GCSE English Language CCEA

Point, Evidence, Explain

Understanding 'Point, Evidence, Explain'

• 'Point, Evidence, Explain', often abbreviated as PEE, is a systematic approach used in literary analysis.
• This technique is helpful in structuring your response and making sure arguments are backed by textual evidence.

Making Your Point

• Start your PEE structure by making a point.
• This point should be a clear statement about what you think the writer is saying or how they're using a particular craft technique.

Providing Evidence

• After making your point, it's crucial to provide evidence from the text.
• This evidence could be a quote, a character action, a setting description, or any other detail from the text that supports your point.

Explanation

• The final step in your PEE structure is to explain your point and evidence.
• In this part, you connect your point and your evidence to provide a complete analysis.
• Why does the evidence prove your point? How does it contribute to your understanding of the author's craft?
• Your explanation should also clarify the effect on the reader.

PEE in Practice

• Always align your PEE response to the question prompt. If the question is about how the writer builds tension, ensure your point, evidence, and explanation revolve around this topic.
• When selecting quotes as your evidence, choose wisely. Pick those quotes that give most support to your point.
• Don't forget your explanation! It's one thing to point out a quote or detail, but you must elaborate on why it is important and what it reveals about the author's intentions or the text's themes.

Final Tips

• Practice makes perfect - keep practising the PEE structure in your textual analyses.
• This structure is highly useful, but don't let it make your writing rigid. Feel free to play around with word order and structure for fluidity.
• Keep your language clear and concise, and ensure your explanation builds upon your point and evidence, rather than repeating them.