WRITING TEEL PARAGRAPHS

T – Topic Sentence: State the main idea/argument of the paragraph. It should ‘set up’ the main point
to be discussed.

E – Elaboration: Expand on your topic sentence. Explain topic sentence in more detail (can include
character references)

E – Evidence: Provide quotes and examples from the text to support your idea.

E – Explanation: Expand and elaborate on this key idea by explanation evidence. What does it prove?

L – Link: A final statement that ties your ideas together by addressing authorial intent. What is the
author’s message? What are they addressing/highlighting/challenging/provoking when presenting
characters/themes in this way – what do they want their audience to learn?

TEEL application should look like this:

Topic sentence – present a clear, concise argument that backs up your contention

Elaboration – explain topic sentence in more detail (can include character references)

Example – use any of these sentence starters to start “example” sentences -

“In the Act/scene/event when…”

“This is evident when…”

“____________ shows this trait when they…….”

“This is displayed by ______________ in the scene…………..”

Explanation – use any of these sentences to explain evidence -

"This proves that...."

"In behaving this way, the character illustrates that they are............"

"This scene demonstrates that............."

“This proves that _______________ because ________________”

Linking sentence = Authorial intent – what is the author’s message about the key idea you have
addressed in this paragraph?
WRITING TEEL PARAGRAPHS

Sample TEEEL application using class essay plan:

Topic sentence – Initially, Ricky is conveyed as a ‘real bad egg.’
Elaboration – At the start of film, the main character Ricky is referred to as a rebellious kid who does
not listen or care much for other people.
Example 1 – In Chapter 1, ‘A Real Bad Egg,’ there is a scene when Ricky arrives at Bella and Hector’s
house. As eerie music plays in the background, there is a montage shown of Ricky being disobedient
‘stealing, spitting, running away, kicking stuff, defacing stuff, burning stuff, loitering’ and graffitiing.
Explanation - In behaving this way, Ricky illustrates that he is a rebellious person who engages in
‘gangster’ activity.
Example 2 – Ricky continues to display this kind of behaviour on his first night at the farm in the
scene when he runs away. The director uses a long shot of Ricky running up a hill in the darkness
and it is not until the next morning that Bella finds him a ‘whole 200m’ from the farm.
Explanation - This proves that Ricky is difficult because he does not accept his new situation or give it
a chance.
Example 3 – Furthermore, Ricky shows this trait in Chapter 3, ‘Goodbye Ricky Baker,’ in the scene
when he sets the barn on fire. As traumatic music plays, a long shot is used to show the barn on fire
and Ricky running away with Tupac, a note left on the barn door by Ricky saying that he ‘burned
[himself] to death in this barn.’
Explanation - This scene demonstrates that, despite Ricky being in a welcoming home, he continues
to disrespect others without care or morality.
Linking sentence – Waititi aims to teach the audience that young people without stable family
environments tend to be rebellious.
FULL PARAGRAPH
Initially, Ricky is conveyed as a ‘real bad egg.’ At the start of film, the main character Ricky is referred
to as a rebellious kid who does not listen or care much for other people. In Chapter 1, ‘A Real Bad
Egg,’ there is a scene when Ricky arrives at Bella and Hector’s house. As eerie music plays in the
background, there is a montage shown of Ricky being disobedient ‘stealing, spitting, running away,
kicking stuff, defacing stuff, burning stuff, loitering’ and graffitiing. In behaving this way, Ricky
illustrates that he is a rebellious person who engages in ‘gangster’ activity. Ricky continues to display
this kind of behaviour on his first night at the farm in the scene when he runs away. The director
uses a long shot of Ricky running up a hill in the darkness and it is not until the next morning that
Bella finds him a ‘whole 200m’ from the farm. This proves that Ricky is difficult because he does not
accept his new situation or give it a chance. Furthermore, Ricky shows this trait in Chapter 3,
‘Goodbye Ricky Baker,’ in the scene when he sets the barn on fire. As traumatic music plays, a long
shot is used to show the barn on fire and Ricky running away with Tupac, a note left on the barn
door by Ricky saying that he ‘burned [himself] to death in this barn.’ This scene demonstrates that,
despite Ricky being in a welcoming home, he continues to disrespect others without care or
morality. Waititi aims to teach the audience that young people without stable family environments
tend to be rebellious.