their lives. 

I could, however, remove that sentence and reach a point right after each supporting idea:

Students who find it rewarding to take a gap year often claim that it provides them wi th invaluable benefits and lessons . Simply put, by working and earning money before they embark on university studies, students will find it much easier to manage the high expenses and tuition fees of their tertiary education. This results in students being more focused on their studies due to having no financial worries and therefore scoring higher in their courses. Moreover, the ones who opt to travel gain life experience. For instance, in my country, many high school graduates travel to Japan, a country known for its people’s high life expectancy. This way, they learn about the healthy Japanese lifestyle and are encouraged to adopt their practices upon their return. Thus, traveling during the gap year might help students become wiser and make better choices in order to lead a better life.

That said, I sometimes see that students make conclusions in their body paragraph and then repeat the same conclusion at the end of it, which lowers their score significantly. Take a look at this repetitive body paragraph, for instance:

A paragraph with a repetitive conclusion at the end:

Students who find it rewarding to take a gap year often claim that it provides them wi th invaluable benefits and lessons . Simply put, by working and earning money before they embark on university studies, students will find it much easier to manage the high expenses and tuition fees of their tertiary education. This results in students being more focused on their studies due to having no financial worries and therefore scoring higher in their courses. Moreover, the ones who opt to travel gain life experience. For instance, in my country, many high school graduates travel to Japan, a country known for its people’s high life expectancy. This way, they learn about the healthy Japanese lifestyle and are encouraged to adopt their practices upon their return. Thus, traveling during the gap year might help students become wiser and make better choices in order to lead a better life. Therefore, students taking a gap year will have a better performance at university and also healthier lives.  

As you can see, the underlined section is a repetitive conclusion and will definitely lower the band score.

Final note: Remember that you should never repeat the same idea in your paragraph. Just mention the points, add your support, and move the argument forward . 

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Writing Strategies Series #3: PEEL Writing Organizer

Published by

Stephanie Icenogle

The Road to Improving Student Writing

In the last blog post,  Writing Strategies Series #2 , I shared an in-depth look at teaching your middle school ELA students how to analyze strong, medium, and weak writing samples to strengthen their abilities to identify the characteristics of writing and become better at self-assessing their writing compositions.

In today’s blog post, I am going to focus on my favorite pre-writing tool, the PEEL Writing Strategy. Getting your students to organize their writing into a well-written and easy-to-understand composition can be challenging. I can’t even begin to name all of the other writing strategies and organizers I tried before finding PEEL. Trust me, it was A LOT, but I could never find one that fully helped my students.

Testing Out the Better Answers Strategy

In my third year of teaching, my middle school became a TAP school. Schoolwide student strategies are a big part of the TAP program. Our master teachers came to the Elective team and asked us to field test a new writing strategy, the Better Answer Writing Strategy. Better Answers, more commonly known as the hamburger method, proved to be an awesome starting point for helping our middle school students create better-organized paragraphs.

Although our students improved their topic sentence (top bun) and conclusion sentence (bottom bun), the downside to Better Answers was that the middle of the paragraph was just as messy as your favorite fast food burger in the majority of our students’ paragraphs. We needed something else to help students include relevant text evidence and fully explain the text evidence in their writing responses.

Searchin g for a New Solution

Once I identified the problem, I decided to start looking for a new way to help our students improve their entire writing compositions. I spent a lot of time searching on Pinterest and Google before I came across the PEEL Writing Strategy. It seemed like the perfect fit that would complement the work we had already done with the Better Answers Writing Strategy. PEEL followed a similar format, but it clearly defined the middle part of the paragraph response- the evidence and explanation.

I began to field test PEEL with just my Literacy Enrichment students to see how it would impact their writing before we rolled it out to all of the students at our school. It wasn’t an overnight fix, but even from that first writing assignment, I could see the positive impact that it was having on my students. The messiness of the middle of the paragraph was getting cleaner and looked more like the hamburgers you see in the commercials instead of what you actually get at the local fast food places. It was like something just clicked for the majority of them and PEEL was the missing piece that they needed to help them write well-organized responses.

Finding the PERFECT Solution!

After a few weeks of use in just my classroom, we rolled out PEEL to all of the Elective team members’ classrooms. The success that I was seeing with my students became the norm for the majority of my Elective team. Each week in our cluster meetings, we would focus on the group of students that each teacher had selected and compare their weekly writing responses to their previous ones from the weeks before. We saw growth and improvement across the board, regardless of the student’s abilities and levels.

PEEL officially became our school-wide writing strategy during the second half of that school year. I worked alongside our master teachers to lead professional development sessions with all our teachers to show them the success that our team had with field-testing PEEL. I also taught them how to successfully implement the PEEL Writing Strategy in their ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies classrooms.

You may be asking yourself what exactly is PEEL and how can you use it with your students. I’m going to share all of that with you now. Plus you’ll want to stick around until the end of this blog post to grab your FREE PEEL Writing Strategy Guide.

What is the PEEL Writing Strategy?

One paragraph response:.

• P (oint/Purpose/Position): The main point, purpose, or position of your composition
• E (vidence) : 2-3 pieces of text evidence to support the point, purpose, or position
• E (xplanation): Sentences that explain how your evidence (text evidence, examples, data, etc.) support/connect to the point, purpose, or position
• L (ink Back to the Questions): Summarize your response and link back to your point, purpose, or position

Body Paragraphs in a Multi-Composition Response/Essay:

• P (oint): The main point of your body paragraph
• E (vidence): 2-3 pieces of text evidence that supports the point of your body paragraph
• E (xplanation): Sentences that explain how your evidence (2-3 pieces of text evidence, examples, data, etc.) support /connect to the point of your body paragraph
• L (ink to the next paragraph): The last sentence should link the point of this body paragraph to your next body paragraph or conclusion

The Benefits of Using PEEL in the ELA Classroom

The PEEL Writing Strategy is a great tool for you to use in your ELA classroom. Think of PEEL as a roadmap for your students. It provides them with a clear structure to follow for their writing responses. This not only boosts their organization skills but also makes their ideas shine. In addition, PEEL encourages students to think critically – they’re not just throwing words on paper; they’re crafting solid points, backing them up with evidence, and explaining why it all matters.

Plus, it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal – whether they’re working on essays, responses, or creative pieces, PEEL is flexible and ready to roll. Students end up with not just better writing skills, but a toolkit for expressing themselves confidently in any writing scenario.

Another bonus to using PEEL is that it is a simple strategy for students to learn and master. With enough practice using PEEL, students will begin to automatically include the elements of the strategy each time they write. This will help them on benchmark exams, state testing, and other writing opportunities where they will not have access to a strategy organizer and anchor chart.

Ways to Use the PEEL Writing Strategy in the ELA Classroom

The PEEL Writing Strategy is very useful for different types of writing in the ELA classroom. You can use PEEL to help your middle school students with various writing tasks, ensuring clarity, organization, and impactful expression in their compositions.

My favorite thing about PEEL is that the format of the strategy is so simple that students can easily use it for any writing assignment or text-dependent question.

Here are just a few ways that you can incorporate PEEL into your ELA classroom:

• Literary Analysis Responses
• Character Analysis
• Constructed Responses
• Argumentative Writing
• Reading Comprehension Questions
• Responses to Text (Fiction and Nonfiction)

Ready to Dive In? I’ve Got You Covered!

Whether you’re a seasoned ELA teacher or just starting your journey, implementing the PEEL Writing Strategy is a breeze. I’ve created a PEEL Writing Strategy Guide that includes anchor charts, teacher models, student writing samples, and blank organizer templates.

I’ll guide you through PEEL with step-by-step instructions and provide practical tips to help you begin your journey and easily implement this writing strategy in your classroom.

Let’s embark on this writing adventure together – with PEEL, success is just a paragraph away!

P.S.- Stay tuned for the next blog post in this Writing Strategies Series where I will show you how to combine the PEEL Writing Strategy and the Four Square Organizer to help middle school students create multi-paragraph compositions.

CHECK OUT THE OTHER BLOG POSTS IN THIS WRITING SERIES!

Hi y’all! I’m Stephanie, the teacher-author behind The Creative Classroom. I began teaching Middle School ELA in 2008 and opened The Creative Classroom in 2012. My mission is to create rigorous and engaging lessons to save you time and help meet the needs of ALL students.

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Breaking Down the PEEL Method for Writing Essays

Breaking down peel.

The PEEL method is the most-commonly taught method when it comes to essay writing in Singapore. Despite that, many students still struggle with understanding how to use the PEEL method across different subjects.

In this three part series, I discuss the following:

• list the keys to communication through essay-writing,
• break down the PEEL method (complete with examples), and
• explain how “Science persons” are not at a disadvantage in humanities essay writing.

If you have not read part 1 yet, you may do so here . If you already have, do continue reading for part 2.

First, let’s do a quick recap. However you write, your ultimate goal is persuasion through communication.

One of the keys to effective communication, as discussed in the previous post, is to communicate in an easy to absorb flow. This is why we use the PEEL format. Whilst it is not the only way to effectively communicate a stand, it’s an easy-to-adopt structure to use until you have gotten a hang of persuasion.

• P – Point
• E – Evidence
• E – Explanation
• L – Link

Let’s explore each of these segments.

Any secondary level essay should have at least 3 points. Two points supporting your stand, and one opposing point. The opposing point is necessary, so that your essay will not be deemed as biased.

When writing a point, be direct and precise. Always have a reason, and a perspective. The reason exists to support the perspective. Let’s explore this with an example.

“To what extent were the Japanese forced to wage war on the Asian-Pacific?”

In this example, there are two perspectives: 1. They were forced to wage war. 2. They weren’t forced to wage war, but did so anyway.

Let’s explore the three points that we can use in the essay.

For every perspective, we state a reason directly, and clearly. There’s no need to explain further, because that’s will be done later in the paragraph. Putting the above into full sentences, this is what you’ll get:

• First Point: Japan’s ambitions to establish itself in Asia and Europe drove them to wage war against its neighbours for control .
• Second Point: When presented with the opportunity, Japan took advantage of the League of Nation’s weaknesses to further expand where they could .
• Third Point: The economic crisis faced in Japan meant that they didn’t have enough resources for their ever-increasing population , and, for their citizens’ sake, they needed to look elsewhere for resources .

Note how the first and second point show that the Japanese were not forced to wage war on the Asian-Pacific, and the third point gives reason for them to do so. This is a balanced argument, where all the sides were considered.

2. Evidence

Everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion. There is nothing wrong with having a different opinion, or a unique opinion. However, whatever your opinion, you have to be able to substantiate it with evidence. Without solid evidence, you will sound unconvincing, and you will not be able to persuade your reader to accept your opinion.

Likewise, when you write an essay as instructed by your teacher, your goal is to demonstrate how much you understand of the subject at hand. If you express an opinion without being able to back it up with the facts that you have been taught, you will not be able to convince your teacher that you have sufficiently learnt enough about the subject at hand to warrant a good grade.

Let us use an earlier Point as an example.

“The economic crisis faced in Japan meant that they didn’t have enough resources for their ever-increasing population, and, for their citizens’ sake, they needed to look elsewhere for resources. Japan was facing economic problems due to the rapid growth in population, and a shortage of land use. In fact, Japan’s population grew from 45 million in 1900 to 64 million by 1930. As there was a lack of land for farming, farmers could not grow enough crops to make a living, and farming then was also a slow and labour intensive job. Due to this, there was a shortage of rice and many people were discontented. “

From the evidence provided, we now have a better understanding of what happened during the economic crisis in Japan. The rapid growth of Japan’s population led to them having insufficient food and land.

They would have had to do something about it to solve the problems that they faced. The evidence given supports the point that they were forced to wage war. It has made the point understandable, and acceptable. That is the goal you should strive to achieve with the evidence you provide for each point.

3. Explanation

Many confuse explanation with evidence. They are related, but they are not the same thing. The explanation is necessary to ensure complete understanding. Sometimes, when evidence is provided, its link to the point is not entirely obvious. The evidence should be explained to leave no room for doubt.

Here’s an example:

“In order to further its ambitions to establish itself in Asia and Europe, Japan took advantage of every opportunity presented to wage wars and expand her colonies. In 1931, Japan made use of the Mukden Incident to invade Manchuria. An investigation by the League of Nations showed that Japan’s actions went beyond self-defense. However, the League of Nations was also powerless to stop Japan. Japan turned Manchukuo into a satellite state, and took advantage of the Marco Polo Bridge incident in 1937, which led to a full-scale war between China and Japan.”

In the example above, the Point tells us that the Japanese were not forced to wage wars, but did so anyway whenever the opportunity presented itself. The Evidence provided lists two situations to support this point:

• They used the Mukden Incident to invade Manchuria, and
• They used the Marco Polo Bridge incident to wage war against China.

However, it is still not explicitly clear whether they were forced to wage war or not. We merely know that those two incidents led to the start of more wars. Thus, the explanation to state it:

“Japan continued with their expansion plans, even after colonising Taiwan and Korea. In fact, whenever the opportunity presented itself, for example, the Mukden incident and the Marco Polo Bridge incident, the Japanese would invade and wage war. This was especially the case after they realised that even the League of Nations could not stop them.”

Note: the explanation is not a summary or re-phrasing of the evidence. It is an elaboration of the evidence in relation to the point.

Additionally, some types of evidence are so obvious, that a lengthy explanation is not required. Nevertheless, do not skip explaining. For the sake of avoiding doubt, give at least a one-line explanation.

If you’ve managed to read up to this point, well done! This post is coming to an end. Persevere, because the Link is just as important as the previous three segments. The same way you must end each point and paragraph as strongly as you start, let us complete our understanding of the PEEL method just as strongly as when we began this breakdown.

As mentioned, the Link is just as important as the previous 3 segments, but it is also the segment that is most often neglected. After all, what is a link but a summary of the paragraph or a repetition of the point?

Alas, the Link is much more than that.

There are three purposes of the Link, and which purpose you should strive to achieve depends on the flow of your essay.

• To remind your reader/audience of your point, because the fact is this: most people have short attention spans. To ensure that they fully understand your point, remind them once more of your point, in relation to the rest of the essay. This is to ensure that their thoughts do not deviate from what you’ve been trying to tell them. Writing this Link is easy.
• To link your point to the next one. This is not an option that is always available for your use, but it does further cement your stand. Instead of having two or more wholly separate points to support your stand, having one lead to another makes your stand more convincing, and your argument for your stand more persuasive.
• To link your supporting point back to an opposing point, making it clear how your supporting point carries more weight than your opposing point. This is possibly the most difficult type of Link to write, of the three. However, if you manage it, not only does it lend weight to your supporting point, it will clearly show how the opposing point, whilst also true, is not significant enough to be an acceptable stand. This type of Link is particularly useful in answering “To what extent” essay questions. Perhaps, I will write a post about this in the future, if there is demand for it.

Let’s use points 1 and 2 as an example, to illustrate the second type of link. I have skipped the evidence and explanation for the purposes of keeping this article from being even longer than it already is.

“ [Point 1] Japan’s ambitions to establish itself in Asia and Europe drove them to wage war against its neighbours for control. [Evidence] [Explanation] [Link] The wars that the Japanese engaged in from 1894 to 1915 in the Asian-Pacific were not forced, but were the result of their expansionist ambitions, and it was those same ambitions led to them take opportunity of advantages that presented themselves after to wage more wars. [Point 2] In order to further its ambitions to establish itself in Asia and Europe, Japan took advantage of every opportunity presented to wage even more wars after 1915.”

From this method of linking the paragraphs, we see how the Japanese had their initial plans of expansion, followed by a furthering of those plans not because they needed to, but because they could. This solidifies the argument that they were not forced into waging wars on the Asian-Pacific, but did so anyway.

Of course, if you’re writing the paragraph for your last point, there isn’t always opportunity for you to link it to your concluding paragraph, in which case, a simple link back to the question and your stand will suffice.

That was quite a long write. I do hope this post sufficiently clarifies the PEEL method for you.

If you have any further questions about essay-writing, feel free to  contact me  or connect with me via  Facebook .

In the next article, I’ll clarify the commonly mistaken belief that “Science persons” are at a disadvantage when they are asked to write essays, just because they think differently from “Humanities persons”. Stay tuned, and follow me on Facebook if you’d like to be immediately updated every time I write a new article.

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Published by Teacher Jo

I'm a tutor from Singapore, and I write about what I've learnt from my years of working with all sorts of kids. View all posts by Teacher Jo

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Explain Facts Clearly Using the PEEL Structure

Table of Contents

Two paragraphs may not seem like much when writing an essay, but it can be with the proper planning and format.

In this article, we’ll discuss how you can write a  2 paragraph essay format  that will discuss all your main points. We’ll also guide you through some pre-writing tips and a format example to help make the writing process much more manageable.

Essays are commonly composed of at least three paragraphs. The first paragraph is an introductory section, followed by the second paragraph that provides support for the thesis with evidence. And it concludes with a final paragraph wrapping up everything that was discussed.

You can still incorporate all the main elements of an essay in just two paragraphs. Read on to learn how.

What is the PEEL Essay Structure?

The PEEL essay structure is a technique that helps writers and students organize their ideas in a structured and logical manner . It is a proven method that yields better writing results and improves a student’s expository skills.

The PEEL essay structure’s rationale stems from the fact that the manner we present information has a significant impact on a reader’s experience. Writers must ease readers from one idea to another so as to retain their attention and interest. It’s also the key to a clear and precise message.

The PEEL essay structure is as follows:

Your topic sentence must introduce the main idea or point of discussion of your essay. It must hook your readers and encourage them to read the rest of your essay. 

This paragraph must contain examples and pieces of evidence that support your main point. It must include one to two supporting sentences. Your supporting sentences must be backed by reliable research findings, empirical data, facts, and statistics.

Explanation

The third paragraph of a PEEL essay must explain the relevance and connection between your main point and the evidence provided. Make sure to provide enough detail. Writers must focus on interpreting the evidence for readers. This means a critical approach is ideal for this paragraph.

The fourth and final paragraph of a PEEL essay links the body paragraphs to your thesis statement. End your essay with a closing sentence that reinforces the main idea.

The Importance of an Essay Structure

Regardless of the topic you’re writing about, you’ll always be dealing with a multitude of ideas. Even when you have the right ideas, a lack of structure could leave your essay without direction. 

A structured essay will have a sense of progression and cohesion. Each topic will tie into an overarching theme. The structure of your essay will help you narrow your focus to a specific topic and section.

By understanding how each section contributes to your overall message, you’d easily find the words and angles needed to drive your point.

A PEEL essay structure stands for: point, example, explanation, and link. It is an essay structure that favors a logical approach . It encourages students and writers to raise a strong argument and to support it with credible resources.

Those who take the time to learn the PEEL paragraph method will improve their ability to discuss and explain concepts. These are vital skills for those who want to pursue a career in Law and other logic-heavy professions. 

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Extended Essay Support Site

Coherent paragraphs.

After you have structured your ideas, you will want to start writing your extended essay. The blank page might look intimidating. But there is a way to write your paragraphs coherently, which will help your essay 'flow'. This method of paragraphing is known as the PEEL method:

P oint - Make a statement, claim, point or comment

E vidence - Include a quotation, illustration, example or test result

E valuate - What is the significance/relevance of this quotation, illustration, example or test result in relation to the statement, claim, point or comment? Analyse, explain, evaluate or argue. 

L ink - Link the evidence and evaluation back to the paragraph's main point and the essay's thesis statement (see The introduction ).

Coherent writing often follows this PEEL pattern. Notice from the example below how you can successfully include several examples and evaluations to support a point within one paragraph.

Model paragraph

Research Question : How did Henrik Ibsen write for the stage as a means of commenting critically the role of men and women in his time and place in history?

In A Doll’s House Ibsen uses music as a device to establish the atmosphere and convey his message to the audience . The audience sees and hears Nora dance to the Tarantella , which adds to the tension of the play . The audience of the time would have known the dance and the myth of tarantism. The song is named after the tarantula spider, whose bite would make victims dance wildly. In actuality many women in the 19 th  century suffered from hysteria because they were under so much social pressure. They were encouraged to dance this dance until exhaustion, as a kind of ‘cure’ for hysteria. The dance, however, is meant to be danced in pairs. Since Torvald shuts himself in his office, Nora must dance it alone. She begs him to watch her dance wildly, so that he is distracted and cannot read the blackmail letter from Krogstad, which would ruin her life and expose her secret. In fact she is dancing to save her life, and, in the context of 19 th century Norway, the audience would have realized this . Ibsen included this music as a social criticism of his times, where women were driven to hysteria by the men in power.

Find a paragraph from a good Extended Essay and use four different-coloured highlighter pens to indicate which sentences are points, evidences, evaluations and links (to the thesis). Discuss your findings with a colleague or classmate. Try writing your own Extended Essay with PEEL paragraphs.

Criterion C: Critical thinking is worth 12 of the 34 marks for the EE. What does critical thinking look like? See the example paragraph on this page! PEEL paragraphs read coherently because they express critical thinking!

Learner profile

An IB learner is a communicator. What does it mean to communicate effectively? In brief, it means to state your points before giving illustrations and explaining (evaluating) their significance or relevance to your topic. In other words, the PEEL method can be used for all kinds of forms of communication, from essays to everyday conversation.