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Year 7 · English · Modern novel study · Lesson 6

Writing an analytical paragraph

Writing analytical paragraphs about a novel with PETAL (Point, Evidence, Technique, Analysis, Link): embedded quotations, zooming in on connotations and strong analytical verbs, with a model answer.

Whiteboard video lesson: Writing an analytical paragraph

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Use the PETAL structure
  • Embed short quotations
  • Zoom in on connotations
  • Use strong analytical language

The method

  1. Point.
  2. Evidence + technique.
  3. Analysis.
  4. Link.

Key words: PETAL, analysis, embedded quotation, connotations, technique, evidence.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

What does PETAL stand for?

  1. Step 1: Five words

Answer: Point, Evidence, Technique, Analysis, Link

Question 2

What should your Point do?

  1. Step 1: Answer

Answer: answer the question in one sentence

Question 3

What is evidence?

  1. Step 1: Quote

Answer: a quotation from the text