essay paragraph structure teel

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How to Write TEEL Paragraphs

Last Updated: June 9, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD . Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 228,658 times.

If you’ve ever written an essay for school, you may have heard of a TEEL paragraph. These are paragraphs that follow a defined and logical structure, helping you present your information in a clear, well-organized manner. To write a TEEL paragraph, you’ll need to include a T opic sentence, an E xplanation, an E xample or E vidence to support the topic, and a L inking sentence to put it all in context.

Learning the TEEL Structure

• Keep your topic sentence clear and concise so that the reader can tell exactly what the paragraph is about. For example, your topic sentence might be “A zebra is a type of mammal.”
• You may have seen a variant on the TEEL structure called a PEEL paragraph. In a PEEL paragraph, the P stands for “Point,” i.e., the main point of the paragraph. [2] X Research source

• For example, your explanation might state, “A mammal is a warm-blooded animal with hair or fur. Female mammals secrete milk to feed their offspring, and typically give birth to live young as opposed to laying eggs.”
• Think about what kind of explanation or additional detail would benefit the reader. For example, are there terms in the topic sentence you need to define?

• For instance, in your paragraph about zebras, you could follow up your explanation by saying, “Like all mammals, zebras are warm-blooded. They also have a coat of striped black and white fur. The females give birth to live foals, which they feed with milk from a pair of teats located between their back legs.”
• You might have several examples or pieces of evidence to choose from. Try to pick the example or evidence that is most relevant and best supports your argument. [5] X Research source

Variation: Sometimes it’s helpful to include a “Comment” in your TEE(C)L paragraph after the Example/Evidence. For instance, this may be useful if you need to critique the evidence or provide an explanation to show how it supports your argument.

• For example, you might sum up your paragraph on the zebra by saying, “Therefore, the zebra meets all the major criteria for being classified as a mammal.”

Perfecting Your TEEL Paragraph

• “What exactly am I trying to say with this paragraph?”
• “What’s the best evidence I have to support my point?”
• “How does the information in this paragraph connect to the question I’m trying to answer or the main point I’m trying to make?”

• There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you’re writing a personal essay for a college application, you might use the TEEL structure along with the first person.

• For example, don’t write something like, “I’m pretty sure zebras aren’t reptiles, because they don’t have scales.”
• Instead, you might write, “Unlike all known species of reptiles, zebras do not have scales. This evidence suggests that zebras are probably not reptiles.”

• For example: According to Dr. Pritchard’s 1974 dissertation on zebras, “The zebra is undoubtedly a mammal” (p. 62).
• You can also use an indirect quote, where you rephrase or summarize what someone else said in your own words. If you do this, you must still indicate where the information came from.
• If you need to leave a word or phrase out of a quote, indicate that something is missing with ellipses (…). For example, “The zebra is related to other equine mammals, including…the horse.”
• If you have to change or add a word, use brackets. For example: According to her diary, “[Veronica] thought that zebras were insects.”

• You might find it helpful to read your paragraph out loud since your ears sometimes pick up on problems that your eyes miss.

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about writing TEEL paragraphs, check out our in-depth interview with Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. .

• ↑ https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/paragraph-structure
• ↑ https://www.matrix.edu.au/ultimate-peel-paragraph-checklist/
• ↑ https://galston-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/learning-at-our-school/what-is-t-e-e-l--.html
• ↑ https://learn.stleonards.vic.edu.au/yr7eng/files/2012/07/Year-7-English-TEEL-Paragraph-Writing-Guide-Wonder.pdf

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How to Write a TEEL Paragraph for Your English Essay

Trying to work towards a Band 6 in HSC English , but are struggling with how to construct paragraphs well in your essays and need clearer examples? Don’t worry, because we’ll break down the TEEL paragraph structure for you right now!

Here’s the ultimate guide to writing a TEEL paragraph that you’re proud of, so you can get an awesome mark in English. You’ll discover our useful techniques for creating cohesive paragraphs.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

What is TEEL and why should you use it? Using TEE Tables Constructing the Paragraph Top 5 Rules to Remember when Constructing TEEL Paragraphs

What is TEEL and why should you use it?

Basically, the TEEL structure provides you with an organised method for getting your point across . Using the TEEL structure can help show your reader that you are able to clearly analyse and respond to a given text and question.

To see this, let’s break down the TEEL paragraph structure:

T for Topic Sentence The very first sentence in your paragraph which gives the reader a good understanding of what you are going to talk about. It helps to directly respond to what the question is asking you here!

E for Example In the example section of the paragraph, you are required to extract important quotes in your text to support you overarching theme and thesis . In preparation for this part of your paragraph, highlighting, underlining, and annotating your text as you read it could serve you well.

E for Explanation So you’ve got your examples written. Now it’s time to explain exactly why they relate to your theme in the explain section. This will be the bulk of your paragraph. Over here, you will go into further detail, analysing and fleshing out any key points that you want to make.

L for Linking Sentence Sum up your argument over here with your linking sentence . Highlight how your paragraph supports your overarching thesis/point.

Not sure how to find and use quotes in your English Essay? Check out our in-depth guide to embedding quotes .

Download your own copy of our TEEL paragraph template

It is also important to note that the TEEL paragraph structure is very generic, and as you go into older years, you’ll find that your paragraphs start to look more like TEEEEEEL paragraphs! This just means that your paragraphs will be packed full of examples and explanations, so you’re on the right track.

Pretty simple right? You’ll find that the more TEEL paragraphs you write, the more repetitive it gets.

But what happens if you’re in an exam and forget what you were going to write as your explanation or examples?

Using TEE Tables

To avoid sticky situations like these, it can be helpful to use TEE Tables to structure your arguments in a clear and logical manner.

To summarise, a TEE table is used as an organiser for the techniques, examples, and effects that you wish to analyse for a specific text.

In general, it is helpful to split up your TEE analysis into the various themes that you are exploring in your text.

Here is a sample TEE table for Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Pedestrian’ , in reference to the theme of dehumanisation :

The theme being analysed in this TEE table is dehumanisation, which is a motif that runs throughout Bradbury’s entire short story! By creating a TEE table, we have successfully analysed the text regarding this theme.

This table can be created for each of your themes and serves as an efficient way for you to organise all your techniques and quotes in a clear manner!

After creating these tables, the only thing left to do is put them in a TEEL paragraph format . Since we have our TEE tables for reference, our techniques and examples section of the paragraph is already down pat, and all that’s left to add is a solid thesis statement and a conclusion!

Incorporate some style in your essay by learning how to use persuasive techniques !

Constructing the Paragraph

We must ensure that the topic sentence , or thesis statement relates not only to the question, but also to the theme we will be exploring . A good topic sentence will try to incorporate both the theme and question in one succinct sentence.

Similarly, an effective linking sentence serves to sum up the points you have addressed in your TEEL paragraph while relating them back to the question.

For example, let’s use the TEE table created above to make a TEEL paragraph:

In this paragraph, each section has been highlighted for your convenience, TEEL being yellow, red, blue, and pink respectively.

And there we have it! We have successfully used our TEE table to create a succinct and clear TEEL paragraph which addresses a theme relevant to the text.

Remember, the key to perfecting your TEEL paragraph writing skills is to practise them regularly!

If you’d prefer to use a different paragraph structure, then you should check out how the STEEL paragraph structure , PEEL paragraph structure or the  PETAL paragraph structure works!

Top 5 Rules to Remember when Constructing TEEL Paragraphs

#1: Language must always be formal  Using formal language in TEEL paragraphs is important because it helps to clearly and seriously present your ideas in a professional way .

#2: Use Third Person  Using the third person in TEEL paragraphs helps students maintain an objective and unbiased tone in their writing.

#3: Check for Spelling and Grammar Mistakes It’s crucial for students to scan their TEEL paragraphs for spelling and grammar mistakes to ensure clear, professional, and well-crafted writing that leaves a positive impression on the reader.

#4: Avoid Using Contractions Students should refrain from using contractions in their TEEL paragraphs as it diminishes the formality of the writing. Utilising complete words instead of contractions, such as replacing “can’t” with “cannot” and “it’s” with “it is,” enhances the overall clarity of the essay .

#5: Remember to Use Single Quotation Marks (‘) when Referencing the Book Title Students should use single quotation marks when referencing book titles in their writing to distinguish them and indicate they are the titles of larger, standalone works .

Looking for some extra help with your TEEL paragraph?

We have an incredible team of hsc english tutors and mentors.

We can help you master your HSC English text and ace your upcoming HSC English assessments with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or at one of our state of the art campuses in Hornsby or the Hills!

We’ve supported over  8,000 students over the last 11 years , and on average our students score mark improvements of over 20%!

To find out more and get started with an inspirational HSC English tutor and mentor,   get in touch today  or give us a ring on  1300 267 888!

Aarya Mogarkar is an academic tutor and senior coach at Art of Smart Education. She is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of New South Wales and tutors students in the areas of English, Economics and Business Studies.

• Topics: ✏️ English , ✍️ Learn

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March 1, 2024 1:00 am

How To Write TEEL Paragraphs

Hello fellow writers! This week schools are in full swing, and Australian universities are back, so I think it’s a good time to review a writing basic. Are you ready to learn about writing strong paragraphs? Whether you are a published essay-writer, or just starting to learn about writing structure, mastering TEEL paragraphs can be a game-changer!

What is a TEEL Paragraph?

So, what exactly is a TEEL paragraph? 

Well, it's an acronym that stands for Topic sentence, Explanation, Evidence, and Link . Therefore, think of it as your secret formula for building robust and compelling paragraphs that captivate your readers and convey your ideas effectively.

Let’s break it down…

Topic Sentence: Set The Stage

Every great paragraph starts with a clear and concise topic sentence that acts as the foundation for what's to come. So, this sentence should introduce the main idea or argument of the paragraph, giving readers an idea of what they should expect. The topic sentence grabs attention and sets the tone for what follows.

For example, Imagine you're writing an essay about climate change. Your topic sentence could be something like, "The alarming rate of global temperature rise poses a significant threat to the planet's ecosystems."

Explanation: Delving Deeper

Once you've hooked your readers with a compelling topic sentence, it's time to delve deeper into your argument. This is where the explanation comes in. It provides context, clarifies your point, and expands on your ideas.

With our example, you could explain the various factors contributing to rising temperatures, such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and industrialisation.

Evidence: Backing It Up

You will need facts, statistics, quotes, or examples to support your argument. This evidence should be timely (not too old), relevant, credible, and compelling. Therefore it will help to strengthen your point and persuade your audience. Evidence might include quotes from scientific studies or reports from reputable organisations. In our example, they may illustrate the impact of rising temperatures on weather patterns and biodiversity.

Link: Connecting The Dots

The link is the glue that holds your paragraph together. This final part of a TEEL paragraph ties everything back to your topic and prepares the reader for what's coming next (which might be the next paragraph). By connecting the dots between your topic sentence, explanation, and evidence, it ensures a seamless flow of ideas throughout your writing.

For example, in our climate change paragraph, you might link back to your topic sentence by reiterating the urgency of addressing global warming to mitigate its devastating effects on the planet.

TEEL Paragraphs: In Conclusion

Now that we've dissected the TEEL paragraph structure, why don’t you put it into practice? 

Can you write a paragraph about whether technology is a help or a hinderance? If you send it to me, I’ll give you some feedback!

Editing is the most important step, so don’t be afraid to revise and refine your paragraphs until they shine.

So, whether you're writing an essay, a blog post, or a research paper, keep the TEEL paragraph structure in mind as your trusty guide. Start with a strong topic sentence, add an explanation, follow with compelling evidence, and end with seamless links back to the topic sentence. 

With this formula, you are well on your way to crafting engaging and persuasive paragraphs that leave a lasting impression on your readers. Like I do in my books. You can see examples of this in my books Saving Sun Bears and the Wildlife Wong series . Happy writing!

About the Author

Sarah Pye is a nature and wildlife nerd. When she’s not writing or teaching, she can be found outdoors… camping, kayaking, exploring or walking with her dog Gypsy.

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TEAL Paragraph Development: An Approach to Developing Strong, Meaningful Body Paragraphs

by acburton | Apr 25, 2024 | Resources for Students , Writing Resources

Raise your hand if you have heard of the ‘5-paragraph essay’. Organizing a relatively short set of ideas with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion may seem simple enough and effective for a multitude of assignments.  However, when making complex arguments, reviewing a deep topic, or writing a lengthy term paper, you may need more than 5 paragraphs. What then?!

That’s where the TEAL paragraph formula comes in. Using TEAL (Topic Sentence, Example, Analysis, and Link to Thesis), provides you with a structure that will   give you the best results to creating an organized and developed body paragraph. Here’s how to use it!

In this post, we overview how to use TEAL. Download a Word Doc with examples to see TEAL in action.

Begin with your Topic Sentence

A topic sentence should have a piece of your major argument or thesis included, and it should be clearly stated so that the reader can see a clear connection from your thesis to your body paragraph. 

Your Topic Sentence should…

• Reference your thesis statement.
• Provide one specific idea and focus for the body paragraph.
• Clearly show the reader what this paragraph will be about and how it connects to your thesis.

Give Your Reader an Example

Along with providing you a template to discuss complex or in-depth topics, using this structure for your body paragraphs will also allow you to be sure that you are appropriately incorporating evidence into your draft.

Before you begin writing your body paragraph, the example or supporting evidence should be one of the first parts of your essay that you begin thinking about (even before you start writing your paper!). Providing your reader with an example may be the second part of TEAL (aka the second part in building your body paragraph), but you’ll want to think beforehand about how your example will support your topic sentence. If your example doesn’t support your topic sentence, then your topic sentence can’t support your thesis. Examples make it easier for you and your reader to find connections; connections that will lead to insightful points for analysis (up next!).

Examples can be direct quotations, paraphrased text, personal examples, data/statistics, etc. and no matter the type of example, you’ll want to make sure that your evidence is relevant and, again, connects to your topic sentence. Make sure every example is introduced and contextualized and that every example coming from a source other than yourself has a citation in the proper format!

Making Connections With Analysis

Analysis is an integral part of developing your body paragraphs. This is the section of your paragraph where you should be clearly explaining how your examples support your thesis and topic sentences.  

Not sure where to begin? Look to your professor’s prompts and decide what they are asking you to address in the assignment.  When you are sure that you are answering your professor’s prompt, you can also be sure that you are directly explaining how your support is addressing the key requirements of the prompt and assignment.

Things to consider…

• How does this example help your reader understand the topic sentence?
• What specific parts of this example show your topic sentence?
• What is important about this example in connection to your topic sentence?
• Aim for about 3-4 sentences of analysis per example to assure in-depth discussion

REMEMBER! Analysis will always come DIRECTLY after its respective example. You will introduce an example, provide the example, and then provide an analysis. Then, you will repeat this process until you are done giving examples. At the end, you will link the readers back to the thesis (think: T, E1, A1, E2, A2, L.)

Link Back to Your Thesis

When writing the last sentence of your body paragraph ask yourself: what is the key takeaway that the reader should get from this body paragraph? Cogitate how this paragraph (its topic sentence, example, and analysis) trace back to your thesis. How do they work together to help your reader understand your central argument? How does the evidence presented in this paragraph argue your main point? All in all, contemplate the relationship between the body paragraph that you have carefully crafted and your thesis statement.

While each body paragraph will vary in length and have its own number of examples, each paragraph must, however, incorporate each topic in TEAL. So once you have learned how to link back to your thesis in one paragraph, it’ll give you the confidence you need to do the same with the rest of your body paragraphs. It’ll also provide you with the tools to reinforce the assurance you’ve gained toward the evidence you’ve chosen and the thesis you’ve crafted before moving forward.

Bonus! Visit the Writing Center

As mentioned earlier, following the TEAL paragraph formula will often give you the best results in creating an organized and developed paragraph; however, it is not the only way to create strong paragraphs.  Depending on the assignment and professor, you may need to vary this formula. Visit us at the Writing Center if you have any questions about how to incorporate the TEAL paragraph formula into your next paper or for additional clarification about how to organize your essay using TEAL to address the prompt!

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TEEL is an acronym that stands for Topic sentence, Explain, Evidence, and Link. This structure is used to improve the clarity and flow of written arguments. By following the TEEL format, you can create more persuasive and coherent paragraphs. In this article, we will discuss nine steps to help you write an effective TEEL paragraph.

Step 1: Plan your argument

Before starting your paragraph, take a moment to plan the main points you want to convey. This will help ensure that your paragraph flows logically and cohesively.

Step 2: Write the Topic sentence

The Topic sentence introduces the main idea of your paragraph. It should be clear and concise, setting the tone for the rest of your argument.

Step 3: Explain your point

Following the Topic sentence, explain the importance of the point in greater detail. Provide context and elaborate on how it supports the overall argument of your essay.

Step 4: Incorporate evidence

To make your argument stronger, include relevant evidence such as facts, quotes, or examples. This will provide concrete support for your point and demonstrate credibility in your writing.

Step 5: Analyze the evidence

After presenting your evidence, explain how it supports your point and ties into the overall argument. This step is crucial as it demonstrates critical thinking skills that evaluators would appreciate.

Step 6: Use transition words

To improve readability and create a smooth flow between sentences, use transition words such as “however,” “additionally,” “therefore,” or “on the other hand.”

Step 7: Write the Link sentence

The Link sentence connects your paragraph’s argument back to the central thesis of your essay. This helps maintain coherence within your writing and ensures that each paragraph contributes to building a strong case for your thesis statement.

Step 8: Review and revise

After completing your TEEL paragraph, review it for any grammatical mistakes or inconsistencies in argumentation. Revise your writing if necessary to ensure that all sentences flow logically and contribute to the overall argument effectively.

Step 9: Practice, practice, practice

Writing TEEL paragraphs takes time and practice. Keep honing your skills by consistently writing and revising your paragraphs following this structure.

By adhering to these nine steps, you will be better equipped to write clear, concise, and persuasive TEEL paragraphs that strengthen your essays and other written arguments. By understanding the importance of planning your argument, introducing and presenting evidence, and connecting your ideas back to the thesis statement, you can improve your writing skills significantly.

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How to use the TEEL essay formula.

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TEEL formula.

The TEEL formula is the standard essay structure taught by most (if not all) schools in Australia. TEEL is an acronym to help students remember the necessary steps for paragraph structure in essays.

Every paragraph in every type of essay must contain these four elements; it does not matter if the writing is an analysis, comparative, or persuasive. Albeit, when we talk about comparatives and argument alalysis, the formula becomes more in-depth. It is important to note ‘Explanation’ and ‘Evidence’ can be reversed, but they must always travel as a pair.

Let’s take a closer look at TEEL.

Topic sentence

The topic sentence informs the reader what the paragraph is about or what is being argued. It is essentially a miniature introduction, and it is necessary for every paragraph. A well-crafted essay has a topic sentence that outlines the paragraph; this is not the place to bring in any evidence.

For example, a topic sentence for a paragraph on an essay topic like, ‘Should students have to wear a school uniform?’ could look like:

School uniforms create equality amongst students leaving no opportunity for oppression based solely on clothing.

This topic sentence very clearly informs the reader about the direction of this particular paragraph and sets the stage for the rest of the written response. In a sense, it is a brief introduction. Your topic sentence should be between one and two lines long.

Explanation.

In the explanation, the idea is to provide more information on the paragraphs stance. Brainstorm or research a few ideas that might help support your argument.

An explanation for the same essay question would look something like this:

Uniforms bring a level ground into schools where students cannot receive prejudice or torment based on their choice or quality of clothing. While expressing choice is an integral part of coming to understand one’s identity, the schoolyard is not the place for this demonstration as it can encourage unwanted opinions, and often damaging views of other students.

See how this section has brought in more information relevant to the topic sentence? It has made clear the authors stance, and it has brought up a few points that can be explained further. This expansion and fleshing out of ideas helps to make way for our next section.

Okay, the section above explains clear thoughts and even goes as far as to make a statement. This is where evidence is needed. Including evidence not only proves that statements and comments are sound, but it also helps to convince the reader of the point being made. The best essays are based on evidence.

Evidence for the section above could look like this:

Not only does wearing a school uniform reduce the pressure on students to wear the latest designer fashion labels and trends, but it also reduces perceived inequalities due to socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, the department of education encourages schools to have a uniform, as schools that enforce them have significantly lower levels of bullying.

Evidence is the basis of an essay; it can make or break it. Evidence in the form of analysis or comparative essays is delivered in the same way. The only exception is that the evidence, in these cases, usually comes from texts or movies.

Here is where the link (the final statement) connects to the topic sentence. This link is designed to wrap the paragraph up neatly and to help it finish on a strong and relevant point.

School uniforms are an essential part of life . T hey create equality among students, reduce the stress that comes from keeping up with the latest trends, and reduce bullying in the schoolyard. In all, they create a better, more pleasant school experience.

This link directly relates to our topic sentence. Moreover, it summons up the contents of the paragraph, in effect, concluding this section of the essay.

What does our essay look like altogether?

 Let’s have a look at what all our TEEL sections look like together as an essay paragraph.

As you can see following this formula has created a clear and well-structured essay paragraph. TEEL is an easy formula to follow once you understand how it works and how each part functions to make the paragraph flow.

Practice topics for the TEEL formula:

• Cats are better pets than dogs (or vice versa)
• Should students have less homework?
• Sustainability is the responsibility of all humans.

Choose at least one of these topics and practice forming a paragraph using the TEEL formula outlined above.

Bonus Essay Writing Tip:

Read everything out loud before you give it to anyone to read. I cannot stress this enough. You will be amazed at the silly mistakes you pick up. Reading your essay out loud can easily mean the difference between a B and a B+.

I understand that in your exams, you will not be afforded this opportunity, but at the very least, read it through in your head. MAKE TIME FOR IT. I tell all my students to leave 10-minutes to read through every essay before they hand it in. This rule should be observed for exams as well.

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Jessica is a qualified teacher with seven years of classroom experience, and the Director of Evergreen Tutoring Services.

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A Comprehensive Guide to TEEL Paragraph Structuring

In the intricate tapestry of academic writing, mastering the art of paragraph construction is akin to weaving a seamless narrative. One method that proves invaluable in achieving clarity and coherence is the TEEL paragraph structure. Whether you’re a student aiming to elevate your essay writing or a seasoned writer looking to refine your skills, this comprehensive guide will delve into the essence of TEEL – Topic sentence, Explanation, Evidence, and Link – unraveling the intricacies of this structured approach to paragraph writing.

Understanding TEEL:

TEEL is an acronym that represents the key components of a well-structured paragraph. Each letter corresponds to a crucial element that contributes to the overall effectiveness and coherence of your writing:

• T – Topic Sentence:
• The topic sentence is the anchor of your paragraph. It encapsulates the main idea or point that the paragraph will explore. A strong topic sentence provides a clear focus, guiding the reader on what to expect.
• E – Explanation:
• Following the topic sentence, the explanation elaborates on the main idea. This is where you delve deeper into the subject, providing context, background information, or clarification. The explanation ensures that your reader fully comprehends the significance of your point.
• E – Evidence:
• Evidence is the supporting material that reinforces your argument or perspective. It can take various forms, including quotes, statistics, examples, or references to authoritative sources. The evidence lends credibility and substance to your claims.
• L – Link:
• The link is the bridge that connects your current paragraph to the next. It ensures a smooth flow of ideas and maintains the coherence of your writing. The link may preview what is coming next or reflect on the significance of the information presented.

Crafting a TEEL Paragraph:

1. topic sentence: establishing the foundation.

• In examining the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems , it becomes evident that rising sea temperatures pose a significant threat to the delicate balance of underwater life.
• Clearly states the main idea.
• Provides a roadmap for the reader.
• Sets the tone for the rest of the paragraph.

2. Explanation: Adding Depth and Context

• The oceans, comprising diverse ecosystems from coral reefs to polar regions, are intricately connected and sensitive to changes in temperature. As sea temperatures continue to rise due to global warming, marine life faces unprecedented challenges.
• Expands on the main idea introduced in the topic sentence.
• Provides context, background, or relevant information.
• Establishes the groundwork for the evidence to follow.

3. Evidence: Strengthening Your Argument

• According to a study published in the Journal of Marine Biology, a 1-degree Celsius increase in sea temperature can lead to coral bleaching, disrupting the symbiotic relationship between coral polyps and algae.
• Introduces supporting evidence or examples.
• Strengthens the argument with factual information.
• Cites authoritative sources to enhance credibility.

4. Link: Connecting Ideas Seamlessly

• This evidence highlights the vulnerability of marine ecosystems to temperature fluctuations, emphasizing the urgent need for global efforts to mitigate climate change. As we delve further into the impacts on marine life, it is crucial to explore sustainable practices that can safeguard these fragile ecosystems.
• Establishes a connection to the next paragraph.
• Summarizes the significance of the evidence.
• Maintains the flow of ideas and transitions smoothly.

Practical Tips for Effective TEEL Paragraphs:

1. maintain focus:.

• Ensure that your topic sentence clearly articulates the main idea of the paragraph. Avoid introducing multiple ideas within the same paragraph to maintain clarity.

2. Provide Context:

• Use the explanation component to provide context or background information. This helps readers who may be less familiar with the topic to fully grasp the significance of your argument.

3. Diversify Evidence:

• Experiment with various types of evidence, such as statistics, quotes, examples, or case studies. Diversifying your evidence adds richness to your writing and caters to different learning styles.

4. Balance Length:

• Aim for a balanced length across the components of your TEEL paragraph. While the explanation and evidence may be more substantial, ensure that the topic sentence and link are concise yet impactful.

5. Use Transition Words:

• Incorporate transition words or phrases to enhance the coherence of your paragraphs. Words like “furthermore,” “however,” or “consequently” can guide readers through the logical progression of your ideas.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

1. weak topic sentences:.

• Avoid vague or generic topic sentences. Your topic sentence should succinctly convey the main point of the paragraph, providing a clear direction for the reader.

2. Insufficient Explanation:

• Ensure that your explanation sufficiently elaborates on the main idea. Lack of context or background information can leave readers confused about the significance of your point.

3. Unsubstantiated Claims:

• Always support your arguments with evidence. Making claims without providing supporting material weakens the overall persuasiveness of your writing.

4. Overreliance on Evidence:

• While evidence is crucial, it should not overshadow the importance of a well-crafted topic sentence and a thoughtful explanation. Maintain a balance between these components.

5. Weak Links:

• Pay attention to your linking sentences. A weak link can disrupt the flow of your writing, making it challenging for readers to follow your train of thought.

Examples of TEEL Paragraphs:

Topic Sentence: The prevalence of social media in modern society has transformed the way people communicate.

Explanation: With the rise of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, individuals now have unprecedented access to instant communication and information sharing.

Evidence: According to a Pew Research Center survey, approximately 69% of adults in the United States use social media, indicating a pervasive integration of these platforms into daily life.

Link: As we navigate this digital landscape, it becomes imperative to examine the implications of widespread social media usage on interpersonal relationships and societal dynamics.

Topic Sentence: The advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have revolutionized industries and raised ethical concerns.

Explanation: AI, characterized by machines performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, has seen rapid development in recent years, impacting sectors such as healthcare, finance, and transportation.

Evidence: A study published in the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research demonstrates the ability of AI algorithms to outperform human experts in medical diagnostics, pointing towards the transformative potential of these technologies.

Link: However, as we celebrate these achievements, it is crucial to address ethical considerations, such as job displacement, algorithmic bias, and the ethical use of AI in decision-making processes.

Mastering the Art of TEEL

In the realm of effective writing, the TEEL paragraph structure serves as a reliable guide, offering a systematic approach to crafting well-organized and coherent paragraphs. Whether you’re constructing an essay, report, or any form of academic writing, mastering the art of TEEL can elevate the impact of your prose.

By understanding the role of each component – from the foundational topic sentence to the conclusive link – and incorporating practical tips, you can enhance the structure and clarity of your writing. As you embark on the journey of refining your writing skills, may this comprehensive guide empower you to weave TEEL paragraphs seamlessly, creating a tapestry of ideas that captivates and persuades your readers.

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Many students use the PEEL or TEEL structure when constructing nonfiction paragraphs. The structures have been particularly popular in supporting students to write persuasive essays, discussions and arguments, as it provides a framework for constructing individual, main-idea paragraphs which transition smoothly to the next main idea. As a result, student essays contain clear, focused paragraphs in which sentences are sequenced, coherent and cohesive. If writing purely factual texts or reports, the PEEL or TEEL structure applies; if writing opinionative essays students may incorporate an additional 'E' into the framework, making the structures PEEEL or TEEEL.

If you are new to the structures, this overview will briefly explain the acronyms. The video below addresses the decisions students make when using the structure and may be useful in adding clarity.

What do the acronyms stand for?

P = Point : This is the main point or main idea of the paragraph. This sentence outlines what the paragraph will be about and should support the overall argument or thesis. If using TEEL, simply replace the ‘P’ with the ‘T’ and replace the word ‘point’ with ‘topic’.

T = The main topic of the paragraph and this sentence is referred to as a 'Topic' sentence.

E = Explain/Elaborate : These sentences explain or elaborate on information in the previous sentence or sentences. These sentences add clarity to build reader understandings. If the 'Explain' sentence follows the opening sentence, it should explain or add clarity about the main point; if it follows an 'Evidence' or 'Example' sentence, it should explain precisely how the evidence or example supports the point and provide any further information readers require to fully understand its relevance.

E = Example/Evidence : These sentences affirm the author's assertions, either by offering an anecdote or example through which audiences can better relate or connect to the author's idea, or highlighting evidence offered as proof.

E= Evaluate : In this sentence the author makes a judgement, provides the views of another entity, or prompts the audience to reflect or evaluate.

L = Link : This sentence may connect the ideas from one paragraph to the next to ensure a smooth transition across paragraphs. Alternately, the sentence may link the ideas in that paragraph to the author's overall thesis, opinion, or topic of the essay.

It is important for students to know every sentence must earn its place. Quality paragraphs are comprised of carefully crafted, well-executed, quality sentences. A quality sentence is one which provides essential information or information which 'value adds'. Students must learn to ask themselves, "What am I trying to say and to whom? What do I want my audience to know, understand or think? How can I best achieve this?"

When using the structures, students should be flexible. They should think about where a particular sentence may be required by the reader. There is no rule that sentences must follow a rigid sequence. Sometimes a writer will begin a paragraph with an ‘Evaluate’ sentence (or question) and the ‘T’ or ‘P’ sentence will be last sentence and will sum up the ideas in that paragraph.

Sentence charts

These simple writing sentence charts support the TEEL and PEEL framework.

Point sentence

Topic sentence

Explaining sentence

Elaborating sentence

Example sentence

Evidence sentence

Evaluating sentence

Linking sentence

Download all sentence charts.

Planning templates

If you are using this structure with students, a free Planning template for both PEEL and TEEL is available to assist you. Please note:

• The only difference between the PEEL and TEEL planning templates is the initial letter and terminology used for the ‘P’ and ‘T’. The purpose of the sentence remains the same.
• There are two versions of each planning template. One version poses questions for the purpose of building metacognition, and this may be a more helpful template in the early stages when students must think about ‘why’ information is provided ‘how’ the information across sentences is supported.

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A Comprehensive Guide To TEEL Paragraph Structuring

Table of Contents

TEEL, an acronym for Topic-Explanation-Evidence-Link, is a highly effective paragraph structuring technique used across all levels of academic writing. It follows a logical sequence for presenting information and developing an engaging & coherent discourse. The TEEL structure is simple, clear, engaging, and easy to implement. And this entire article is dedicated to discussing the TEEL structuring technique.

Now, what’s all the hullabaloo about paragraph structuring? Why is it so important? Well, the reasons are quite simple!

Why is Paragraph Structuring so Important?

Paragraphs are how we arrange and present information in any write-up. For them to be able to convey & communicate ideas and information successfully, paragraphs must be structured so that:

• Readers can easily understand what’s being said.
• The entire text is easy to read and follows.
• There’s a logical order to all the information and the overall narrative.
• Keywords and signpost words can help the audience navigate the writer’s discourse and get a good idea about the writer’s perspective on a topic.
• Ideas, information, supporting arguments, and analysis can be organised & presented effectively and under the write-up’s objectives.

Introducing TEEL Paragraphing

The TEEL paragraphing technique provides a highly effective and incredibly intuitive way to present information logically and in an organised manner. Itis an effective framework for elaborating on claims & arguments, analysing facts & observations, implementing persuasive tactics and much more.

The TEEL technique is a derivative of critical thinking in writing as it:

• Starts the paragraph with a clear and concise topicsentence about ideas, arguments, or the crux of the discussion;
• Explains and elaborates on the central idea or argument with sound logic;
• Provides evidencein support of the claims and adjoined analysis or explanation;
• Links everything with the broader context of the discussion and places everything in relevance to the grand scheme of things, that is, the subject domain;
• Wraps up the paragraph by highlighting key points, reinforcing the claim/argument/observation in the topic sentence, and transitioning smoothly into the next section;

As may be evident, the TEEL paragraph is one of the most simple and logical ways to structure a paragraph to serve its purpose successfully.

So, let’s dig into the nuances of the techniques.

Section 1: T For Topic

The topic sentence of a paragraph defines the primary point, idea, or argument to be discussed. It informs the audience about the paragraph’s purposes and sets the tone & context for the explanations & narrative discourse.

• The topic sentence IS the point/claim/argument/observation the writer intends to make.
• It must be CLEAR, PRECISE, and FULL OF CONVICTION.
• Topic sentences must support the PRIMARY ARGUMENT, IDEA, STANCE, or STATEMENT made by the writer, except when you are presenting and refuting a counter-argument or disagreeing with an opposing view.

A good example of clean and concise topic sentences can be as follows:

“ Rising population and unsustainable consumption are the primary drivers of climate change and pollution.”

There are some key things to note here à 

• First, the statement or argument presents a clear-cut point. You have to now show through your explanations & evidence why you agree or disagree with this point.
• The point presents a clear idea, opinion or argument about climate change, pollution, and environmental sustainability. Topic sentences should be connected with the main subject of the write-up.
• It is short, straightforward and presents an idea with conviction. Precision and pertinency are key aspects of a coherent and seamless narrative.

However, keep in mind that topic sentences need not always be in direct support of the primary argument. Case in point are paragraphs where you are presenting a counter-argument or opposing opinion and then refuting them.

• It uses keywords (climate change, pollution, population, consumption) , a strong linking verb (are), and  potent attributive adjectives (primary, unsustainable)  to improve readability and understanding and present everything with conviction.

Once the topic sentence is in place, it is time to explain and analyse its significance in the context of the discussion.

Section 2: E For Explanation

Making a claim, stating a point, or presenting an argument without backing does not work. If you make a point, you must have the confidence, understanding, information, and logical acumen to back it up.

• There is no way to convince your audience of your point without an explanation. Anybody can challenge or dismiss your ideas and information as hollow, inaccurate, & baseless.
• The explanation elaborates on your point and places your ideas & understanding in the context of the discussion. The better you can explain in light of the discussion, the more credible and impressive your discourse will be.
• Logical reasoning, objective analysis, and pertinent information must be the basis of all explanations.
• Good explanations go into the crucial details and present everything necessary to substantiate the point.

Seamless transitioning is important in any paragraph structuring and, resultantly, for an engaging narrative. You must integrate your explanations perfectly with the point or argument in the topic sentence.

Gel everything together into a single unit by:

• Using signposting and transition words & phrases
• Using the keywords in the topic sentence
• Precisely showcasing how the point or argument reinforces the primary argument, opinion, or observation;
• Using logic to highlight relationships and relevancy with the subject under discussion.

Here’s an example à 

“ Rising population and unsustainable consumption are the primary drivers of climate change and pollution. As populations rise, the demand for resources increases at an exponential rate. Every human needs food & water to survive, and today it also needs access to energy sources & other material needs. The correlation between the rising human population in the last few centuries and the rapid, unregulated & unsustainable increase in resource consumption has been highlighted in many studies, including a report by the UN. Resultantly, unsustainable consumption due to massive spikes in population has led to increasing greenhouse emissions, environmental damage & eco-system loss, and rapid depletion of vital resources.”

There are different ways and approaches for explaining something. Just make sure you use logical reasoning, are objective, precise & pertinent, and encapsulate & integrate everything nicely.

Once you are satisfied with your analysis/explanation, it is time to present the evidence necessary to back everything up.

Section 3: E for Evidence

Explanations and evidence refine & substantiate claims. Altogether, they contribute to the main idea of a write-up.

Different kinds of evidence can be added, some more suitable than others under specific circumstances. Statistics, facts, findings from expert studies, practical examples from real life, textual evidence or case studies — there can be a plethora of evidential information;  the trick is to use the most pertinent and credible one!

Adding the right kind of evidence is important to:

• To validate and substantiate your claim;
• Persuade readers to accept your claims and explanation;
• Countering any opposition;
• Increasing the quality and credibility of your perspective, reasoning, and discussion

There are three primary categories of evidence for backing up claims and points. They are:

The strongest form of evidence, facts, can instantly establish a point’s irrefutability instantly. Presenting facts can help you win over your audience. Facts can be quantitative and qualitative and can be presented as textual evidence from books, statistical evidence from formal research papers & case studies, and nominal or ordinal information from expert studies.

Accuracy, correctness, quality and credibility are vital to any factual evidence. Be sure of these aspects before utilising any evidence.

While facts may be powerful persuaders, they alone cannot carry an argument. You have to deliver some judgement on the facts presented and, thereby, integrate them with your explanations. An acute judgement, founded on solid reasoning and sound logic and in line with a clear & precise explanation, can reinforce any argument with conviction.

Testimonies from an expert or an eyewitness are as powerful as cold, hard facts. Both of these lend credibility and validate points being made. Testimonies from eyewitnesses & subjects who have been in the thick of it are irrefutable facts, while those from subject matter experts can be undeniable judgments or scientifically-backed opinions.

Follow the tips below to evaluate & select the most valid pieces of evidence à 

• Choose the most authoritative sources you can find.
• Use different evidential sources against each other. COMPARE & CONTRAST between different kinds of evidence.
• Think if there will be any ambiguity in interpretation.
• To what extent does the evidence support your point & explanation?
• Are there any potential gaps or limitations?
• Will you be able to validate the credibility of the source & defend the concreteness of the evidence?
• What are the most probable implications?

Finally, note down the metadata of every information source you use. You will have to use them for citations & references. Jot down key information such as:

• Author names
• Journal & article titles (where applicable)
• Year of publication
• Page numbers

Once you are done explaining and presenting evidence, it is time to draw things close by harking back to the topic sentence and linking everything to the primary argument & the subject under discussion.

Section 4: L for Link

Linking everything with the discussion and discourse is vital to ensure absolute relevancy.

• Linking shows that your answer is relevant to the research question.
• Links connect the paragraph’s argument, logic, and evidence with the wider subject of discussion.
• Links are also important for transitioning to the next point. Transition words and phrases enhance ideas’ logical flow and bring coherence to the discourse.
• By linking ideas and explanations, you are painting a complete picture of your discussion in front of the readers.

Again, use keywords from the essay question, the paragraph’s topic, and the primary argument to establish a link in a broader context. Here are some good transition words and phrases for maintaining coherence & a logical flow à 

• Consequently…
• Furthermore…
• Subsequently…
• This demonstrates…
• The argument strongly suggests…
• As a result,
• In addition…

Finally, once you have placed the paragraph in the context of your discussion, wrap it up with a stirring concluding statement.

Section 5: The Concluding Statement

Leaving an ever-lasting impression on readers is what every writer yearns for. Statements made with conviction, clear, logical, & in-depth explanations, undisputable evidence, and overall contextual cohesion are essential for doing so. But so are touching conclusions.

• A strong concluding statement will keep readers thinking and leave them with an impression.
• Summarising key aspects of the explanation and key evidence is a great way to reinforce the topic sentence.
• Like topic sentences, concluding sentences must also be firm and confident.
• Reinforce the key insights of the paragraph but do not add anything new.
• Synthesise don’t just summarise. Bring together the main point, key aspects of the explanation, and crucial evidence.
• Link back to the subject under discussion.
• Close with something provocative for a more profound impact.
• You can also merge the linking portion and concluding statement to boost contextual coherence.

And that’s how you implement the TEEL paragraphing technique.

In Conclusion

The TEEL structure is highly effective as it incorporates critical thinking into the writing structure. Use the TEEL structure to organise ideas, improve cohesivity, develop a seamless narrative, achieve a logical flow of ideas, and turn paragraphs into complete units of irrefutable arguments & insightful information.

TEEL paragraphing keeps the writing focused and is a derivative of critical writing. Through effective use of explanation, evidence, and links, TEEL paragraphs leave no place for any ambiguity, paradox, fallacies, or flaws. It makes for strong and convincing textual discourse on any subject in any domain.

Use the TEEL technique in your write-ups, and you can be sure of scoring great grades & garnering accolades for your writing & researching skills, knowledge, presentation, and way of thinking.

Hi, I am Mark, a Literature writer by profession. Fueled by a lifelong passion for Literature, story, and creative expression, I went on to get a PhD in creative writing. Over all these years, my passion has helped me manage a publication of my write ups in prominent websites and e-magazines. I have also been working part-time as a writing expert for myassignmenthelp.com for 5+ years now. It’s fun to guide students on academic write ups and bag those top grades like a pro. Apart from my professional life, I am a big-time foodie and travel enthusiast in my personal life. So, when I am not working, I am probably travelling places to try regional delicacies and sharing my experiences with people through my blog. 

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What is TEEL Paragraph Structure - Complete Guide For Students

Sourav Mahahjan

Essays are considered an essential part of the academic cycle of a student. Essays are also beneficial as they help describe large amounts of information when presented correctly. However, the lack of proper knowledge regarding the structure of an essay can result in causing various types of problems for the students. An introduction, main body, and conclusion are an essay's most commonly used structures. However, this standard structure changes as per the requirement of the topic and the writer. The information in this article will help you write a quality essay and help you get higher grades in your subject. One of the most widely used essay structures is the TEEL essay, which different writers use to improve the quality of their essays and grab the readers' attention.

What is a TEEL easy structure? 

The use of the TEEL structure in the essay helps in making the essay highly organised and formatted for a better understanding of the readers. The presence of an organised structure helps improve and attract the readers' attention as it provides a better experience of the information provided in the essay. Providing a straightforward experience to the readers about the theme of the essay is very necessary as it helps create a long-lasting impression in the readers' minds. Writers have widely used the benefits of the TEEL structure. However, identifying the TEEL structure for ordinary readers is easier if they have interacted with it personally. 

Different elements of TEEL structure are:

T means Topic:  The first sentence of a TEEL paragraph is the topic sentence in any body paragraph of the essay. The sentence helps the readers understand the purpose of the essay and the arguments that will be made in the essay. As the audience reads the topic sentence, they are familiar with the paragraph's theme and the information provided in the section. The sentence is very useful in linking the writer's argument with the essay's topic. 

E means Explanation:  E in the TEEL paragraph explains the essay's main topic. The explanation part generally continues for 2 to 3 sentences and helps expand the topic sentence used in the paragraph. The explanation part provides a piece of detailed information regarding the theme of the essay and helps in improving the overall understanding of the reader. The writer emphasises the arguments and explanations made regarding the topic in this section. The writer can also use different types of facts and evidence to support the statements made on the topic, which was impossible in the topic sentence. It is crucial to make the audience understand what the writer wants to explain in the paragraph; to provide a high-quality understanding of this section, it is better to ensure that the readers have yet to learn about the topic that will be discussed. This will help the writer provide more in-depth knowledge regarding the topic and why the discussion is essential for the overall essay. 

E stands for Evidence:  After providing details about the reasons for the arguments made in the essay, the next important step in the TEEL paragraph is giving evidence regarding the ideas created by the writer. It is essential to provide verified proof regarding the statements made by the writer, which is generally gathered with the help of research conducted by the writer on the topic of the essay. To provide evidence for the statements made, the writer can quote the source of the information or provide proof from some other course. The use of evidence is beneficial in the essay as it helps increase the authenticity of the arguments made by the writer in the essay and helps grab the readers' attention for an extended period. Providing evidence is also helpful as it helps increase the writer's credibility. 

L stands for Link:   This is the last part of the TEEL essays, and as the name suggests, it helps in liking the different parts of the essay. The writer generally uses linking sentences to connect the other parts of an essay. The sentence helps in summarising the entire information provided in the essay and linking it back to the topic sentence of the essay. The liking sentence is very similar to the topic sentence provide at the beginning of the paragraph and connects every piece of information provided in the essay. The essay's linking sentence should also give a mini conclusion to the different elements of the evidence supplied in the essay. 

TEEL paragraph outline structure:

The teel paragraph outline generally consists of the following elements..

• The paragraph should begin with an attractive topic sentence, which can help in explaining the main argument related to the topic. 
• Provide a structured explanation of the topic sentence by providing a clear description in a more elaborate form. 
• Using authenticated and verified shreds of evidence for the arguments made in the essay will help increase the validity of the paragraph. This is also important as it helps increase the writer's credibility.
• Proving the various pros and cons of the evidence selected by the writer in the essay,  
• Concluding the entire paragraph by linking all the different parts of the essay together. 

Benefits of adding TEEL structure in the essay

The use of TEEL structure provides the following benefits to the writer.

• Improves validity:  TEEL structure is considered helpful in increasing the validity of the information provided in the essay. 
• Improves inventiveness: As the TEEL structure helps provide a substance, it helps improve the writer's imaginative power and the reader's aptitude. 
• Focuses on the Core interest:  The TEEL structure enables the writer to focus on a single topic by linking the different information provided in the essay with the main argument.  
• Validates the cases: TEEL structure helps prove evidence regarding the arguments and statements made in the essay. It is considered an efficient way to validate the topic selected by the writer. 
• Improves easy writing skills: TEEL structure is also vital as it helps improve the writer's essay writing skills by providing them with a well-defined structure.  The use of TEEL structure helps in creating a highly informative essay on different types of topics.

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What Is Teel Structure And How To Best Utilise It?

Some of you may be hearing about this term for the first time, whereas some who have had some experience with essay writing might know what TEEL structure is. Nevertheless, this article is catered to both the populations.

This article will help you understand in-depth as to what TEEL structure is and how you can use it to effectively increase the quality of your essay or any other type of academic writing .

TEEL Structure

TEEL is an acronym which stands for Topic Sentence, Explanation, Evidence and Link. It is a writing technique which is used while writing a paragraph in an essay. TEEL gives a structure to the paragraph which can help in forming the essay and thus improving its quality.

T- Topic Sentence E- Explanation E- Evidence L- Link

Each letter in the term TEEL signifies the nature of the sentences which should be present in a paragraph. The flow of thought in a paragraph should be as though it first introduces the topic in which the paragraph is written, then follows the explanation as to what it is, why you have chosen it, what is its importance, then you are to provide evidence to the arguments which have put up explaining all the important terms. Lastly, the final statements of the paragraph should perform as a link to all the previous sentences and information in the statement and give a definite outcome.

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TEEL Structure is not a set of rules which you have to follow while writing an essay, instead it a technique which should be used along with the existing rules to give the essay value and provide a better paragraph structure. The common rules which should be followed along with the TEEL structure while writing a paragraph are:

• A paragraph should follow only one topic at a time.
• An essay may contain 3 to 5 paragraphs
• A single paragraph should have at least four to six sentences.
• The usual size of a paragraph should be around half paged.
• The flow of sentences in every paragraph should follow the TEEL structure.

Therefore it is advised to get into the TEEL structure after doing all the preliminary research or after making the first draft. TEEL structure should follow up with a strict proofreading regime for checking relevancy and format.

Let us have an in-depth look at what each term in the TEEL acronym involves.

Topic Sentence The first sentence of the paragraph tells the readers what the coming paragraph will be all about. Therefore it is necessary to write a topic sentence which carefully gives the reader a peek and sufficient information about the topic. It should be intriguing enough to maintain the readers’ interest; therefore an argument best follows a topic sentence. By the time the reader finishes reading the topic sentence and moves forward to the following part of the paragraph, they should have some questions in their mind which would be answered in the rest of the paragraph.

Explanation The next sentences will give the reader a detailed overview of the topic sentence and what you have discussed previously. In this section of a paragraph, the reader should get a complete understanding of the topic. It is in this section that you should put forth your claims and arguments. Since you can only explain so much in a few sentences of a paragraph, your sentences must be short and to the point. So that the reader doesn’t get confused and the paragraph has the most effect.

Evidence No argument can stand if it is not sustained with compelling evidence to support its claim. Therefore this is the part of the paragraph wherein you will provide sufficient evidence which relates to the arguments and statements put forth by you in the previous sentences. This evidence may be in the form of a quote, factual data, or reference from a quality source. The evidence provided by you can make a big difference in the effect of the paragraph on the reader. It can help the reader have the most retention of the information, thus solidifying the influence of the paragraph.

Link This is the most important part of the paragraph as it brings together the whole paragraphs and links it back to the overall topic of the whole essay. This section gives a concise summary of the topic sentence, explanation and the evidence provided by you in a short yet subtle manner. This section holds such importance because, apart from giving the conclusion of the paragraph, it also establishes the importance of the topic discussed in the subject matter of the whole essay.

Here is an example which will better explain the use of TEEL: For social structure, conformity isn’t decent as it hinders uniqueness. People are required to comply with a large number of regulations. In every moment of their livelihood, people are regulated. Conformity standards of society, backed by monitoring and penalties, indicate that just by thinking and acting differently, people are guilty of demonstrating individuality. One of the rules, for instance, was that kids should get their bicycles after 10 years of age and until then they are not allowed to ride them. As a consequence, because of these conformity criteria, society is constantly being monitored to ensure that people abide by the rules. In another instance, Ross refuses to abide by the rules and brings home an orange, due to which Ross is vexed by a justification that, elements ought not to be taken away from its place of birth and that fruits should be consumed, not hoarded. Ross finds the declaration demeaning. Therefore, people must abide by traditions else they should be liable for punishments. This does not enable people to grow toward being unique personalities. Legend: Topic sentence; Explanation; Evidence; Link

“Katy stays impartial to the war ‘between the boys’ at school, which ultimately reflects an inability of her bravery and compassion. Despite being courteous to Joey, by introducing him to her friends in class, Katy has not once shown any behaviour of friendship and kindness to Joey. Katy does greet Joey by waving at him in the halls, but she never indulges in a conversation with him or sits next to him. It is seen as on the first class of the previous day, Katy nodded at Joey and proceeded to take a seat at the front. And earlier when Katy was asking about the war between the boys, Ross and Chandler, she seemed worried and was checking to see if anyone was here. Joey felt that she was trying to avoid him. Katy could have helped Joey if she intended to. If she had expressed some form of bravery and compassions towards Joey, he would have felt a lot comfortable. This shows that, despite doing the formality of waving and nodding, Katy had no intention of being associated with Joey. This also shows that she lacked compassion towards him. Legend: Topic Sentence; Explanation; Evidence; Link

Tips to write a TEEL Paragraph

Here are some common tips which will help you in writing your best TEEL paragraph:

Brainstorm: As told before, TEEL structure is not a set of guidelines, instead, it is a writing technique which gives structure to the paragraph. Therefore, is important that you jot down all the required information about the topic beforehand. Identify the main deliverables of the paragraph, such as:

• What the topic of this particular paragraph should be?
• What arguments you are going to make?
• How you will explain to them?
• What kind of evidence is most relevant to the topic at hand?
• How is this topic important to the subject of the essay?

Formal Language: Since TEEL structure is mostly used in formal and academic essay writing, it is important to use a formal language while writing and framing the sentences in your essay. A formal language emphasizes the content of the essay; it makes the writing more credible and has a better effect on the reader. Keep in mind the following points while writing an essay informal language:

• Do not use slang or colloquial words.
• Do not use contractions of words. Forex: you’ll, won’t, can’t.
• Avoid using exaggeration or hyperbole.

Third Person Perspective: As the essay follows a formal language, you must always phrase your paragraph in the third person. As using first and second person perspective makes the writing more casual, hence reducing its credibility and impact. Using the third person brings the emphasis of the reader to the context and factual data present instead of seeing as a personal opinion. Use correct pronouns while referring to someone.

Formatting: Always check the formatting and the punctuations in your essay before submitting. It is important to see if the format of the essay follows the assigned guidelines set by the tutor or examiner. The references should be properly cited, to avoid issues with plagiarism. Use proper quotation marks.

Proofread: After writing the final draft, proofread the essay to make sure that follows the guidelines and that the content has the utmost relevance. While proofreading you should give specific attention to each paragraph in the essay and check its flow of thought and whether it is in correlation to the TEEL structure. Check for typos and grammatical errors.

Advantages of using TEEL structure

Using TEEL structured paragraphs in an essay can bring a mediocre essay to award-winning standards. Here are the benefits of using TEEL structure for writing paragraphs:

• Enhances Credibility: Using TEEL structure effectively increase the way readers perceive the contents of the paragraphs and makes it much more impactful.
• Increases Creativity: Writing a TEEL structure while enhancing quality, increases the creative skill of the writer and allows them to be a superior writer.
• Keeping Focus: The use of TEEL structure allows the author to stay focused on the particular topic and not wander off to related subjects. This keeps the sentences to the point and delivers information in a better way.
• Provides Evidence: The most important feature of the TEEL structure is that it enables the writer to give evidence to the statements and arguments put up by them. Evidence increases the analytical aspect of the paragraph and the whole essay.
• Sets a path: It provides the writer with a way to write the essay. It tells them what to write when do to write, and how to it should be written to give the paragraph utmost value.

Things to remember and FAQs

• Topic Sentence: It should be a brief introduction to the coming paragraph.
• Explanation: Expand the topic and explain the particulars of the topic in detail, without including unnecessary information.
• Evidence: Give evidence to each of the claims and arguments. Give proper citations where required.
• Link: Give a short and concise summary of the paragraph and relate to the main topic of the essay solidifying its importance.
• Proofread: Proofread the whole article in detail and give attention to small and big issues alike, such as relevance, formatting, punctuation, language and typos.

Q. Can an essay have multiple TEEL paragraphs?

A. Yes, you may include as much TEEL paragraphs in your essay as you want, but keep in mind that each paragraph should talk about different topics and a single paragraph cannot have more than one topic.

Q. Is topic sentence the same as the introduction in an essay?

A. The topic sentence and the introduction may seem similar but the way these two are formed is quite different. Topic sentence sets the tone for the particular paragraph in one or two sentences, whereas the introduction gives more detail in the introduction the subject to the reader.

Q. Is TEEL structure only used in essays?

A. No, TEEL structure is a technique which can be utilised to write a paragraph in any type of article. It can even be used in a poem, provided is follows the additional parameters.

Hope this article helped you in identifying the important aspect of essay writing that is TEEL structure and cleared some of the doubts that arose through the process.

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What Is TEEL Paragraph Structure? Definition, Example, Template And Guide

TEEL is an acronym for “Topic Sentence, Explanation, Evidence and Link.” It is a type of writing technique that is used to write a paragraph in an essay. It gives a structure to the paragraph which can help to form the essay and improve its quality.

How To Utilize TEEL?

Teel is expanded as below:.

T- Topic Sentence

E- Explanation

E- Evidence

Each of the letters in the acronym “TEEL” signifies nature of sentences which are present in the paragraph. The thought flow in the essay paragraph should be as the main as first introduced in the topic where the paragraphs are to be written.

Then the explanation follows like “why you choose it” “its importance”, etc. After that you need to provide the evidence to all the arguments which have been put up to explain the important terms.

Finally, the final statement of the paragraph should be used as a link to the previous sentences as well the information in those statements to give a specific outcome.

What Are The Tips To Structure TEEL Properly?

TEEL structure is actually a technique you need to use with certain rules for giving your essay a value an also provide a good paragraph structure. The best tips to structure TEEL are as follows:

• Each paragraph needs to follow only 1 topic at time
• The essay might contain 3-5 paragraphs
• Each paragraph should be at least 4 to 6 sentences in length.
• Usually, the size of each paragraph should be half page
• Flow of the sentences in each of the paragraphs need to follow the TEEL structure

Thus, you need to structure TEEL after doing a preliminary research or after creating the first draft. Your TEEL structure needs to follow up with a good proofreading regime in order to check the format and relevancy.

What The TEEL Acronym Involves?

• Topic sentence: The 1 st sentence of your paragraph tells your readers what the upcoming paragraph will be about. Thus, it is always necessary to write the topic with sentence that carefully gives the reader all the sufficient information regarding the topic. It needs to be intriguing enough for maintaining the interest of the readers. So, it is best for the argument you follow the topic sentence. After the readers finishes reading the topic sentence and moves forward to read the remaining part they should have certain questions in their minds that are to be answered in the following paragraphs.
• Explanation: The next sentences should give the reader a very detailed overview of the topic sentence as well what you have previously discussed. In this section of your paragraph the reader needs to get a full understanding of the given topic. In this section, you need to put forth all your arguments and claims. As you can only explain so much in every sentence of your paragraph, with short as well to the point sentences. This is to be done to keep the readers engaged throughout your essay.
• Evidence: Your argument should always be sustained with the evidences for supporting your claim. Thus, it is the part of your paragraph where you can provide sufficient evidence relating to the statements and arguments as put forth by the previous sentences. These evidences can be in the form of in the form of a factual data, quote or the reference from any quality source. The evidence provided by the writer can make a very big difference in the paragraph effect on the readers. This can help the readers having the most retention of the information and this solidifies the influence of the paragraph.
• Link: This is the most important part in your paragraph structure since it brings together the enter paragraph and likes them back to the overall topic of your essay. This section of your paragraph gives a very concise summary of the topic sentence, evidence and explanation already provided by you. The section holds a lot of importance since apart from giving the paragraph conclusion, it also establishes the importance of the given essay topic.

What Are The Examples Of TEEL?

People are needed to comply with a number of regulations in all the moments of their livelihood. Congo minty standards of your society backed by penalties and monitoring indicate that only by thinking and acting differently people become guilty of demonstrating the individuality.

For example, kids need to get their bicycle only after 10 years of age. As a result of this conformity criteria the society is monitors to ensure the rules people should abide by. This type of topic you can use with quotes while writing your TEEL paragraph essay.

How Can You Write Your TEEL Paragraph Effectively?

Brainstorming: As mentioned before TEEL is actually a writing technique which gives structure to your essay paragraph. Thus, it is always very important that you note down all the needed information regarding the topic before head.

Then, you need to identify the major deliver able of your paragraph like:

• Topic of the paragraph
• The arguments you are going to present
• The way you will explain your arguments
• Find the kind of evidences tat is the most relevant to your topic
• How the topic is important to your essay subject matter?

Essay writing is a very common and important type of academic assignment given by the colleges and universities. Thus, you need to follow the TEEL for getting good grades. In this regard you need to seek the help of a reputed online essay writing service provider.

I hope you will like this informative blog. It will be helpful for your all academic Writing. If you use this TEEL Paragraph Structure to create your Assignment, then you will get A+ grade in your Assignments.

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The body of an essay is made up of connected paragraphs presenting your argument.

Follow the TEEL strategy when writing paragraphs.

Make sure each paragraph contains one main idea, which you express in a topic sentence. This is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. The topic sentences develop the argument (thesis) of the essay.

Expand on the topic sentence in the rest of the paragraph. Add sentences that:

• explain or elaborate on the topic sentence
• provide evidence (with references) or examples to support the topic sentence.

In the final sentence, link back to the main idea in the topic sentence. You may link to the following paragraph if it is a closely related idea This creates cohesion and logical development.

The hamburger metaphor represents how to write a paragraph using TEEL.

By reading the topic sentences only, you should be able to see the development of the argument.

Select the buttons to explore the TEEL structure within the paragraph. Notice how references have been used throughout the paragraph to support the claims.

One factor that impacts positively on team effectiveness is the notion of team cohesiveness. Team cohesiveness is the key to enabling a diverse group of individuals to work towards common goals. Mathieu et al. (2014) note that the right mix of people sets the stage for a team to be effective, resulting in improved performance quality and innovation. BJB Minerals’ project teams were established on an opt-in basis based on the idealistic model, where members were encouraged by the clear goals and knowledge of the skill sets needed (Berlin et al. 2012). The project assigned to the team was also well resourced, with clear timelines and an end date (BJB Minerals 2014). This idealistic team model validated the diverse skills that individuals brought to the team, celebrating both personal satisfaction as well as the team’s project achievements.

Read the following text and try to identify the TEEL structure within

One factor that impacts positively on team effectiveness is the notion of team cohesiveness. Team cohesiveness is the key to enabling a diverse group of individuals to work towards common goals. Mathieu et al. (2014) note that the right mix of people sets the stage for a team to be effective, resulting in improved performance quality and innovation. BJB Minerals’ project teams were established on an opt-in basis based on the idealistic model, where members were encouraged by the clear goals and knowledge of the skill sets needed (Berlin, Carlstrom & Sandberg 2012). The project assigned to the team was also well resourced, with clear timelines and an end date (BJB Minerals 2014). This idealistic team model validated the skills that individuals brought to the team, celebrating both personal satisfaction as well as the team’s project achievements.

Topic sentence: One factor that impacts positively on team effectiveness is the notion of team cohesiveness.

Explanation: Team cohesiveness is the key to enabling a diverse group of individuals to work towards common goals.

Evidence: Mathieu et al (2014) note that the right mix of people sets the stage for a team to be effective, with performance quality and innovation as a result.

Example: BJB Minerals’ project teams were established on an opt-in basis based on the idealistic model, where members were encouraged by the clear goals and knowledge of the skill sets needed (Berlin, Carlstrom & Sandberg 2012). The project assigned to the team was also well resourced, with clear timelines and an end date (BJB Minerals 2014).

Link: This idealistic team model validated the diverse skills that individuals brought to the team, celebrating both personal satisfaction as well as the team’s project achievements.

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Create Great T.e.e.l Essay Writing Structure for Your Essay

Table of Contents

You want to use the T.E.E.L essay writing structure to write main body paragraphs effectively. The TEEL Structure is a well-known and influential format for paragraphs. 

Most students need help understanding the TEEL structure, hence the need for this article. This article will provide you with the most comprehensive and helpful advice regarding the TEEL structure.

What Is TEEL Essay Writing?

Topic sentence, explanation, evidence, and link together form TEEL abbreviation. It’s a method of organizing the main body of an essay, otherwise known as paragraphs.

The organizational principles of TEEL provide a framework for paragraphs that aid in shaping the essay and raising its overall quality.

TEEL writing stipulates that paragraphs should have a logical progression of ideas. They usually start with an introduction to the issue at hand and end with supporting evidence for the claims made in the paragraph. 

It also emphasizes that the paragraph’s concluding remarks should serve as a bridge between the preceding phrases and provide a clear resolution to issues.

T.E.E.L Essay Writing Structure: Definition & Details of Components

Paragraph writing in school often requires students to use TEEL, which is why it’s essential to learn this method. In this article, we define each component of the TEEL Structure in detail:

1. Topic Sentence

A topic sentence is the first sentence of the assignment’s main body. It prepares the reader for the information that follows. The topic sentence of each paragraph should include a reference to one or more of the paragraph’s supporting details.

2. Explanation

“Explanation” means a more detailed explanation of the primary sentence using solid and verifiable claims, contentions, and supporting details. You should provide supporting thoughts, data, and other views for a more in-depth explanation. 

3. Evidence

In addition to the above, your claims and assertions should be backed up with verifiable evidence. Paragraphs tend to work better when the writer uses supporting evidence to support their claims.

As with the other significant components of the TEEL Structure, the link plays a crucial role. The link ties together the paragraph’s main ideas and relates them to the overarching theme of the assignment.

For example, you can add a second link back to the beginning of the paragraph.

The link sums up the main points you made in the body of your paper. It includes your explanation and the supporting evidence briefly and understandably. 

This section also firmly establishes the topic’s significance throughout the essay’s overarching theme or central idea.

How to Create a Strong Essay Using the TEEL Format

If you’re looking for a way to improve your writing skills, the TEEL Structure is one option. The best TEEL structure may be written by following these guidelines.

1. Mastering the TEEL Framework

You need to use the TEEL structure to produce excellent literature. 

That means you must get all your TEEL questions and concerns sorted out first. Understanding the TEEL Structure’s purpose and significance is crucial to compose one effectively.

Consider these important details:

• Is the topic fundamental?
• What should each paragraph focus on?
• Which argument from this paragraph do you wish to recall?
• In what ways would you like to clarify such claims for the audience?
• Is the evidence you’re using to back up your claims strong enough, and can it be relied upon?

2. Formal Language

Remember to avoid slang and other informal expressions when writing your work in a formal style. Without a shadow of a doubt, the TEEL format is most frequently used for official and academic writing projects. 

As a result, you must write and outline the TEEL structure in your work using only formal language. The more formal the language, the more impressive and convincing the writing. 

3. Never Exaggerate or Make False Claims

Write from a third-person objective perspective and use formal language if you want your assignment to have a strong TEEL structure paragraph. 

You should compose your TEEL Structure from the perspective of an impartial observer. Paragraphs written in the first or second person unintentionally undermine the reader’s trust in the reality of what they’ve read.

4. Format Checks

Check the format once more before submitting your TEEL Structure if you’ve finished it before the deadline. If you’ve been tasked with producing an academic paper, the quality of your presentation will determine how well you do on the assignment. 

Therefore, it is essential to check whether or not the task is organized following the regulations.

Double-check that you have used only credible sources in your essay. In addition, make sure always properly to cite your sources to avoid accusations of plagiarism.

5. Proofread Your Work

After completing your entire TEEL Structure, it is acceptable to spend some time checking for typos and making necessary changes to the paragraph. 

Every grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistake in your writing will readily appear as you proofread. If you find an error or a misunderstanding, fix it immediately.

If you modify and revise your paragraph, you can write an engaging, informative, exceptional, and error-free assignment.

T.E.E.L essay writing structures help you organize your thoughts and present your issue professionally. Keep these tips and tricks in mind when writing your next T.E.E.L essay.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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What is a TEEL Structure and How to Involve it in an Essay?

Table of Contents

Assignments play a major role in the academic life of students. Most importantly, each and every student will have to submit numerous types of assignments depending on their level of study. Specifically, when dealing with essay assignments, students will be often asked to compose the content in a unique structure. There are different essay paragraph writing structures available and one popular among them is the TEEL Structure. Here, in this blog post, especially, for the better understanding of our readers, we have explained in detail the definition of TEEL structure along with its benefits. Also, we have presented the steps for writing an Essay using the TEEL structure. Continue reading to learn about the TEEL paragraph writing technique.

What is a TEEL Structure?

There are four components to the TEEL: E-Explanation, E-Evidence, and T-Topic Sentence L-Link. In fact, when writing a paragraph for an assignment, TEEL is one of the fundamental writing strategies used. The TEEL provides a generally excellent structure for the paragraph, which can assist with assignment formatting or quality enhancement. In this section, we provide nuanced explanations for each TEEL Structure term.

Topic Sentence

The absolute first paragraph of the body of the assignment is known as a topic sentence. As it tells the reader what the paragraph is about. All the basic points of the topic of conversation are referenced in the topic sentence of the paragraph.

Explanation

In straightforward words, the term explanation intends to explain the topic sentence in detail with the help of significant and solid verifiable statements, contentions, and supporting subtleties.

To explain the topic in detail, you should give different statements, supporting thoughts, inside and out data, and contentions. Alongside this, you ought to need to give some evidence to help your statements or contentions. If you demonstrate your statements with solid and pertinent evidence, at that point the paragraph turns out to be more successful.

A link is likewise one of the most significant parts of the TEEL Structure. The link unites all the key points of the paragraph and links it back to the general assignment topic of the whole assignment.

Advantages of Using TEEL Structure in an Essay

If you effectively write an assignment with a TEEL Structure, at that point you can without much of a stretch make an honor-winning principles assignment. Here are a few favorable circumstances for utilizing the TEEL structure technique for writing a paragraph -:

Expands Creativity

The TEEL structure of writing is exceptionally helpful for each writer. This technique is valuable for you in expanding your innovative skills, improving the nature of writing, and making you a prevalent writer.

Gives Evidence

Another of the most significant highlights of TEEL structure is that it permits students to give legitimate evidence to help the contentions and statements that they use in writing. The evidence is useful in writing, as evidence makes writing more powerful and amazing.

Improves Credibility

If a student writes paragraphs in writing by utilizing the TEEL technique, at that point, the writing turns out to be more amazing and viable. As the TEEL structure can make a paragraph more appealing, effective, and solid. In basic words, it can without much of a stretch improve the validity of writing.

Increases Focus

The TEEL structure is crucial for students in academic writing. With this technique, you can effectively convey data in a vastly improved manner. This technique holds the sentences to the point-to-point. Subsequently, it permits students to write by being centered around a particular topic.

Sets a plan-

One of the most significant jobs of TEEL structure in writing is that it sets an approach to writing an incredible assignment.

Know How to Compose an Essay using TEEL Structure

The TEEL Structure is one of the writing techniques that can help you to make a fruitful and astounding assignment. Pretty much every student may think about the TEEL technique of assignment paragraph writing, but still, most students pose a similar inquiry about how to write a TEEL Structure. Here are the highest that will help you in writing the best TEEL Structure-:

Learn the TEEL Structure

If you need to write a magnificent TEEL Structure for making great or great writing. At that point, as a matter of first importance, you ought to need to get a bit of information about the TEEL structure. It implies you need to clear the entirety of your disarray about TEEL first. If you comprehend or get the target or significance of the TEEL Structure, at exactly that point you can without much of a stretch write a TEEL Structure.

Conceptualize

As we already talked about the TEEL structure isn’t the principles or rules for writing a paragraph. It is extraordinary compared to other writing techniques that give an ideal structure to the paragraphs. Thus for making a perfect TEEL Structure, you are required to gather all the significant and solid data about the topic first.

You ought to need to identify first these key points-

• What ought to be the topic of this particular paragraph?
• What contention would you like to remember for the paragraph?
• How might you explain those contentions to the readers?
• Do you have adequate significant and dependable evidence to help your contentions?
• How is the topic basic to the subject of the assignment?

Thus, you need to ensure that you have the best possible and clear answers to all these key points. Conceptualizing the topic is the most significant or required advance for each writing.

Formal Language

There is no uncertainty in that the TEEL structure has generally been utilized for academic and formal assignment writing assignments. Along these lines, it’s gotten significant for a student to utilize just formal language to write an outline of the TEEL Structure in your assignment.

Most instructors in every case a lot of like an assignment with formal language as the formal language rapidly underscores the first substance or text of the assignment. If you write with formal language, at that point it turns out to be more noteworthy and compelling. Such assignments better affect the crowd.

Read more: Essential Language Features with Examples

While writing an assignment with formal language, you should remember

• Try not to utilize any sort of compressions of words.
• Abstain from utilizing overstatements, or misrepresentations.
• Try not to attempt to utilize slang words in the paragraphs.

Third-Person Perspective

If you need to write an effective assignment with an ideal TEEL structure paragraph, at that point you ought to follow formal language in your writing. Alongside this, you should write your TEEL Structure as an outsider looking in context. Since the assignment or paragraph is written from the first and second individual points of view makes the writing more easygoing, it can diminish the effect of the believability of the assignment.

Consequently, if you utilize a third-individual viewpoint to write your assignment paragraphs, at that point it underlines the reader and makes your assignment a lot of noteworthy or appealing to the reader.

If you complete your TEEL Structure before the cutoff times, at that point before submitting it, you ought to need to check the organization once. In such a case that it’s an academic assignment writing assignment, at that point your academic grades rely upon your presentation in that assignment writing. Along these lines, it is essential to watch whether the arrangement of the assignment is as indicated by the rules or not. That instructor gives you at the time of giving an assignment.

You likewise need to ensure that you give the best possible and solid references in your writing. Alongside, consistently give suitable citations with the goal that you can evade unoriginality issues.

Proofread and Editing

After writing your total TEEL Structure, it will be acceptable if you give some time to proofreading and editing your paragraph. While proofreading your writing, you can without much of a stretch discover each Grammarly, spelling, or punctuation botch in your writing. Regardless of whether you discover any sort of blunder or mix-up, at that point, you can address it rapidly. Thus if you set aside some effort for proofreading and amending your paragraph, at that point you can without much of a stretch make an alluring, educational, great, and mistake-free assignment writing.

 TEEL Structure Essay Writing Tips

When writing a TEEL structure assignment, keep in mind the following:

• The assignment should include all of the elements that make up a TEEL assignment: topic, explanation, evidence, and link.
• The contention should be identified in the topic sentence.
• One statement ought to be presented as evidence.
• The assignment should incorporate an investigation or interpretation of the evidence.
• There shouldn’t be any misspellings in the assignment.
• The assignment should be written in a formal manner and not conversational.
• Compose the assignment in a third individual rather than the first or second individual.
• The title ought to have been included.
• Utilize appropriate quotations.
• Avoiding the use of shortenings and withdrawals should be a strategic priority.

We have finally reached the end of the discussion. Hopefully, by now, you will have gained a better understanding of what a TEEL structure means and how to use it in an essay. In case, you have any queries regarding the TEEL paragraph writing technique or if you are unsure how to write a TEEL structure essay effectively, then contact us immediately.

1. How do you write a Teel paragraph?

To write a Teel paragraph, you have to begin with a topic sentence. After that, you have to put some examples and evidence in support of your topic sentence. Next, you have to give a brief explanation to show why you find the evidence and examples valid for your topic sentence. Finally, you have to link it with the next paragraph.

2. How do you start a Teel sentence?

To start a Teel sentence, you have to keep aside everything generic that comes randomly into your mind. Here, you have to revolve around the topic. To begin a Teel sentence, you have to think about the heading or subheading of the paragraph you have made. You have to write something related to this topic to make your paragraph relevant. This technique will secure a better score for your paper too.

3. What is a Teel structure?

Topic sentences, Explanations, Evidence, and Links form the TEEL structure by taking the initials of all these words. TEEL is the best way to construct any paragraph in any piece of writing. Students often struggle that their paragraphs, as well as the paper, fail to secure a good score. TEEL structure will be their go-to solution for a better grade.

4. How do you write a linking sentence?

To write a linking sentence, the writer first needs to consider the factors they are going to link. It can be two paragraphs or two sentences. In the next step, the writer needs to figure out the relation between these two factors. Lastly, they need to logically explain the relation in a convincing way using linking words and phrases.

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• Academic Paragraph Structure | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Academic Paragraph Structure | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Published on October 25, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on March 27, 2023.

Every piece of academic writing is structured by paragraphs and headings . The number, length and order of your paragraphs will depend on what you’re writing—but each paragraph must be:

• Unified : all the sentences relate to one central point or idea.
• Coherent : the sentences are logically organized and clearly connected.
• Relevant : the paragraph supports the overall theme and purpose of the paper.

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Step 1: identify the paragraph’s purpose, step 2: show why the paragraph is relevant, step 3: give evidence, step 4: explain or interpret the evidence, step 5: conclude the paragraph, step 6: read through the whole paragraph, when to start a new paragraph.

First, you need to know the central idea that will organize this paragraph. If you have already made a plan or outline of your paper’s overall structure , you should already have a good idea of what each paragraph will aim to do.

You can start by drafting a sentence that sums up your main point and introduces the paragraph’s focus. This is often called a topic sentence . It should be specific enough to cover in a single paragraph, but general enough that you can develop it over several more sentences.

Although the Braille system gained immediate popularity with the blind students at the Institute in Paris, it had to gain acceptance among the sighted before its adoption throughout France.

This topic sentence:

• Transitions from the previous paragraph (which discussed the invention of Braille).
• Clearly identifies this paragraph’s focus (the acceptance of Braille by sighted people).
• Relates to the paper’s overall thesis.
• Leaves space for evidence and analysis.

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The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about—but why does this point matter for your overall argument? If this isn’t already clear from your first sentence, you can explain and expand on its meaning.

This support was necessary because sighted teachers and leaders had ultimate control over the propagation of Braille resources.

• This sentence expands on the topic and shows how it fits into the broader argument about the social acceptance of Braille.

Now you can support your point with evidence and examples. “Evidence” here doesn’t just mean empirical facts—the form it takes will depend on your discipline, topic and approach. Common types of evidence used in academic writing include:

• Quotations from literary texts , interviews , and other primary sources .
• Summaries , paraphrases , or quotations of secondary sources that provide information or interpretation in support of your point.
• Qualitative or quantitative data that you have gathered or found in existing research.
• Descriptive examples of artistic or musical works, events, or first-hand experiences.

Make sure to properly cite your sources .

Many of the teachers at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth resisted Braille’s system because they found the tactile method of reading difficult to learn (Bullock & Galst, 2009).

• This sentence cites specific evidence from a secondary source , demonstrating sighted people’s reluctance to accept Braille.

Now you have to show the reader how this evidence adds to your point. How you do so will depend on what type of evidence you have used.

• If you quoted a passage, give your interpretation of the quotation.
• If you cited a statistic, tell the reader what it implies for your argument.
• If you referred to information from a secondary source, show how it develops the idea of the paragraph.

This resistance was symptomatic of the prevalent attitude that the blind population had to adapt to the sighted world rather than develop their own tools and methods.

• This sentence adds detail and interpretation to the evidence, arguing that this specific fact reveals something more general about social attitudes at the time.

Steps 3 and 4 can be repeated several times until your point is fully developed. Use transition words and phrases to show the connections between different sentences in the paragraph.

Over time, however, with the increasing impetus to make social contribution possible for all, teachers began to appreciate the usefulness of Braille’s system (Bullock & Galst, 2009). Access to reading could help improve the productivity and integration of people with vision loss.

• The evidence tells us about the changing attitude to Braille among the sighted.
• The interpretation argues for why this change occurred as part of broader social shifts.

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Finally, wrap up the paragraph by returning to your main point and showing the overall consequences of the evidence you have explored.

This particular paragraph takes the form of a historical story—giving evidence and analysis of each step towards Braille’s widespread acceptance.

It took approximately 30 years, but the French government eventually approved the Braille system, and it was established throughout the country (Bullock & Galst, 2009).

•  The final sentence ends the story with the consequences of these events.

When you think you’ve fully developed your point, read through the final result to make sure each sentence follows smoothly and logically from the last and adds up to a coherent whole.

Although the Braille system gained immediate popularity with the blind students at the Institute in Paris, it had to gain acceptance among the sighted before its adoption throughout France. This support was necessary because sighted teachers and leaders had ultimate control over the propagation of Braille resources. Many of the teachers at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth resisted learning Braille’s system because they found the tactile method of reading difficult to learn (Bullock & Galst, 2009). This resistance was symptomatic of the prevalent attitude that the blind population had to adapt to the sighted world rather than develop their own tools and methods. Over time, however, with the increasing impetus to make social contribution possible for all, teachers began to appreciate the usefulness of Braille’s system (Bullock & Galst, 2009). Access to reading could help improve the productivity and integration of people with vision loss. It took approximately 30 years, but the French government eventually approved the Braille system, and it was established throughout the country (Bullock & Galst, 2009).

Not all paragraphs will look exactly like this. Depending on what your paper aims to do, you might:

• Bring together examples that seem very different from each other, but have one key point in common.
• Include just one key piece of evidence (such as a quotation or statistic) and analyze it in depth over several sentences.
• Break down a concept or category into various parts to help the reader understand it.

The introduction and conclusion paragraphs will also look different. The only universal rule is that your paragraphs must be unified , coherent and relevant . If you struggle with structuring your paragraphs, you could consider using a paper editing service for personal, in-depth feedback.

As soon as you address a new idea, argument or issue, you should start a new paragraph. To determine if your paragraph is complete, ask yourself:

• Do all your sentences relate to the topic sentence?
• Does each sentence make logical sense in relation to the one before it?
• Have you included enough evidence or examples to demonstrate your point?
• Is it clear what each piece of evidence means and why you have included it?
• Does all the evidence fit together and tell a coherent story?

Don’t think of paragraphs as isolated units—they are part of a larger argument that should flow organically from one point to the next. Before you start a new paragraph, consider how you will transition between ideas.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, March 27). Academic Paragraph Structure | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 23, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/paragraph-structure/

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How to build an essay

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs

Preparing an outline

You are ready to write an essay after you have done these steps:

• Identified all the components that you must cover so that you address the essay question or prompt
• Conducted your initial research and decided on your tentative position and line of argument
• Created a preliminary outline for your essay that presents the information logically.

Most essays follow a similar structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, as shown in the diagram below.

Click on the plus icons for more information.

Writing an introduction

The purpose of the introduction is to give your reader a clear idea of what your essay will cover. It should provide some background information on the specific problem or issue you are addressing, and should clearly outline your answer. Depending on your faculty or school, ‘your answer’ may be referred to as your position, contention, thesis or main argument . Whatever term is used, this is essentially your response to the essay question, which is based on the research that you have undertaken or the readings you have analysed.

An essay is not like a mystery novel which keeps the reader in suspense; it should not slowly reveal the argument to the reader. Instead, the contention and supporting arguments are usually stated in the introduction.

When writing an introduction, you should typically use a general to specific structure. This means that you introduce the particular problem or topic the essay will address in a general sense to provide the context   before you narrow down to your particular position and line of argument.

Key elements of an introduction

Click on each of the elements to reveal more.

Content Container

Provide some background information and context.

The introduction usually starts by providing some background information about your particular topic, so the reader understands the key problem being addressed and why it is an issue worth writing about. However, it is important that this is brief and that you only include information that is directly relevant to the topic.

This might also be an appropriate place to introduce the reader to key terms and provide definitions, if required.

Don’t be tempted to start your essay with a grand generalisation, for instance: ‘War has always been a problem for humanity….’, or ‘Since the beginning of time…’. Instead, make sure that your initial sentence relates directly to the problem, question or issue highlighted by the essay topic.

Limit the scope of your discussion

Setting the parameters of the essay is important. You can’t possibly cover everything on a topic - and you are not expected to - so you need to tell your reader how you have chosen to narrow the focus of your essay.

State your position / contention

State your position on the topic (also referred to as your main argument , or contention , or thesis statement ). Make sure that you are directly answering the question (and the whole essay question if there is more than one part to it).

"Stating your position" can be a single sentence answer to the essay question but will often include 2-3 sentences explaining the answer in more detail.

Outline the structure or main supporting points of your essay

This usually involves providing details of the most important points you are going to make which support your argument.

Sample introduction

[1] Business leadership has been described as the ‘ability to influence, motivate and enable others to contribute to the effectiveness and success of the organisations of which they are members’ (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman & Gupta, 2004, p. 63). Whether this ability is something a person is born with, or whether it is something that a person can learn, has been the subject of considerable debate. Kambil (2010) has outlined two categories of leadership attributes that help to frame the discussion: 'traits' (mostly innate) and 'skills' which can be developed through experience or training. [2] This essay will draw on the trait theory of leadership to argue that that leaders are first born, but then must be made. [3] While good business leaders share certain traits that are essential to success, including ‘curiosity, courage, perseverance, personal ethics and confidence’ (Kambil, 2010, p.43), they also need learnable skills, such as communication, negotiation and conflict resolution, that are only developed through practice. A potential leader should develop their natural traits as well as learn and practise skills which will help them to persuade, equip and inspire others to realise their vision.

Legend: [1] Background / Context ; [2] Position / Contention ; [3] Structure or main point of essay

Check your understanding View

Key features of an introduction.

Read the paragraph in the accordion below and see if you can identify the key features of an introduction. This is an introduction written in response to the essay question: 'Can Rome's actions towards Carthage be described as defensive imperialism?'

Writing a body paragraph

The body of the essay is where you fully develop your argument. Each body paragraph should contain one key idea or claim, which is supported by relevant examples and evidence from the body of scholarly work on your topic (i.e. academic books and journal articles).

Together, the body paragraphs form the building blocks of your argument.

How do I structure paragraphs?

The TEECL structure provides an effective way of organising a paragraph. TEECL stands for Topic sentence, Explanation, Evidence, Comment, and Link. You may find it helpful to add C for Comment before Link. A paragraph structured this way would contain the following:

• Topic sentence – the first sentence in a body paragraph that tells the reader what the main idea or claim of the paragraph will be.
• Explanation – Explain what you mean in greater detail.
• Evidence – Provide evidence to support your idea or claim. To do this, refer to your research. This may include: case studies, statistics, documentary evidence, academic books or journal articles. Remember that all evidence will require appropriate citation.
• Comment – Consider the strengths and limitations of the evidence and examples that you have presented. Explain how your evidence supports your claim (i.e. how does it ‘prove’ your topic sentence?).
• Link – Summarise the main idea of the paragraph, and make clear how this paragraph supports your overall argument.

Sample paragraph

[1] One of the main obstacles to reaching international consensus on climate change action is the ongoing debate over which countries should shoulder the burden. [2] Because the developed world has historically been responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, it has been argued that they should reduce emissions and allow developed nations to prioritise development over environmental concerns (Vinuales, 2011). [3] The notion of ‘common but differentiated responsibility’ (CBDR) was formalised in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (UNFCCC, 1992). Article 3.1 explicitly states 'Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof' (p. 4). [4] However, because CBDR outlines a principle and not an actionable plan it has remained problematic. For example, it does not stipulate the extent to which, under the principle of CBDR, developing nations should be exempt from specific emissions targets. This has continued to be a point of contention in global negotiations on climate change, with developed countries such as the USA arguing that developed nations should do more to reduce emissions (Klein et. al., 2017). [5] Fairness and equity need to be pursued in reaching a global agreement on climate change, but transforming this into an actionable strategy is problematic.

Legend : [1] Topic sentence [2] Explanation [3] Evidence / Example [4] Comment [5] Link

What is missing?

The paragraph below was written in response to the essay question: '"Leaders are made rather than born." Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons for your opinion.'

Read the paragraph then answer the question that follows.

The function of a conclusion is to draw together the main ideas discussed in the body of the essay. However, a good conclusion does more than that.

You may choose to also:

• reflect on the broader significance of the topic
• discuss why it is difficult to arrive at a definitive answer to the question posed
• raise other questions that could be considered in a subsequent essay
• make a prediction or a caution or a recommendation about what will happen to the phenomenon under investigation

When writing a conclusion, a specific to general structure is usually recommended. Yes, this is opposite to the introduction! Begin by re-stating or re-emphasising your position on the topic, then summarise your line of argument and key points. Finish off by commenting on the significance of the issue, making a prediction about the future of the issue, or a recommendation to deal with the problem at hand.

Sample conclusion

[1]   No single theory can adequately explain the relationship between age and crime, and the debate over their correlation is ongoing. Instead, each theory provides valuable insight into a particular dimension of age and crime. [2] The emergence of the criminal propensity versus criminal career debate in the 1980s demonstrated the importance of both arguments. It is now believed that the age-crime curve created by Gottfredson and Hirschi is a good basic indicator for the age-crime relationship. However, the criminal career position has stood up to stringent empirical testing, and has formed an integral part of developmental theories such as Thornberry’s interactional theory. [3] These theories provide important insight into the complex relationship between age and crime, but, more than this, are useful for developing strategies for delinquency and crime prevention.

Legend : [1] Specific contention ; [2]   Specific summary of main points ; [3] Broader and general significance