TEDL is the paragraph structure I teach: Topic sentence, Example, Detail, and Last and linking sentence. The paragraph-writing posts on this blog all use it, and my free How to Write a Paragraph course teaches it one step at a time.
ACES, RACE, TEEL, and TEDL all teach the same paragraph. You state your point, support it, explain it, and close it. What changes from one to the next is the vocabulary.
I'm a Texas-certified ELA and ESL teacher in Houston. ACES was the framework my students were expected to use, and for a lot of them it wasn't working. I built TEDL for those students.
If ACES or RACE already works for you, keep using it. If your child writes one sentence and stops, keep reading.
ACES: Answer, Cite, Explain, Summarize. Many Texas students learn it for short written answers on reading tests.
RACE: Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain. It's common in U.S. classrooms. Some schools add an S for Summarize and call it RACES.
TEEL: Topic sentence, Explain, Evidence, Link. It's mostly taught in Australia. In the UK, the same idea usually goes by PEEL: Point, Evidence, Explain, Link.
TEDL: Topic sentence, Example, Detail, Last and linking sentence. This is the one I teach. I say it "Ted'l."
How the four line up
Each framework asks for the same four jobs under different names.
State the point: Answer in ACES. Restate and Answer in RACE. Topic sentence in TEEL and TEDL.
Support it: Cite in ACES and RACE. Evidence in TEEL. Example in TEDL.
Say more about it: Explain in ACES, RACE, and TEEL. Detail in TEDL.
Close it: Summarize in ACES. Link in TEEL. Last and linking sentence in TEDL. RACE has no closing step unless your school teaches RACES.
One difference in order: TEEL explains before it gives evidence. The other three give the evidence first.
Where ACES Lost My Students
ACES starts with Answer. A student would write one sentence and stop.
When I asked for more, I'd hear, "I answered the question. Why do I need to tell you more?" It sounds rude. Most of the time these students were being sincere. In their minds, they had answered, so they were done.
Why TEDL Says "Example" and "Detail" Instead of "Cite" and "Explain"
Citation is a word students need to know. For my students, it wasn't familiar enough yet at their stage in writing.
They did know how to find a quote. They knew how to paraphrase. So in TEDL, that step is called Example. On a reading test, the example is a quote from the passage. My free lesson on how to write an example sentence covers using a quote.
Detail works the same way. Students know what that means. They understand "Tell me more about it." The lesson on how to add detail to a paragraph has sentence frames for it.
A TEDL paragraph example
This is the model paragraph from my course:
T: Last week, I went to Lummi Island and stayed with friends.
E: The island is very small and there is nothing to do, but it is full of forests and very beautiful landscapes.
D: I loved looking at the trees, mountains, and the sea. I also went for several hikes in the mountains and around the beach.
L: Lummi Island is amazing and I can't wait to go back.
If STAAR is the worry in your house, learn how to use TEDL to pass: What If My Child Fails the STAAR Test?
Who TEDL Is For
Good fit
Multilingual learners and ESL students
Students who write one sentence and stop
Students who learned ACES or RACE and still get stuck
Adults who want a quick checklist for emails and work writing
My students who use it are in middle school, high school, college, and professional jobs.
Not a good fit
Advanced writers may not need it. If you already write complete paragraphs without thinking about the parts, skip the framework. Use TEDL until you can write a clear paragraph without it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TEDL the same as ACES?
It's close. Both cover the same four jobs. TEDL replaces Cite and Explain with Example and Detail, which are words my students already knew.
What is the difference between ACES and RACE?
RACE starts by restating the question and has no closing step. ACES starts with the answer and ends with a summary. Both ask students to cite evidence and explain it.
Is TEEL the same as PEEL?
Nearly. TEEL starts with a Topic sentence and PEEL starts with a Point. TEEL explains before giving evidence. PEEL gives evidence first.
Which paragraph framework is best for English learners?
In my experience, TEDL. My multilingual students performed more strongly with it because the words are ones they already use.
Can you use TEDL on a reading test like STAAR?
Yes. Your example is a quote from the passage, and your detail explains what the quote shows. If your teacher grades with ACES or RACE, use that in class.
Learn TEDL With the Free Paragraph Course
My free course, How to Write a Paragraph, teaches TEDL in eight short lessons with practice in each one. For the overview, start with TEDL paragraph structure. For guided help while you write, use the paragraph writing help tool.
When a Framework Isn't Enough
A framework won't fix every writing problem. If your child knows the letters and still can't get a paragraph on the page, I can help. I work one-on-one with students in Houston and online as a writing tutor.
Not sure where your child stands? Take the free English skills check, or see tutoring prices and get in touch.
