Year 7 · English · Literacy
Writing analytical paragraphs (TEEL)
Use the Topic sentence – Evidence – Explanation – Link structure to write clear paragraphs about a text.
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Learning goals
Learners will
- Understand the four parts of a TEEL paragraph.
- Write a TEEL paragraph that embeds a short quotation and explains its effect.
Success looks like
- I can write a topic sentence that makes a clear point.
- I can choose a short, relevant quotation as evidence.
- I can explain how my evidence supports my point and link back to the question.
The big idea
When you write about a text, readers need to follow your thinking easily. TEEL is a reliable structure for each body paragraph: Topic sentence, Evidence, Explanation, Link.
The topic sentence answers part of the question in your own words. It should be an arguable point, not a plot summary. Weak: 'In the story, Mia goes to the beach.' Stronger: 'The writer presents Mia as brave but lonely.'
Evidence is a short quotation or a precise detail. Keep quotations brief – a few words is often enough – and embed them: 'Mia "stared at the waves without blinking", suggesting she refuses to show fear.'
The explanation is the most important part. Explain how the words prove your point: zoom in on a key word, name a technique if relevant, and describe the effect on the reader.
The link sentence ties the paragraph back to the question, often using key words from it, so the reader remembers why the paragraph matters.
A useful check: if you colour each part in a different pencil, the explanation colour should take up the most space.
Worked examples
Building a TEEL paragraph
Question: How does the writer show that Sam is nervous? Original extract: 'Sam's fingers drummed on the bench. He checked the clock, then checked it again, and swallowed hard as the principal's door creaked open.'
- Topic sentence: The writer shows Sam's nervousness through his restless physical actions.
- Evidence: choose 'checked the clock, then checked it again' and 'swallowed hard'.
- Explanation: the repetition of 'checked' suggests he cannot sit still or stop worrying, and 'swallowed hard' is a physical reaction to fear that readers recognise from their own experience.
- Link: Together these details let readers feel Sam's anxiety without the writer ever using the word 'nervous'.
Answer: The writer shows Sam's nervousness through his restless physical actions. He 'checked the clock, then checked it again', and the repetition of 'checked' suggests he cannot stop worrying. He also 'swallowed hard', a reaction to fear readers recognise. Together these details let us feel Sam's anxiety without the word 'nervous' ever being used.
Fixing a weak paragraph
Improve this: 'Sam is nervous. "He swallowed hard." This shows he is nervous. That is how he is nervous.'
- The topic sentence is too vague: add how the writer shows it.
- The quotation is dropped in on its own: embed it in a sentence.
- The explanation only repeats the point: explain why swallowing hard suggests fear.
- The link repeats the topic sentence: connect to the bigger idea of showing rather than telling.
Answer: The writer reveals Sam's nerves through his body language. When he 'swallowed hard', it suggests his throat is tight with fear, a sensation many readers know. This physical detail shows his emotion vividly instead of simply telling us.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
What does the first 'E' in TEEL stand for?
Evidence — TEEL = Topic sentence, Evidence, Explanation, Link.
Which is the strongest topic sentence for a paragraph about a character?
The writer presents Lena as determined despite her setbacks. — It makes an arguable point about how the writer presents the character.
Which shows a correctly embedded quotation?
As 'the sky darkened', the mood shifts from calm to threatening. — The quotation sits smoothly inside the writer's own sentence.
Which part of a TEEL paragraph should usually be the longest?
Explanation — Explanation is where you show your thinking and earn the most credit.
What is the purpose of the link sentence?
To connect the paragraph back to the question — The link reminds the reader how the paragraph answers the question.
What does the 'L' in TEEL stand for? (one word)
Link — L is the Link back to the question.
What do we call a short quotation woven into your own sentence? Fill the gap: an ______ quotation.
Embedded — Embedded quotations make writing flow smoothly.
Which sentence states the main point of a paragraph? The ______ sentence. (one word)
Topic — The topic sentence opens the paragraph with its main point.
Watch out for
- Retelling the story instead of analysing it. Every sentence should help prove the point, not just repeat events.
- Using long quotations. Three to eight well-chosen words are usually more powerful than a whole sentence.
- Writing an explanation that just repeats the evidence ('This shows he is nervous'). Explanations must say how and why.
Tips for parents
- Ask your learner to colour-code a finished paragraph. If the explanation colour is smallest, encourage them to add one more 'because' sentence.
- Use everyday questions to practise: 'Prove that the dog loves you – point, evidence, explanation, link.'
- Read paragraphs aloud; awkward quotations usually sound awkward.
Go further
- Write two TEEL paragraphs about the same character from a book you are reading, each making a different point.
- Swap a paragraph with a sibling or friend and give feedback on each TEEL part.
- Try 'zooming in' on a single word in your evidence and write three sentences about its connotations.