UC Education Plus  University of Canterbury
Adolescent Literacy
Structures to Guide Students’ Writing – Paragraph Mnemonics
Paragraphs
Why is it important to paragraph?
 To show that the writer is organised.
 The writer’s argument is made easier for the reader to read and to understand.
 To tell us a new point is being made.
 So that we remember to separate one point from another.
Each paragraph can be prepared in the same way as you prepare the whole essay. You may already use systems
with mnemonics like GEE or SEX in your classroom.
Explanation
SEX[Y] / SEE[D]
Statement / Explanation / eXample [Diagram] / Your response
Argument
APE
Assertion / Proof / Example
Description
GEE
Generalisation / Elaboration / Example
Discussion
PPQ
Point / Paraphrase / Quotation
Here is an alternative structure that you can try. LEER:
Lead
Sentence
Explanation
Evidence
Relevance
What are you writing about?
This sentence ‘introduces’ the paragraph.
It states the main ideas of the paragraph.
It may link to the previous paragraph.
It will link to the topic [of the essay].
What do you mean?
The next sentence[s] will explain what you meant by your lead sentence.
It is where you give your reader more detail, lots more detail about the idea you are expressing.
It will use key words from your paragraph idea and/or from the topic of the essay.
What makes you say that?
The next sentence[s] will give evidence, proof, examples to support the idea you have explained.
It may offer:
• statistics • survey results • anecdotes • examples from the media • personal experience.
You will, of course, use different types of evidence in different paragraphs.
So why is all that important?
The final sentence[s] of the paragraph will convince the reader that your idea in this paragraph supports your
approach to the topic of the essay.
It will probably link back to the first sentence of the paragraph.
It will certainly link back to the topic of the essay.
 A variant form of the above also expands the basic SEE structure – to give students more direction with what those 3
aspects might actually include:
What is a statement?
What is evidence?
The opening sentence in a paragraph (usually the ‘topic
sentence’) should:

link logically to the one before it

clearly indicate what the paragraph will be
about

use techniques to make the reader interested

integrate key words of the topic.
To prove your statement you could:

give facts from what you have read in reference books,
newspapers, the Internet, or seen on television
documentaries

give an anecdote from your own experience

include a quotation from someone knowledgeable or
famous

provide statistics from your sources or a survey you have
carried out

give comments from an interview, letter or questionnaire.
What is an explanation?
This is where you make a judgement on the topic, making your argument clear after you have gained evidence and considered it
carefully. Judgement statements can include phrases like:

without a doubt …

clearly it can be seen that …

… plays a crucial role; an important part

it is necessary to conclude that …

it appears that ...; it is obvious that …

it was surprising/shocking/alarming to find …

apparently; evidently
from Working through 1.2, A Student-Centred Resource on

however; it could be said that …
Formal Writing for Level One NCEA English – Thomas & White

fortunately; unfortunately
Adolescent Literacy  UC Education Plus  College of Education  University of Canterbury
Документ1 13/04/2020
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Adolescent Literacy
UC Education Plus  University of Canterbury
Writing template
Paragraph to Essay
Essay structure
Introduction
Thesis statement
[proposal/ argument]
with general overview
Paragraph structure [‘sexy’]
Topic sentence
[statement / main idea]
Body
Paragraph 1
Statement
Expansion
Example
Expansion / elaboration
of that topic statement/ idea
Example / illustration
of that topic statement/ idea
Paragraph 2
Statement
Expansion
Example
Your response
to that topic/ idea
[relate idea to self, community]
Paragraph 3
Statement
Expansion
Example
Some alternative paragraph structural
mnemonics:
LEER: lead sentence, explanation,
evidence, relevance.
APE: assertion, proof, example
GEE: generalisation, elaboration, example
TEEPE: topic, explanation, evidence,
purpose, effect.
Conclusion
Adolescent Literacy  UC Education Plus  College of Education  University of Canterbury
Документ1 13/04/2020
Page 2 of 2
Restatement or review of
the main points of the
thesis/ argument
+ Final comment/
statement