The English A: Language and Literature course is a course in textual analysis. What is textual analysis? How does one analyse a text? How does one write a Paper 1 response? Watch the video below and do the activities to get good at writing PEEL paragraphs for your Paper 1 exam.

1. Study the table below. The examples on the right (and in the video) are take from a model Paper 1 response to this text: 'We Are Nurses'.  Download or make a copy of the worksheet below. Study another stimulus text from the Practice Paper 1 section on this site. 



Function	Description	Example
Point	(1st point = topic sentence) How does the writer/text use an authorial choice (or category of stylistic features) to achieve a particular purpose?	"The NHS is particularly effective at connecting with empathetic people through their advertisement’s use of image and layout."
Evidence	Give an example from the text of that authorial choice. Quote, paraphrase, and take examples from different parts of the text.	" At first glance, one sees a photograph of a woman helping a child. The text, in a white font, which includes a poem along a vertical axis and a slogan along a horizontal axis, forms a cross over the photograph."
Explain	Identify this stylistic feature. What are the effects of this stylistic feature on the audience? How do these examples make the reader feel?	"This use of layout and overlay resembles both a symbol for first aid, Christianity, and the English flag, evoking a sense of compassion, religiosity, and patriotism,..."
Link/evaluate	Link back to the point. How effective is this feature in making readers understand the text’s purpose and think about its message?	"...which makes readers understand that nursing is a noble and selfless profession."

Model Paragraph (on We Are Nurses)

The NHS is particularly effective at connecting with empathetic people through their advertisement’s use of image and layout. At first glance, one sees a photograph of a woman helping a child. The text, in a white font, which includes a poem along a vertical axis and a slogan along a horizontal axis, forms a cross over the photograph. This use of layout and overlay resembles both a symbol for first aid, Christianity, and the English flag, evoking a sense of compassion, religiosity, and patriotism, which makes readers understand that nursing is a noble and selfless profession. Furthermore, the ad appeals to readers who may have motherly instincts, by depicting a middle-aged woman looking after a young girl in a princess dress. The nurse’s body language—leaning toward the child, smiling—suggests a nurturing and compassionate demeanour. The nurse’s warm smile and focus on the child reinforce the idea that nursing is a vocation, not just a job. The colour palette of this photograph also captures readers with its use of predominantly warm, soft colours as well, which can be found in the nurse’s red uniform and the little girl’s pink dress and yellow paper tiara. In general, it can be said that the ad’s layout, use of colour, photography, and lighting appeal to readers who are warm people, full of compassion, with an ability to care for others.

PEEL worksheet

2. Feel free to download this poster, print it and hang it in your classroom. This way, you can refer to it regularly in class.         

PEEL Poster

3. Are you ready to write an entire Paper 1 textual analysis? Re-watch the video above. Consider the 'Pyramid of Purpose' that is explore and the structure presented in this table. What will your three (or more) topic sentences look like? Fill in the worksheet below, applying your ideas to a text that you're working on in class.  
   
   

Paragraph	"Through the use of..."	"...the text effectively..."
1	[a major authorial feature]	[comment on how the text connects with the reader]
2	[a major authorial feature	[comment on how the text identifies a common problem]
3	[a major authorial feature]	[comment on how the text suggests a solution to a problem or calls the reader to action]


Worksheet: Topic sentences