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How Do You Explain, and How Far Do You Agree?Bonus Chapter · Video 7 of 8

How Do You Explain, and How Far Do You Agree?

How Do You Explain, and How Far Do You Agree?

"Yes" is not an answer. To , you show how a led to the result in the question, using (Point, Evidence, Elaboration, Link). The worked example explains two reasons why the British had to defend Malaya as well as Singapore: an attack from the north had become possible, and Johor was too close. The notes then cover "to what extent" and "how far" questions: the given factor, two more of your own, and a balanced that weighs them.

Explain = Show How It Led to the Result

  • State means list. Describe means point, plus details.
  • Explain goes one step further: show how the factor led to the result.
  • Describe stops at the details. Explain adds the "so".

PEEL

  1. Point: make your point.
  2. Evidence: back it up with facts.
  3. Elaboration: explain how it led to the result.
  4. Link: tie it back to the question.
  5. Some people say Point, Elaborate, Explain, Link. Same idea.

How Do You Explain, and How Far Do You Agree?

An Attack from the North Was Possible
  1. PointOne reason why the British had to defend Malaya was that Singapore could be attacked from the north, through Malaya.
  2. EvidenceBy the 1930s, better equipment meant troops could land even in the season. New roads and railways ran down Malaya, so an army did not have to cut through the jungle.
  3. ElaborationThis meant the monsoon and the jungle no longer protected Singapore. Its defences had been built to stop an attack from the sea, so an army advancing down Malaya would reach the weakly defended north coast.
  4. LinkThus, the British had to stop an invasion in Malaya, before it reached Singapore.
Johor Was Too Close
  1. PointAnother reason why the British had to defend Malaya was that Johor was too close to Singapore.
  2. EvidenceThe are only about 1.6 to 4.8 km wide.
  3. ElaborationAn enemy holding Johor could therefore bomb and shell the naval base without even landing in Singapore, so the base could not do its job once Johor was lost.
  4. LinkThus, Singapore could not be held if Malaya fell, so Malaya had to be defended too.

"To What Extent" and "How Far"

  • One factor against the others: "Factor X is the most important reason… Do you agree?"
  • Two factors: "Factor X is more important than Factor Y."
  • Three factors, labelled (a), (b) and (c): "Which is the most important?"
  • A statement to judge: "…was mainly caused by… Do you agree?"

The Four-Paragraph Plan

  1. The given factor (a PEEL paragraph).
  2. Another factor of your own (a PEEL paragraph).
  3. A third factor of your own (a PEEL paragraph).
  4. Your judgement: weigh the factors and explain which mattered most, and why.
A Judgement Can Use PEEL Too
  1. PointOn balance, the Suez Canal was the most important reason for Singapore's growth as a port city.
  2. EvidenceThe Suez Canal made the Straits of Melaka the main route from Europe to the Far East.
  3. ElaborationThat route ran past Singapore, so far more ships, including steamships that needed coal, called at its port. Those ships also carried Malaya's tin and rubber overseas, so the canal helped the other factors work too. That is why it can be weighed above tin and rubber, and above British rule such as making Singapore a free port.
  4. LinkTherefore, the Suez Canal mattered most. Others could argue for free trade, or tin and rubber: both can score if the factors are weighed and the reason is explained.

How the Marks Climb

  • Facts about the topic, without answering: low marks.
  • Factors with explanations: middle marks. The more factors you explain, the higher you go.
  • A balanced judgement, weighing how important each factor was: the top level (Level 5, 12–13 marks).
  • Different judgements can all score. What counts is weighing the factors, and explaining why.

In One Sentence

  • To explain, use PEEL to show how each factor led to the result, and in "how far" questions, weigh the factors against each other in a reasoned judgement.

Think About It

  1. Take one of the Malaya PEEL cards. Which sentence is the "so" that turns a description into an explanation?
  2. Why can two students reach different judgements on a "how far" question and both score well?
  3. "The Suez Canal was the main reason Singapore grew." Which other factor would you weigh against it, and why?