Think Beyond PEEL

Hey there! It's me, your favourite English/GP tutor, back at it again and here to give you the secret sauce to an A for your essays. Let's upgrade your body paragraph game together!

Here's the truth: PEEL is just a rough guide. If you're new to essays, following the PEEL structure (Point, Explain, Evidence, Link) is absolutely great and helps you get the hang of writing discursive and argumentative essays. HOWEVER, that's not the end-all and be-all for your body paragraph structures.

When writing your essays, you should consider the context of the world and your society. This is where the magic happens. Consider the characteristics or features in the context that are relevant, significantly different from the past and possibly problematic. Think about your subject within this context – how does the context affect your subject, and vice versa? This contextual awareness helps set a sophisticated tone for your body paragraph and demonstrates critical thinking that examiners love to see.

Next, consider your example – but here's where most students stop short. Don't just list out your example after your explanation like you're checking off a box. This is not amateur hour! Instead, explain the significance of your example. How does it support your stand? Is it reflective of your society/ the world? Is there an obvious contradiction? Are there any serious implications? You should address these questions after stating your example.

Now go forth and write essays that don't just meet the rubric – write essays that make your readers think!

Yours truly,

Jolyn