PEEL Structure for Essays

The PEEL Structure Point Evidence + Explanation Link

Point An argument that answers the question

Example question: Is Shrek a dynamic character? Explain your answer.

Example stand: Yes, he is a dynamic character who changes over time.

Point Example point:

Shrek is a dynamic character because his attitude towards

friendship changes.

Evidence + Explanation Both should be hand in hand

Evidence can either take the form of references (pointing out specific scenes) or quotations

Explanation should interpret the evidence for the reader

Evidence + Explanation Example evidence:

This can be clearly seen from his care and concern for Donkey and Fiona towards

the end of the story, as compared to how he preferred being alone in the

beginning.

Evidence + Explanation Example evidence:

For instance, he insists on Donkey ‘leav[ing] [him] alone’ in the beginning, but

eventually develops a close friendship with him.

More on Evidence…

SHOULD: SHOULD NOT:

Be concise and carefully selected

Be copied in chunks

Be interwoven into the explanation

Be left standing alone

Very clearly supports your point

Be vaguely related to the point

More on Evidence… Quotes should be given in quotation marks

Language of quotes should be adapted to become reported speech

E.g. in the play: I will do what I want In the evidence: He said that he would ‘do

what [he] want[ed]’.

More on Evidence… Use SQUARE BRACKETS when you change the

speech

E.g. I declared my love for Lucy

He ‘declared [his] love for Lucy’

Applies to tenses too. E.g. want -> ‘want[ed]’

Explanation Use analytical language

This shows that… From this, we can see that… It is evident from this that… This explains…

BEWARE of lapsing into narrative. The examiner already knows the story; please don’t retell it

Explanation

For instance, he insists on Donkey ‘leav[ing] [him] alone’ in the beginning, but eventually develops a close friendship with him. This

shows that Shrek overcame his aversion/dislike of other people and

changed his attitude towards friendship.

Link Show how this point answers the question

Usually 1-2 lines

LinkExample Link:

This shows that Shrek overcame his aversion/dislike of other people and

changed his attitude towards friendship. Therefore, his change in

attitude makes him a dynamic character.

Putting it all together Shrek is a dynamic character because his

attitude towards friendship changes. For instance, he insists on Donkey

‘leav[ing] [him] alone’ in the beginning, but eventually develops a close friendship with him. This shows that Shrek overcame his aversion/dislike of other people and changed his attitude towards friendship.

Therefore, his change in attitude makes him a dynamic character.