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.