How to structure a paragraph
Answer
Paragraphs are the building blocks of any piece of writing. To clearly communicate your ideas in your assignments, you will need to know how to structure a paragraph, and so a method like PEEL can be helpful.
What does a basic paragraph structure look like?
A crucial point to keep in mind while writing paragraphs is that each paragraph should only communicate one main idea. When paragraphs contain too many ideas, the message is lost and the reader will find the writing confusing. So, start by identifying the main ideas you need to cover in your assignment answer, and then think about how you can discuss those ideas in a structured way – perhaps using a system like PEEL.
The PEEL system
| P | Point | Outline the point you are going to make in the paragraph. If required, include definitions of important concepts. |
| E | Evidence | Paraphrase and cite from academic sources to explore your point. |
| E | Explain | Include your own analysis of the evidence and build in comparisons and evaluations of the sources you have used. |
| L | Link | Conclude the point you have made and summarise the findings you have referred to. |
| P | There is much debate in academic circles over whether university students should be allowed to use generative AI tools in their assessments. In this |
| E | regard, Abbas et al. (2024) suggest that over-dependence on generative AI platforms can result in lower academic performance and increase the likelihood of students procrastinating when faced with an assignment. However, a recent study involving a diverse group of students in China indicates that the use of AI can improve students’ interest in assignment tasks and, subsequently, their results (Hu et al., 2024). Contrasting |
| E | interpretations of generative AI use in university work may suggest that these tools cannot be considered universally ‘bad’ or ‘good,’ but their use should rather be studied within the context of the specific assignment tasks, study programmes, and student bodies in which they are used. As |
| L | such, more research on this topic is needed to add new perspectives on the issue of generative AI use in university assessments.1 |
Words to help you link your ideas in a paragraph
| To further an argument | Moreover, furthermore, in addition, additionally, similarly, also |
| To list ideas or concepts | Firstly, secondly, thirdly To begin with, next, furthermore, to conclude |
| To introduce examples | Such as, for example, an example of this is, this is evident in |
| To introduce alternative points of view | Conversely, in contrast to, in comparison, alternatively, on the one hand, on the other hand |
| To show the results of something | Therefore, as a result, the consequence is, consequently, this means that, this implies |
| To compare | In comparison, comparatively, similarly, in the same way |
1 Abbas, M., Jam, F.A., and Khan, T.I., (2024). Is it harmful or helpful? Examining the causes and consequences of generative AI usage among university students. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education [online], 21 (10); Hu, L., Xiao, W., Zhu, W., Zhu, L., and Hu, Y., (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence, smart learning and belief about future on academic performance and moderating effect of desire for knowledge. Profesional de la Informacion [online], 33 (4), e330418.
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