uni assignment

do we have to use PEEL paragraphs at uni?

Hiya @sskeeeeeenggggg,

I think point, evidence, explain, link is still a very good structure to follow for paragraphs in an assignment. However, at university I have found the biggest difference to be having to reference the ideas used, and to make sure you follow the title of the question (e.g. is it an evaluate, describe, critically discuss etc. question).

I always email my work to Student Support as they can look over your essays and give feedback on your argument, structure, grammar and spellings! They are a really useful service!

Sam- Official Student Rep

do we have to use PEEL paragraphs at uni?

make sure you follow the title of the question (e.g. is it an evaluate, describe, critically discuss etc. question).

I asked a Cambridge history tutor about this a couple of years ago. He said that they spend most of the first year trying to beat such prescriptive formulas out of their students.

I asked a Cambridge history tutor about this a couple of years ago. He said that they spend most of the first year trying to beat such prescriptive formulas out of their students.

I'm going to disagree here. I would say for pretty much any essay, you should always be critically evaluating at university level. I think these terms have special meanings at A level, but when I set an essay I use these terms quite interchangeably. But ask your lecturers to be sure.


I quite agree!

Yep. it's inelegant and can actually get in the way of a decent flow. But it's also true that it will do what you need it to, so no harm using whilst you further develop your writing style (a lot of students never bother to do this, unfortunately)