Academic Writing
Master the PEEL method, synthesis techniques, and evidence integration for strong academic arguments.
You Have the Bricks. Now You Need the Blueprint.
Good research gives you high-quality bricks (facts, quotes, data). But just listing them isn't enough. A great argument requires a blueprint—connecting the bricks in a way that is structured, intentional, and creates something new. This is synthesis.
Beyond Summary: The Art of Synthesis
This is the leap from reporting to arguing. Don't just list your sources—make them talk to each other.
A Summary reports:
"Source A says this, and Source B says that."
A Synthesis creates new insight:
"While Source A and B seem to disagree, they both reveal an underlying assumption that..."
Building Strong Paragraphs: The PEEL Method
Every body paragraph needs a clear job. Use the PEEL structure to build strong, evidence-based points.
Point
Start with a clear topic sentence that makes a claim.
Evidence
Provide your quote, data, or fact to support it.
Explanation
Explain what the evidence means in your own words.
Link
Link it back to your main thesis. Why does this point matter?
Weaving, Not Dumping: How to Use Evidence
Never just "drop" a quote and hope it makes sense. Weave it into your own sentences to show you are in control of the argument.
Dumping (Avoid this):
"Here is a quote from a source. 'Climate change is bad.'"
Weaving (Do this):
"As climate scientist Dr. Jane Smith argues, the long-term impacts are not merely significant but 'potentially irreversible,' a finding that underscores the urgency of the issue."