PEEEL/TEEEL Paragraph Structure -

Questions and Sentence Starters

The sections below offer suggested questions to ask yourself and possible ways to start each
sentence in your paragraph. Remember that the best paragraphs are those that tailor their
discussion to the question and express a point of view honestly. Aim to edit these sentence
starters to make them relate more closely to your question or topic.

Point/Topic Sentence - What is 1 Explain - Where in the text can 2

your key argument on the given you find evidence for your point?
topic or question? Or is further explanation of your point
required?
Sentence starters:

• The text’s key message is... Sentence starters:

• In creating this text, the • What this means is...

author has aimed to... • This idea is evident when...
• When we think about... • In Act ___, we see...
we might feel that... • When (character) finds themselves in...
• The central concept in this text is... • The central concept in this text is...

Example/Evidence - What is your 3 Effect - How has language been 4

key argument on the given topic or used in the example? What effect
question? does this have on the audience?

Sentence starters: Sentence starters:

• The author uses (technique) • The (technique) allows the author to

here in the...
• When (character) says...
• The tone of the text is
evident in the lines...
• The composer makes their
intention obvious when...
express...
• By employing (technique) the audience
is made to think/ feel/ question...
• The author’s use of ___ here confronts/
challenges/ explores...
• A key part of this is the word ‘____’
which makes the audience consider...

Link - What is your key argument on the given topic or question? 5

Sentence starters:
• This serves to demonstrate how...
• It is clear that...
• By exploring this text, audiences learn how...
• The insight we gain from this is...