Why is the PEEL Writing Strategy Effective?
The PEEL method is a technique used to write academic or creative essays. The main point of the PEEL writing strategy is to help a student or writer engage the target audience and let it enjoy the written piece. You should know that the most critical part of any academic paper is an introduction. Why? The opening lines and the entire initial paragraph predetermines the willingness of the audience to read the text to its end. It should, therefore, grab and hold the reader's attention.
While thinking about a good introduction, use this checklist to ensure its quality:
- What do you need in the opening paragraph?
- The first impression is the most significant one!
- The main goal of the opening paragraph is to present the research problem or topic you wish to cover.
The reason why students want to interest the reader in their text is that their final grade depends on this ability. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the issue and communicate what the objective of the study is to your audience.
What is PEEL in Academic Writing?
PEEL has a lot to do with one of the primary questions many students find themselves confronted with, namely: How many paragraphs should an essay include? Actually, it depends on the number of arguments you wish to add. Most of the high school teachers recommend having no more than five paragraphs overall, but in cause & effect essays, a student can break down the body paragraphs into more than three parts, depending on the chosen structure. In research papers, you will have many sections called chapters.
Anyway, here, we are going to answer the question, "What is PEEL?". The abbreviation refers to:
- P - Point;
- E - Explanation;
- E - Example or evidence;
- L - Link.
Mastering the art of PEELing will help one come up with perfect essays! Look closer at each element of the PEEL method to get the point.
- Point - The writer should offer a clear, concise, and relevant point.
- Evidence - The writer should collect credible and up-to-date sources (no older than five years) to support the thesis statement with vivid examples from the selected pieces of other authors or researchers. Cite quotations or events from the selected materials but be sure to do that correctly.
- Explanation - Interpret personal opinions and the way evidence supports the offered arguments.
- Link - Relate the discussed point to the following opening sentence (topic sentence) in the upcoming paragraph, as well as the research question.
Given the above, we can say that PEEL in writing is a strategy used to assist students with not only outlining the paper paragraphs but making it simpler for the audience to follow and understand the main idea.
The Qualities of a Good Essay
Having a PEEL paragraph structure is one of the main features of an excellent essay. What are some other features?
Focused: The text should be to the point and utilize clear arguments (without skipping over to other issues).
Organized: Do not rely on improvisation - prepare an outline to have a clear structure of the entire essay before starting to write.
Supported: Having trustworthy sources approved by your tutor is essential if you want the readers to believe in whatever you write about and take sides with you by the time they're done reading.
Clear & articulate: Great academic papers have excellent grammar, spelling, and punctuation. They are plagiarism-free and correctly formatted.
Analyzing a Free PEEL Paragraph Example
Explore a PEEL paragraph example on Henrik's Doll's House.
Prompt: How did Henrik Ibsen compose for the stage as a means of evaluating the role of male and female characters in his epoch?
Point: In A Doll's House, the author applies music to create a fitting atmosphere and convey the central message to the target audience.
Evidence: The viewers can hear Nora dance to the Tarantella.
Explanation: This classical composition is reflecting the high tension of the play. The title of the composition refers to a spider whose poison is known to make living creatures dance madly.
Point: Being constantly under pressure, quite a few women experienced hysteria attacks in the XIX century.
Evidence: Nora has to dance the mad dance all alone because it is meant to be performed in pairs, and her partner, Torvald, shut himself in the office. Therefore, she asks him to watch her move.
Explanation: By performing her wild dance, Nora tries to keep Torvald from discovering Krogstad's blackmail containing her biggest secret. That way the woman tries to save her life.
Link: The author chose this particular composition to reflect on the social criticism of his epoch, in which authoritarian males could do whatever they wanted to weaker females because power was the ultimate measure of everything back then.
There can be several points, evidence, and explanations throughout the text, but there should be only one link, and it should be at the end of the PEEL paragraph.
One More Free PEEL Paragraph Example
Writing a PEEL paragraph will be easier if you pay attention to this example. The topic is, "Should Animals Stay in Zoos?"
Stating the point: Taking wild animals away from their natural habitats against their will is both unethical and immoral.
The evidence follows. While in captivity, wild animals get lonely and scared, which causes them to develop the so-called "zoochosis" syndrome. Animals that suffer from this condition start acting nervously, repeating various actions, such as moving back and forth for no apparent reason at all, etc. They also sway and groom themselves, which may lead to multiple mental and physical disorders, including vomiting and headaches.
The explanation is the next thing to show up: Such consequences prove that animals taken away from their natural habitats actually belong there, and cannot live with humans. The restricting enclosures kill them faster than the wilderness.
The link is the final part. Insist that animals should be released from zoos and circuses to prevent them from being subjected to all kinds of suffering and torture.
Remember: Strong paragraphs are made for great papers, so any advice in this area should be taken into consideration when formulating popular paragraphical writings, such as essays and term papers.
Is PEEL Limited to a Single Form of Writing?
The simple elements that comprise the PEEL format are the main ingredients of all great paragraphs. Regardless of whether you are writing a research paper, personal, expository, or argumentative essay, in most respects, your paragraph should be modeled following the PEEL design. Exceptions may occur for particular paragraphs that are small and not fully developed, i.e., short transition paragraphs or those that are merely added for emphasis (in these cases the PEEL formula would be unnecessary). Though you should decide if these types of paragraphs are warranted or not, as having too many of them can negatively impact the overall quality and efficiency of your work.
Final Verdict
Writing a PEEL paragraph may be a challenge. It is not easy to identify the point, evidence, explanation, and link at a glance. To ensure the quality of your essay or research paper with the PEEL structure, we recommend hiring professional academic writers or editors from a time-tested writing company.
Jessica Bond
Information technologies and marketing
Jessica is a wholly original writer working from LA that loves design. She got her IT and Marketing degree from UCLA and can help you with incredibly varied tasks. An interview essay or a thesis paper — you will be impressed with Jessica's professional approach and her savviness in academic writing. She left Facebook to pursue a more fulfilling career that would help others, and that's exactly what she does now on the highest professional levels.
