Writing a clear and convincing thesis isn’t just about having good ideas—it’s about knowing how to present them effectively. That’s where paragraph structure becomes crucial. If your arguments feel scattered, your evidence lacks explanation, or your reader loses track of your point, your thesis will struggle to make the impact it deserves.
Enter the PEEL model—a simple yet powerful writing framework that helps you build focused, well-developed paragraphs. Originally taught in schools as a way to improve essay writing, PEEL stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link. While it may sound basic, it’s one of the most effective tools you can use at the university level to strengthen your thesis chapters, especially in the body, discussion, and literature review sections.
In this article, we’ll explore how the PEEL model works, how you can apply it to longer academic writing, and how it can help you organise your thoughts, connect with your research question, and write persuasive, analytical content from start to finish.
Related reading: How to structure a thesis
What is the PEEL Model?
The PEEL model helps you construct structured, purposeful paragraphs that guide your reader logically through your argument. Each letter in the acronym represents a stage in the paragraph.
Point
Start with a clear topic sentence that makes your main argument or identifies the central idea of the paragraph. This sets the stage for everything that follows.
Example:
“Regular, personalised feedback plays a critical role in improving student motivation in online learning environments.”
This sentence makes a claim directly related to the overall research question—it sets a clear direction for the paragraph.
Evidence
Next, provide evidence to support your point. This could be data, a quotation from an interview, a statistic, or a reference to academic literature. It backs up your point with real substance.
Example:
“In this study, 78% of participants reported feeling more motivated after receiving detailed written comments from instructors.”
This sentence demonstrates that the point isn’t just an opinion—it’s backed by data from the research.
Explanation
Now explain how your evidence supports your point. Don’t just drop in a quote or figure—analyse it. This is where many academic writers fall short by simply reporting data without interpretation.
Example:
“This suggests that students are more likely to engage with course material when they feel their efforts are being recognised and responded to individually.”
This section shows why the evidence matters and connects it back to the main point.
Link
Finally, link the paragraph back to your thesis question or transition to the next point. This helps maintain flow and ensures that every paragraph contributes to your overall argument.
Example:
“This supports the wider argument that instructor presence is a key factor in successful online learning, as discussed further in the next section.”
Without a link, a paragraph can feel unfinished or disconnected from the broader thesis. This final sentence rounds off the paragraph and reinforces its relevance.
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PEEL vs. Traditional Paragraphs
At first glance, PEEL might seem overly formulaic—but it’s simply a guide to help you organise your thinking. In longer thesis chapters, you may not follow PEEL perfectly in every paragraph. Still, understanding its structure ensures your writing is analytical, not just descriptive.
📘 Related: What Is Signposting Language? – Learn how to guide your reader between paragraphs and sections for even stronger cohesion.
Why Use PEEL in Thesis Writing?
Writing a thesis isn’t just about collecting evidence or citing studies—it’s about building an argument that’s coherent, persuasive, and logically structured from start to finish. This is exactly where the PEEL model shines.
The PEEL structure helps you stay focused on your research question, present your ideas clearly, and ensure that each paragraph pulls its weight in your argument. When applied consistently, it can transform your thesis from a series of observations into a unified, analytical narrative.
1. PEEL Encourages Depth Over Description
One of the most common issues in thesis writing is the tendency to describe sources or data without analysing them. PEEL combats this by requiring explanation. Every time you present a piece of evidence, you’re encouraged to reflect on what it means and why it matters—pushing your writing toward deeper critical thinking.
💡 Want to take your analysis further? Check out: How to Write a Thesis Analysis Chapter
2. It Keeps Your Writing Organised
Especially in long-form academic writing, it’s easy for paragraphs to become bloated or unfocused. PEEL acts as a structural framework, reminding you to make your point, back it up, explain it, and tie it back to your core argument. This helps prevent “data dumping,” where students list quotes or facts without clear direction.
3. It Supports Cohesion and Flow
Linking your ideas together is key to strong academic writing. The final step in PEEL—Link—ensures that each paragraph transitions smoothly into the next, reinforcing your overall thesis and helping your reader stay oriented.
🧭 Related reading: Academic Writing Style Tips
4. It Works at Every Level
While PEEL is most commonly taught for paragraph-level writing, it can be applied at broader levels too. You can think of each chapter in your thesis as following a macro-version of PEEL:
- Point: What is the chapter’s focus?
- Evidence: What data or literature are you presenting?
- Explanation: How do you interpret that data?
- Link: How does this chapter connect to your main research aim?
Whether you’re writing a single paragraph or structuring a whole section, the principles behind PEEL can guide your thinking and sharpen your writing.
How to Use PEEL in Different Parts of a Thesis
The PEEL model is often taught as a school-level essay technique, but its real power lies in how well it adapts to complex, academic writing—like your thesis. While you won’t follow PEEL word-for-word in every single paragraph, it provides a solid foundation for structuring arguments throughout your chapters.
Here’s how you can use PEEL across different parts of your thesis:
1. In the Literature Review
A literature review isn’t just a list of what other researchers have said. It’s a critical discussion that identifies gaps, debates, and connections between ideas—and PEEL helps you stay focused and analytical.
Example:
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Point: “Research on feedback in online learning environments has focused primarily on summative approaches.”
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Evidence: “For example, Jones (2020) argues that detailed grading rubrics are the key to clarity in student assessment.”
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Explanation: “However, while such methods clarify assessment criteria, they often fail to provide the kind of motivational support that formative feedback offers.”
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Link: “This suggests that formative feedback may play a different, and possibly more impactful, role in sustaining student engagement.”
2. In the Analysis and Discussion Chapters
This is where PEEL truly shines. Your job is not just to present results or quotes from participants—you need to analyse them, draw connections, and relate them back to your research question.
Example:
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Point: “Students frequently reported feeling disconnected in large online lectures.”
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Evidence: “Participant A stated, ‘I sometimes felt like I was speaking into the void. No one responded.’”
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Explanation: “This sense of isolation highlights the challenge of maintaining community in digital learning spaces, particularly in passive lecture formats.”
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Link: “These findings support the broader argument that interaction and instructor presence are vital components of effective online education.”
This approach ensures your discussion stays grounded in data but focused on analysis.
🧠 Related: How to Write an Analysis for a Thesis
3. In Argumentative Sections of the Introduction or Conclusion
Even in your introduction or conclusion, you’ll make claims that require evidence and explanation. PEEL can help ensure that those claims are well-supported and clearly integrated into your broader thesis.
In your introduction, for example, you might use PEEL to justify the need for your study:
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Point: “Despite the rapid expansion of digital education, little research has explored student motivation in asynchronous learning settings.”
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Evidence: “A recent review by Smith (2021) notes that most studies have focused on synchronous classroom tools like Zoom and Teams.”
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Explanation: “This creates a gap in the literature, particularly as many institutions are now shifting toward hybrid and self-paced learning models.”
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Link: “This study aims to address that gap by examining how feedback influences motivation in asynchronous environments.
🧠 Related: How to Write a Thesis Conclusion
4. In Extended Paragraphs or Multi-part Themes
In longer paragraphs (especially in master’s or doctoral theses), you might cycle through the PEEL structure more than once in a single paragraph or use it as a guiding principle rather than a rigid formula.
Think of PEEL as a toolbox, not a template—you can stretch or contract it depending on the depth of discussion needed.
Example PEEL Paragraph in Action
Let’s look at how the PEEL structure works in a real academic paragraph. This sample is from a thesis examining the impact of feedback on student motivation in online learning.
Example PEEL Paragraph
Point: Personalised, timely feedback is a key driver of motivation in online learning environments.
Evidence: In this study, 82% of survey respondents indicated that receiving comments specific to their work made them feel more engaged with the material. One participant wrote, “When I saw that the lecturer actually responded to my examples, I felt like what I said mattered.”
Explanation: This suggests that personalised feedback creates a sense of visibility and recognition, which are crucial for sustaining motivation when students are physically isolated from peers and instructors. Unlike generic, rubric-based assessments, personalised responses encourage a deeper emotional connection to the learning process.
Link: These findings support broader pedagogical theories that emphasise the role of interpersonal connection in educational success and indicate a need for more humanised feedback practices in digital contexts.
Why It Works
This paragraph:
- Starts with a clear topic sentence that sets up the main claim
- Provides specific evidence from the research (including both data and a direct quote)
- Offers a thoughtful interpretation that explains why the evidence matters
- Ends by linking back to the broader argument and connecting the paragraph to existing literature
This structure helps ensure the paragraph is purposeful, analytical, and contributes directly to the thesis’s overall line of reasoning.
Conclusion: PEEL as a Thesis-Writing Power Tool
Writing a strong thesis isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how clearly and convincingly you say it. That’s where the PEEL model becomes a powerful ally. Whether you’re working through a complex literature review, interpreting your data, or developing a nuanced discussion, PEEL gives your writing the structure it needs to stay focused, analytical, and compelling.
By building your paragraphs around a clear Point, supporting it with Evidence, unpacking that evidence through Explanation, and Linking everything back to your main argument, you’re ensuring that each part of your thesis contributes meaningfully to your reader’s understanding.
PEEL isn’t a formula to rigidly follow in every paragraph—it’s a flexible tool you can adapt to the demands of longer academic writing. Use it as a guide to sharpen your thinking, organise your content, and communicate your ideas with confidence.
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