PEEL Paragraph Planner
Fill in the four parts of a PEEL paragraph — Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link — and the planner joins them into one draft with the connectives “For example,”, “This shows that”, and “Ultimately,”. The draft is editable. Honest templates, no AI. Free, no sign-up.
One clear claim that this paragraph will prove. It should directly support your thesis.
A fact, statistic, quotation, or example from a credible source. Cite it in your required style.
The analytical work: explain how the evidence proves the point. Never assume it speaks for itself.
Tie the paragraph back to your thesis or set up the next paragraph's idea.
Fill in all four parts to assemble the paragraph.
What is the PEEL (or TEEL) structure?
PEEL is a template for body paragraphs in essays: each paragraph makes one Point, backs it with Evidence, gives an Explanation of how the evidence proves the point, and ends with a Link back to the thesis or forward to the next idea. TEEL is the same structure — it just calls the first sentence a Topic sentence instead of a Point. The explanation is where the marks are earned: it is your analysis, not a summary of the evidence.
Worked example
Point: School gardens improve students' attitudes toward healthy eating.
Evidence: For example, [your evidence: a statistic or quotation from your source, with its citation].
Explanation: This shows that hands-on involvement gives children a sense of ownership over food, which makes unfamiliar vegetables feel less intimidating than when they simply appear on a plate.
Link: Ultimately, gardens are a low-cost intervention that supports the wider case for practical food education in schools.
How to Use the PEEL Paragraph Planner
- 1. Write the Point. One clear sentence that makes the claim of this paragraph and supports your thesis. This is your topic sentence.
- 2. Add the Evidence. A fact, statistic, quotation, or example from a real source. Write it so it can follow “For example,” and cite it in your required style.
- 3. Write the Explanation. Say how the evidence proves your point. Write it so it can follow “This shows that”.
- 4. Add the Link and assemble. Tie the paragraph back to your thesis, written to follow “Ultimately,”. All four boxes must be filled before the draft appears, and you can edit the text it gives you.
What Each Part of a PEEL Paragraph Does
| Part | Its job | The tool adds |
|---|---|---|
| Point | Makes the one claim the paragraph will prove | Nothing, only a full stop if you leave it off |
| Evidence | Backs the claim with a fact, quotation, or example | “For example,” and a lower-case first letter |
| Explanation | Shows how the evidence proves the point: the analysis | “This shows that” and a lower-case first letter |
| Link | Connects to the thesis or to the next paragraph | “Ultimately,” and a lower-case first letter |
PEEL is the same structure as TEEL, which calls the first sentence a Topic sentence. The explanation does the most important work: it is your own analysis rather than a restatement of the evidence, and it usually deserves the most space.
Worked Example
These inputs, written to fit the connectives, produce the paragraph below.
Inputs
Point
Later school start times would help teenagers get the sleep they need
Evidence
In a 2014 policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Explanation
adolescents' body clocks shift later during puberty, so an early bell asks them to be awake when they would naturally still be asleep
Link
a later start is a practical way to protect students' health without changing the length of the school day
Assembled paragraph
Later school start times would help teenagers get the sleep they need. For example, in a 2014 policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. This shows that adolescents' body clocks shift later during puberty, so an early bell asks them to be awake when they would naturally still be asleep. Ultimately, a later start is a practical way to protect students' health without changing the length of the school day.
The draft still needs your editing. “For example” suits an example, but the evidence here is a recommendation, so you might change it to “In fact,” or “Pediatricians agree:”. It also needs a citation for the policy statement in the style your class uses. The connectives are fixed, so rewrite any that do not fit your sentence.
Common PEEL Mistakes
- Evidence with no explanation. The most frequent weakness. Ask “so what?” after your evidence, and write the answer as the Explanation.
- A point that is too broad. If one paragraph cannot prove it, split it into two paragraphs with two points.
- Several quotations, one explanation. Give each piece of evidence its own explanation, or choose the strongest.
- A link that repeats the point. Say what the paragraph adds to your argument, not just what it said.
Which Tool Do You Need?
| You are writing… | Use |
|---|---|
| A general body paragraph from four parts | This page |
| Only the first sentence of a paragraph | Topic Sentence Generator |
| A science paragraph: claim, evidence, reasoning | CER Paragraph Generator |
| A paragraph built around a quotation: introduce, cite, explain | Quote Sandwich Generator |
| A paragraph that answers an opposing view | Counterargument Generator |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does PEEL stand for?
- PEEL stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link. The point states the paragraph's claim, the evidence supports it, the explanation shows how the evidence proves the point, and the link connects back to the thesis or forward to the next paragraph.
- What is the difference between PEEL and TEEL?
- They are the same structure with different first letters: TEEL calls the opening sentence a Topic sentence instead of a Point. Both open with a claim, support it, explain the support, and close with a link. Use whichever acronym your teacher uses.
- Does this tool write the paragraph for me?
- No. You write each of the four parts, and the tool joins them with three fixed connectives so you can see the full paragraph. There is no AI-generated prose — honest templates, no AI.
- Do I need to cite the evidence in a PEEL paragraph?
- Yes. Any statistic, quotation, or study must come from a real source and be cited in the style your assignment requires. The citation generator formats the reference, and the In-Text Citation Generator builds the parenthetical.
- How long should a PEEL paragraph be?
- Usually four to eight sentences: one for the point, one or two for the evidence, two or three for the explanation, and one for the link. The exact length depends on your assignment, so follow your rubric.
- Can I use PEEL for every paragraph in an essay?
- It is a good default for body paragraphs in analytical and argumentative essays, but not a rule. Introductions, conclusions, and narrative sections have different jobs. Vary your sentence openings so repeated structures do not read as mechanical.
- Why are my sentences joined awkwardly?
- The connectives are fixed and your text is placed after them with its first letter lower-cased. If a sentence begins with a name, restore the capital letter. If a connective does not suit your sentence, change it in the editable draft.