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SingaporeEnglish LiteratureQuick questions
Structuring the Literature Essay
Quick questions on Building a PEE paragraph explained: N(A)-Level Literature in English
8short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the three parts of a PEE paragraph?Show answer
Each body paragraph has three jobs, in order:
What is start with a clear point?Show answer
Begin each paragraph with your point, sometimes called a topic sentence. It should make a clear claim that helps answer the question and links back to your thesis. A reader should be able to tell, from the first sentence, what the paragraph will argue. Avoid starting a paragraph with a quotation or with "Then..."; start with the claim.
What is make the explanation do the work?Show answer
The explanation is the heart of the paragraph and where most of the marks live. Here you unpack the key words of your quotation and explain the effect: what they make the reader picture, feel or understand, and how that proves your point. The point and evidence only set things up; the explanation is the analysis. So spend most of each paragraph here, not on a long quotation or a restated point.
What is no clear point?Show answer
A paragraph that describes events without making a claim. Open with a clear point that answers the question.
What is long quotation, no analysis?Show answer
Copying out a big quotation and barely explaining it. Keep the quotation short and analyse it deeply.
What is q1?Show answer
What are the three parts of a PEE paragraph, in order? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
How should a body paragraph begin, and why? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Why should the explanation be the longest part of the paragraph? [3 marks]