B2 Lesson 1: Developing Well-Structured Paragraphs for Essays & Reports
Welcome to B2 Paragraphing. You already know that a good paragraph focuses on one main idea. At this level, we will learn how to structure that paragraph to be more persuasive and professional, which is essential for writing academic essays1 and reports2.
We will learn a powerful structure called the P.E.E.L. method to make sure every paragraph you write is strong and convincing.
The P.E.E.L. Structure for a Perfect Paragraph
P.E.E.L. is an acronym that stands for the four essential parts of a well-developed body paragraph.
- P = Point: Your topic sentence. State your single main idea or argument for the paragraph.
- E = Evidence / Example: Provide a specific fact, statistic, or example that supports your point.
- E = Explanation: Explain *how* or *why* your evidence proves your point. This is your analysis and the most important part!
- L = Link: A concluding sentence that links back to your main point or transitions to the next paragraph.
Deconstructing a P.E.E.L. Paragraph
Let's look at a paragraph about social media and identify the four parts.
P (Point) One of the most significant disadvantages of social media is its negative impact on mental health.
E (Evidence) For example, many studies have shown that the constant exposure to carefully selected, perfect images of other people's lives can lead to feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem in users.
E (Explanation) This happens because users begin to compare their normal, everyday lives with the unrealistic highlights of others, creating a sense that their own life is not good enough. This constant social comparison can be very damaging to a person's sense of self-worth.
L (Link) Therefore, the mental health consequences are a serious drawback that must be considered.
✍️ B2 Academic Paragraph Checklist (P.E.E.L.)
- ✔️ Point: Does my paragraph start with a clear, arguable topic sentence?
- ✔️ Evidence: Have I provided a specific fact or example to support my point?
- ✔️ Explanation: Did I explain *how* my evidence proves my point? (This should be the longest part).
- ✔️ Link: Does my final sentence wrap up the idea and link back to the point?
🧠 Practice Quiz: Identify the Parts
Read the P.E.E.L. paragraph below. Which sentence is the Explanation?
Paragraph:
(A) Firstly, learning a foreign language significantly improves career opportunities. (B) For instance, the tourism sector in Cambodia, a major part of the economy, has a high demand for multilingual employees. (C) This means that a person who can speak English, Chinese, or French in addition to Khmer can get better jobs in hotels, restaurants, and as tour guides, often leading to a higher salary. (D) Thus, the professional advantages are a clear reason to study another language.
Answer: Sentence (C). Sentence A is the Point. Sentence B is the Evidence/Example. Sentence C is the Explanation because it explains *how* the example (tourism jobs) leads to better career opportunities. Sentence D is the Link.
📝 Homework: Build a P.E.E.L. Paragraph
Your homework is to build your own well-structured paragraph using the P.E.E.L. method.
Topic: The benefits of regular exercise.
- Write a Point (Topic Sentence): State one clear benefit of regular exercise.
- Write an Evidence/Example Sentence: Give one specific example of this benefit.
- Write an Explanation Sentence: Explain why your example is important or how it works.
- Write a Link Sentence: Conclude your point.
Combine these four parts into a single, cohesive paragraph in your notebook.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Essay / Report: (Noun) - អត្ថបទ / របាយការណ៍ - A formal piece of writing on a particular subject. ↩
- Well-structured: (Adjective) - មានរចនាសម្ព័ន្ធល្អ - Organized in a clear, logical, and effective way. ↩
- Point (argument): (Noun) - ចំណុច - The main idea or argument you are trying to make. ↩
- Evidence: (Noun) - ភស្តុតាង - The facts, examples, or information used to prove that your point is true. ↩
- Explanation / Analysis: (Noun) - ការពន្យល់ / ការវិភាគ - The detailed statements that explain how or why something is true; your interpretation of the evidence. ↩