155

PEE on your essays!

There are many different techniques you can use to

evaluate. You may have tried the burger technique (Handout 5,6 or 142) or the ladder technique (Handout 4,146 or 147) already. The trick is to practise all of them so that you can develop your evaluative writing in different ways.

PEE-ing on your essays is another technique, and one you

may have come across in other subjects at your school.

PEE stands for Point, Explanation, and Evidence. Practise

this technique to evaluate Milgrams study.

Se 1 tp

Select one of the Points from Handout 154 (or alternatively write one of your own).

Se 2 tp

Introduce your Point with an appropriate signpost so that the reader/examiner knows what argument you are about to make, for example:
One weakness of Milgrams study is that it lacks internal validity. It could be argued that... One problem... An issue which undermines...

Se 3 tp

Explain your point. Explain what is meant by that point, explain how it is relevant and why it is important. You may wish to use ideas from Handout 154. Try to use phrases like:
This means... This is because... This is an issue because... The problem here is that...

Se 4 tp

Use evidence (e.g. Handout 154) to support your evaluative arguments. BUT, dont forget to explain how/why they support the point and explanation - do not simply describe the evidence. Use phrases like:
This is shown by... This point is exemplifi ed by... This point is supported by... Evidence for this comes from...

Extension

Can you make any counter arguments to your evaluations? Can you find any evidence/arguments which do NOT support your point? Can you find any evidence which contradicts your evidence? Is there any reason to doubt your evaluation? Has the case been overstated? Did the researcher have any successful ways to deal with the problems?

Lesson notes p.67 238 PSYCHOLOGY AS: THE TEACHERS COMPANION FOR AQA A published by Folens 2009 Michael Griffin, Rosalind Geillis and Cara Flanagan