Essay Writing It is important to know how to structure and write essays within BTEC Health & Social care as assignments are a core part of your course.

Today we are going to look at how to: PEEL Paragraphs Each paragraph has a structure no matter how big or small. The structure we are going to look at today is as follows…. P: Point E: Evidence/Example E: Explain/Expand L: Link

PEEL – Writing an Essay

P: Point Each paragraph has to open its argument with its Point. This lets the reader know what the paragraph is going to be about. For example: “The biological approach would say that the release of dopamine leads to continual use of alcohol…”

The paragraph then continues with its reason or ‘evidence’. E: Evidence or Example The paragraph then continues with its reason or ‘evidence’. Think of this like support in an argument – no one believes you without proof. For example: “Evidence from this comes from a study conducted by Olds & Milner (1954)…”

This is where you explain your evidence (or example). E: Explain or Expand This is where you explain your evidence (or example). Using evidence doesn’t prove your argument – you have to show you understand it. The best way to achieve is to imagine your explaining it to someone who knows NOTHING about the subject. For example: “Olds & Milner (1954) found that the rat chose to push the lever to release dopamine in its brain, even when it had to walk over a painful electric current…”

L: Link This will wrap up your current paragraph and lead nicely to the next, you need to show the reader where they are in your argument, remind them of the question that is being asked so all of your work is relevant and flows… This can include using ‘Firstly, Secondly, Lastly’ or it can also include ‘On the one hand; on the other hand’. For example: “On the other hand Olds & Milner (1954) can be criticised as they used research on animals which we cannot generalise.”

Why were you late for College yesterday? “I was tired” Does this answer the question?

“Why were you late for College yesterday?” Point – I was tired because I got no sleep. Evidence – My sister has got a new born baby and she was really ill, Explain – She was crying all night and I had to help out settling her… Link – My parents had to work away so there was only me & my sister at home, I wont be late again. (Back to the question)

There is a pro-forma available on Moodle Before writing an essay you should plan out your PEEL points. There is a pro-forma available on Moodle