mr. mehrotra eng 4u0 writing a commentary. mr. mehrotra eng 4u0 four central questions: 1. what is...

Mr. MehrotraMr. Mehrotra

ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Writing a CommentaryWriting a Commentary


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Four Central Questions:Four Central Questions:

1.1. What is the author doing on the page? What is the author doing on the page? (Plot)(Plot)

2.2. How is the author doing this? (Style)How is the author doing this? (Style)

3.3. Why is the author doing this? (Theme)Why is the author doing this? (Theme)

4.4. How does this page contribute to the How does this page contribute to the understanding of the text as a whole?understanding of the text as a whole?


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

General PointsGeneral Points

If the passage involved follows an argument or If the passage involved follows an argument or sequence of events, a “linear” commentary may be sequence of events, a “linear” commentary may be used. used.

The passage may also involve areas of significance The passage may also involve areas of significance such as content, description, chronology, and such as content, description, chronology, and contrasts which may be treated in “chunks” much like contrasts which may be treated in “chunks” much like a comparative essay.a comparative essay.

The linear approach can be successful, but you must The linear approach can be successful, but you must avoid giving a line-by-line analysis as you may end avoid giving a line-by-line analysis as you may end up just paraphrasing or “translating” what the author up just paraphrasing or “translating” what the author is saying is saying


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Where to BeginWhere to Begin

An acronym to remember what to look for in a prose An acronym to remember what to look for in a prose passage is SCASI: passage is SCASI:

SSetting etting CCharacter haracter AAction ction SStyle tyle IIdeas/Themedeas/Theme


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0


If you look at each of these in an analytical If you look at each of these in an analytical way, you should be able to avoid “translating” way, you should be able to avoid “translating” the work. Keep the following questions in the work. Keep the following questions in mind as well: mind as well:

Who is narrating the passage?Who is narrating the passage?How is the passage structured?How is the passage structured?What language effects are striking?What language effects are striking?What part does setting play?What part does setting play?


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Questions to Keep in MindQuestions to Keep in Mind

What tense and mood is used?What tense and mood is used? Is dialogue used?Is dialogue used? Where does this passage fit in the novel (i.e. Where does this passage fit in the novel (i.e.

beginning or end)?beginning or end)? Is irony present?Is irony present? What kind of effect does the passage have on you?What kind of effect does the passage have on you?


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0


After reading the passage several times, After reading the passage several times, annotate it using different colour highlighters annotate it using different colour highlighters and pens to help group and organize your and pens to help group and organize your thoughtsthoughts


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Working From Top to BottomWorking From Top to Bottom

As a general rule, you should not jump around As a general rule, you should not jump around in your response – organize it by moving in your response – organize it by moving basicallybasically from the beginning to the end of the from the beginning to the end of the passagepassage

Follow this when writing too, do not jump Follow this when writing too, do not jump around in your responsearound in your response

Do not take this too literally, however, as you Do not take this too literally, however, as you must incorporate other aspects of the text as must incorporate other aspects of the text as wellwell


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Group Your IdeasGroup Your Ideas

Put similar things together Put similar things together Indicate rhetorical devices on your text as you Indicate rhetorical devices on your text as you

work through it and then link them together work through it and then link them together Note similar ideas or structureNote similar ideas or structure


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Form and ContentForm and Content

Make connections based on how the form and Make connections based on how the form and content match up, and where they create content match up, and where they create meaning by opposition. meaning by opposition.

Essentially you must construct and deconstruct Essentially you must construct and deconstruct the passage.the passage.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

ContextContext

Check the context of the passage in relation to Check the context of the passage in relation to the rest of the novelthe rest of the novel

Look at your notes and see if they match what Look at your notes and see if they match what you know about the text, or if they illuminate you know about the text, or if they illuminate the text in a different way. the text in a different way.

Be sure to give the context in your Be sure to give the context in your commentary as it makes the reader aware of, commentary as it makes the reader aware of, and comfortable with where they are, and and comfortable with where they are, and confident in you as a guide to the passage.confident in you as a guide to the passage.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Clear Main IdeaClear Main Idea

Make sure what you want to say about the Make sure what you want to say about the passage is clearly being expressed and you are passage is clearly being expressed and you are identifying a clear main messageidentifying a clear main message

Look at your notes and formulate a main idea Look at your notes and formulate a main idea This will become your reference point for your This will become your reference point for your

discussion discussion It is like a thesis, that ties your various points It is like a thesis, that ties your various points

together – it is just not called a “thesis” in a together – it is just not called a “thesis” in a commentarycommentary


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

Inside, Outside, InInside, Outside, In

Make your comments about the page and then move Make your comments about the page and then move outside the page to the novel as a whole. outside the page to the novel as a whole.

Make connections to other significant points in the Make connections to other significant points in the novel or stylistic examples that are relevant. novel or stylistic examples that are relevant.

Whatever connection you want to make, be sure to Whatever connection you want to make, be sure to highlight where in the text the idea originated and get highlight where in the text the idea originated and get back to it as soon as possible – the big marks are for back to it as soon as possible – the big marks are for analysis of the page itself. analysis of the page itself.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

The IntroductionThe Introduction

There is no ONE correct way to write an There is no ONE correct way to write an introduction, but there are a few essentials that introduction, but there are a few essentials that must be present. That is, you must ensure that must be present. That is, you must ensure that your introduction has a clear focus.your introduction has a clear focus.

The focus of your introduction can speak of The focus of your introduction can speak of the ways in which you will develop your the ways in which you will develop your commentary, which often means pointing out commentary, which often means pointing out some literary devices. some literary devices.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

For Example:For Example:

In his poem “The Heron,” Vernon In his poem “The Heron,” Vernon Watkins describes the striking sight of a heron Watkins describes the striking sight of a heron standing on a rock by the sea. Through his standing on a rock by the sea. Through his descriptive images, metaphors, alliteration, descriptive images, metaphors, alliteration, complex rhyme scheme, and suggestions of complex rhyme scheme, and suggestions of Greek mythology and the Bible, Watkins gives Greek mythology and the Bible, Watkins gives the bird almost epic significance, completely the bird almost epic significance, completely transforming this simple occurrence. transforming this simple occurrence.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

The IntroductionThe Introduction Although this is in relation to poetry, the author Although this is in relation to poetry, the author

demonstrates a clear grasp of the key concepts demonstrates a clear grasp of the key concepts presented. presented.

It is this perception of the “transforming vision” that It is this perception of the “transforming vision” that makes this commentary good rather than merely makes this commentary good rather than merely satisfactory.satisfactory.

In the second sentence the author identifies literary In the second sentence the author identifies literary techniques that specifically in this case help create techniques that specifically in this case help create both the meaning and the effect of the poem. both the meaning and the effect of the poem.

Many students vaguely refer to “language” rather Many students vaguely refer to “language” rather than identifying the techniques that specifically than identifying the techniques that specifically characterize the chosen text. characterize the chosen text.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0


You can also bring in outside knowledge of You can also bring in outside knowledge of the author or the work if it is relevant. If the the author or the work if it is relevant. If the knowledge you have does not illuminate the knowledge you have does not illuminate the passage in any way, do not bother.passage in any way, do not bother.

Remember, however, not to go too far off Remember, however, not to go too far off track when speaking of the author or the rest track when speaking of the author or the rest of the text. of the text.

Keep in mind, this is an evaluation of the Keep in mind, this is an evaluation of the particular page you are assigned. particular page you are assigned.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

For ExampleFor Example

““There’s no woman anywhere around the There’s no woman anywhere around the world that knows as much about business as I do, and world that knows as much about business as I do, and we’re proud of that, but of course, the real work we’re proud of that, but of course, the real work always fell on us.” Willa Catha’s 1913 novel always fell on us.” Willa Catha’s 1913 novel O O Pioneers!Pioneers! aims to capture the effects of the late 19th aims to capture the effects of the late 19th century land rushes in the unsettled territories of the century land rushes in the unsettled territories of the United States on women, using strong United States on women, using strong characterization through dialogue. Like her other characterization through dialogue. Like her other novels, Catha uses her writing to depict the struggle novels, Catha uses her writing to depict the struggle for land as well as power.for land as well as power.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0


Although the quotation in the beginning does Although the quotation in the beginning does not really help the introduction as a whole, the not really help the introduction as a whole, the paragraph itself is effective.paragraph itself is effective.

The author is clearly demonstrating an The author is clearly demonstrating an academic understanding of the text as they are academic understanding of the text as they are not simply regurgitating plot, or translating not simply regurgitating plot, or translating what is on the page.what is on the page.


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

The BodyThe Body

The body should be logically divided into paragraphs The body should be logically divided into paragraphs based on your separate ideasbased on your separate ideas

You do not, however, need topic sentences to start You do not, however, need topic sentences to start each “argument” (as you do not necessarily have 3 each “argument” (as you do not necessarily have 3 arguments to support your main idea)arguments to support your main idea)

Remember, do not simply translate the page Remember, do not simply translate the page throughoutthroughout

Instead, analyze the devices you have identified in Instead, analyze the devices you have identified in terms of their significance to the passageterms of their significance to the passage


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

The ConclusionThe Conclusion

Much like the conclusion in an essay, your Much like the conclusion in an essay, your commentary's conclusion will sum up your commentary's conclusion will sum up your ideasideas

Remember, this is the last point you are Remember, this is the last point you are leaving the reader with, so make it countleaving the reader with, so make it count


ENG 4U0ENG 4U0

RubricRubricLevel R Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Knowledge & Understanding

Introduction lacks focusShows little understanding of literary devicesShows limited understanding of the key features of the passageConclusion attempts to sum up commentary

Introduction has some focusShows some understanding of literary devicesShows some understanding of the key features of the passageConclusion vaguely sums up commentary

Introduction has clear focusShows clear understanding of literary devicesShows clear understanding of the key features of the passageConclusion sums up commentary

Introduction has a clear and insightful focusShows clear and insightful understanding of literary devicesShows clear and insightful understanding of key features of the passageConclusion successfully sums up commentary

Thinking & Inquiry Focus statement is not clearPoor incorporation of quotationsQuotations are inconsistently explainedResponse consists mainly of narration and/or repetition of content

Focus statement is somewhat clearChoppy incorporation of quotationsQuotations are adequately explainedSome awareness of the literary features of the extracted work

Focus statement is clearSmooth incorporations of quotationsQuotations are well explainedGood awareness and detailed analysis of he effects of he literary features of he extract or work

Focus statement is clear and insightfulSeamless incorporation of quotationsQuotations are expertly explainedExcellent awareness and critical analysis of the effects of the literary features of the extracted work

Communication Little evidence of a structure to the responseFrequent coherence problemsPoor use of vocabulary

Some evidence of a structure to the responseOccasional coherence problemsSatisfactory use of vocabulary

Clear and logical structure to the responseMinor coherence problemsCompetent use of vocabulary

Purposeful and effective structure to the responseEssay is coherentExpert use of vocabulary

Application Frequent punctuation and sentence structure errorsFrequent verb tense errorsFrequent spelling errorsFrequent word choice errorsPoor paragraphing

Occasional punctuation and sentence structure errorsOccasional verb tense errorsOccasional spelling errorsOccasional word choice errorsOccasional paragraphing errors

Minimal punctuation and sentence structure errorsMinimal verb tense errors Minimal spelling errorsMinimal word choice errorsMinimal paragraphing errors

Relatively free of punctuation and sentence structure errorsRelatively free of verb tense errorsFree of spelling errorsRelatively free of word choice errorsFree of paragraphing errors

mr. mehrotra eng 4u0 writing a commentary. mr. mehrotra eng 4u0 four central questions: 1. what is...

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