English
What is a PEEL paragraph, and how do you write one?
Quick answer
A PEEL paragraph builds one argument in four steps: Point, Evidence, Explain, Link. It keeps each paragraph focused on one idea and backs that idea up.
In one sentence
A PEEL paragraph makes one point, proves it with evidence, explains how the evidence proves it, and then links back to the question.
Explained
PEEL is a recipe for a strong argument paragraph. Each letter is one job:
- P – Point. Say what you think, in one clear sentence that answers the question.
- E – Evidence. Back it up with proof: a quotation, a fact, an example or a source.
- E – Explain. Show how the evidence proves your point. This is where you think out loud, and it is usually the longest part.
- L – Link. Tie it back to the question, or lead into your next paragraph.
banana
notebook
pencil
Why does it work? Because readers (and examiners) want to know three things about every claim: what you think, how you know, and why it matters. A paragraph with only a point is an opinion. A paragraph with only evidence is a list of quotations. PEEL makes you do the thinking in between. It turns a pile of ideas into well-built paragraphs, one argument each.
Here is a PEEL paragraph for a persuasive piece:
(P) Our school should stop selling drinks in single-use plastic bottles. (E) At the moment the canteen sells bottled drinks every day, and many of the empty bottles end up in the general bin instead of the recycling. (E) This means a large amount of plastic leaves our school as rubbish each week, when refillable bottles and water fountains could do exactly the same job. (L) Therefore, ending the sale of plastic bottles is one of the simplest ways for our school to cut its waste.
And here is one for an English literature essay on Shakespeare's Macbeth:
(P) Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as ruthless from her first appearance. (E) When she hears that Duncan will stay at her castle, she calls on evil spirits to "unsex me here". (E) She is asking to have every gentle quality an audience of the time would expect from a woman taken away, so that nothing will stop her planning a murder. The harsh command "unsex" shows how willing she is to give up her own nature for power. (L) This shows that, at the start of the play, Lady Macbeth's ambition is even stronger than her husband's.
You will meet several cousins of PEEL. PEE (Point, Evidence, Explain) is the same without the Link. PETAL (Point, Evidence, Technique, Analysis, Link) adds the writer's technique, which is useful for language analysis. Some teachers say "Example" instead of "Evidence", or "Explanation" instead of "Explain". The idea underneath is always the same.
Examples
Useful sentence starters for each part:
| Part | Job | Sentence starters |
|---|---|---|
| Point | state the argument | One reason… / Firstly… / The writer presents… / It is clear that… |
| Evidence | give the proof | For example… / For instance… / This is shown when… / According to… / The text says… |
| Explain | show how it proves the point | This shows that… / This suggests… / This means… / The word "…" implies… / This is because… |
| Link | connect to the question | Therefore… / As a result… / This proves that… / This is important because… / Furthermore, the next reason… |
A history PEEL paragraph:
(P) One important cause of the First World War was the alliance system. (E) By 1914 the great powers of Europe were split into two groups: the Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia, and the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. (E) When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Russia mobilised to support Serbia, Germany then declared war on Russia and France, and Britain joined after Germany invaded Belgium. (L) The alliances therefore turned a local quarrel into a war across Europe.
Common mistakes
- Retelling instead of explaining. "Then Macbeth kills Duncan and then he feels guilty" is a summary. Fix: ask "so what does this show?" and answer that.
- Evidence that is too long. Copying out five lines of a poem wastes time. Fix: choose the few words that matter most and quote only those.
- An Explain that just repeats the evidence. "She says 'unsex me here', which shows she says she wants to be unsexed." Fix: explain the effect or meaning, and zoom in on a single word.
- A Link that copies the Point word for word. Fix: say why the point matters for the question, or build a bridge to the next paragraph.
Step by step
Step by step
- Read the questionUnderline the key words and decide what your answer is.
- Write the PointOne sentence that answers the question directly. Use words from the question.
- Choose the EvidencePick a short quotation, fact or example that really proves the point.
- Explain itSay how and why the evidence proves the point. Zoom in on a word, give its effect, or explain what it tells us.
- Link itConnect back to the question, or lead into your next PEEL paragraph with a linking word.
Linking words (connectives) such as therefore, however, furthermore and as a result hold the parts together; see conjunctions for more.
Practice questions
PEEL practice
Try each one, then check your answer.
- What does PEEL stand for?
Show answer
Point, Evidence, Explain, Link - Label this sentence: "Our school should stop selling drinks in single-use plastic bottles."
Show answer
Point: it states the argument. - Label this sentence: "The canteen sells bottled drinks every day, and many end up in the general bin."
Show answer
Evidence: it gives the facts that back up the point. - Label this sentence: "This means a lot of plastic is thrown away when refillable bottles could do the same job."
Show answer
Explain: it shows why the evidence matters. - Label this sentence: "Therefore, ending the sale of plastic bottles is a simple way to cut waste."
Show answer
Link: it ties the paragraph back to the argument. - Which starter fits the Evidence: "For instance", "This suggests that" or "Overall"?
Show answer
For instance - Which starter fits the Explain: "For example", "This suggests that" or "Firstly"?
Show answer
This suggests that - Put these in PEEL order: (A) This suggests he feels left out. (B) Tom is presented as lonely. (C) This is why Tom's loneliness is so important in the story. (D) Tom says, "Nobody ever waits for me."
Show answer
B, D, A, C - What is missing? "Homework should be limited. This means pupils have time to rest and read for fun. Therefore, schools should set less homework."
Show answer
The Evidence: there is no fact or example to back up the point. - Which part of PEEL is usually the longest?
Show answer
The Explain, because that is where you show your thinking. - Is this a strong Explain? Evidence: The poet calls the sea "angry". Explain: "This shows the sea is angry."
Show answer
No: it just repeats the evidence. A better one: "The word 'angry' makes the sea seem alive and dangerous, as if it wants to hurt people." - Write a Point for the question "Should every child learn to swim?"
Show answer
Any clear one-sentence answer, for example: Every child should learn to swim, because it is a skill that can save lives. - What is the difference between PEE and PEEL?
Show answer
PEEL adds a Link back to the question (or on to the next paragraph). - Which is the better Link for a paragraph arguing for a longer lunch break? (a) "Lunch is at 12." (b) "So a longer break would help pupils come back to lessons calmer and readier to learn."
Show answer
(b): it connects the point to why it matters.
Questions people ask
What does PEEL stand for?
Point, Evidence, Explain, Link. Some versions use Example instead of Evidence and Explanation instead of Explain.
What are PEEL paragraphs used for?
For any writing that argues or analyses: persuasive essays, English literature and language answers, history, geography, religious studies and even psychology. Wherever you must make a claim and back it up, PEEL helps.
How do you start a PEEL paragraph?
Start with your Point: a clear topic sentence that answers the question, often using its key words. For example, "One reason the writer creates tension is…" or "Firstly, schools should…".
What is the difference between PEE and PEEL?
PEE is Point, Evidence, Explain. PEEL adds a Link at the end, which ties the paragraph back to the question or leads into the next paragraph, so the essay flows.
How do you link PEEL paragraphs?
End each paragraph by connecting it to the question, then begin the next one with a linking phrase: Furthermore…, Another reason…, However, some people argue…, In contrast…. This shows how your points build on each other.
How long should a PEEL paragraph be?
Usually about four to eight sentences. The Point and the Link are often one sentence each; the Evidence is short; the Explain can take two to four sentences.
Is PEEL used at GCSE?
Many teachers in the UK use PEEL to help students structure GCSE answers in English and the humanities. Examiners reward clear, well-explained analysis, so use PEEL as a guide rather than a rigid formula.
How do you write PEEL paragraphs in psychology or history?
The pattern is the same. In history, the evidence is often a fact, a date or a source. In psychology, it is often a research study, and the explanation says what the study shows and how strong it is.
Quick quiz
PEEL paragraphs
Check what you know with 4 quick questions.
Question 1 of 4
In PEEL, what does the first E stand for?
Practise it
Try it
Practise it step by step in a full course: Grade 8 English
For grown-ups
Related topics
Paragraphs
A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea. Start a new paragraph when the time, place, topic or speaker changes.
Persuasive writing
Persuasive writing tries to convince the reader to agree with a view or take an action, using clear reasons, evidence and carefully chosen language.
Conjunctions
A conjunction is a joining word that links words, phrases or clauses, such as and, but, or, so, because, when, if and although.
Active and passive voice
In the active voice the subject does the action (The dog chased the ball). In the passive voice the subject receives it (The ball was chased by the dog), using be + past participle.
Parallel structure (parallelism)
Parallel structure means putting matching ideas in the same grammatical form, as in I like hiking, swimming and reading, not hiking, swimming and to read.
Persuasive techniques
Persuasive techniques are tools writers, speakers and advertisers use to convince an audience, such as rhetorical questions, emotive language, facts, the rule of three and ethos, pathos and logos.