TEEL & PEEL Persuasive Paragraph Writing: ACARA English Guide
The TEEL (or PEEL) paragraph formula is the standard academic writing architecture taught in Australian primary and secondary high schools.
When writing persuasive texts, NAPLAN tests, or analytical book essays in Australian schools, wandering off-topic is the most common reason for lost marks. The TEEL formula (also known as PEEL: Point, Explanation, Evidence, Link) ensures every single paragraph is disciplined, evidence-based, and watertight.
Each body paragraph should argue one single sub-point that proves your overall essay contention.
Dissecting a TEEL Paragraph Line by Line
Immediately states the single claim of this paragraph. Example: 'Adopting renewable solar energy drastically reduces household carbon emissions.'
Expands on the mechanism of why this is true. Example: 'Unlike coal-fired power stations that burn finite fossil fuels and release greenhouse gases into the upper atmosphere, rooftop photovoltaic arrays generate clean electricity directly from solar photons.'
Supplies a concrete statistic, quotation, or study. Example: 'According to the Australian Clean Energy Council, a standard 6.6 kW domestic solar system saves approximately 9.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually.'
Concludes by explicitly linking the evidence back to your overarching essay question. Example: 'Therefore, subsidizing residential solar installations is an indispensable step toward reaching national net-zero climate commitments.'
Persuasive Techniques High-Scoring Writers Use
Beyond structure, elevate persuasive writing using intentional rhetorical devices:
• Modal Verbs: Shift from weak modals ('might, could') to high-certainty verbs ('must, will, inevitably').
• Rhetorical Questions: Prompt the reader to agree internally (e.g. 'Can we truly afford to ignore these clear ecological warning signs?').
• Rule of Three (Tricolon): Group words in threes for rhythmic resonance (e.g. 'Clean energy is sustainable, cost-effective, and urgent.').
✨ Key Takeaways
- TEEL stands for Topic Sentence, Explanation, Evidence/Example, and Link.
- Every paragraph must contain only ONE central argument to avoid confusing the marker.
- Evidence must be specific: cite numbers, named studies, or textual quotations.
- The link sentence completes the circle, tying the paragraph directly back to the original essay contention.
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