How to Write Commentary



How to Write Commentary

1st – What is commentary?

Commentary is the thoughts you write after your Concrete Details (quotes). Your commentary should link the quotes to your thesis or point AND further discuss what this one instance means for the novel as a whole.

2nd – Why do I need it?

You need it because we (teachers) want to see you take apart the information and make it your own. Anyone can find a quote that proves Piggy was bullied; however, your discussion of what the bullying means is all your own. We want to see how deeply you can interpret the instance and how you can tie it back to your thesis or point.

3rd – What does it look like?

2-3 LONG sentences after each quote

.

Here’s an example:

Sample Prompt: Discuss the aftermath of Snowball’s banishment from Animal Farm. What were the lasting effects?

Sample Thesis: Snowball’s banishment from Animal Farm enables Napoleon to become a tyrant.

Concrete detail: Snowball only wanted good things for the animals, such as when he made the windmill that promised “light in the stalls and [warmth] in winter” (Orwell 54).

Commentary: Had Snowball stayed on the farm, the windmill would have an entirely different meaning to the animals. Rather than work tirelessly (all for nothing) like they did under Napoleon, Snowball would have seen that they benefitted from their labor.

Discuss: Is this effective commentary? Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4th – How can I get started on writing commentary?

Make a mini-chart for each quote:

|Quote |What I think |What this says about the book as a |What this says about the world/a |

| | |whole |theme |

| |(remember, you can write this without| | |

| |using “I think…”) | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

Use this chart to piece together your commentary.

5th – How can I make my commentary strong? What will guarantee a good grade?

Here are 5 ideas on what to do with a quote:

1) Analyze a word and/or image from the quote. Explain how the word’s denotation and connotation reveal or reinforce the meaning of the passage. Explain how the image’s sensory details reveal or reinforce the point the quote illustrates.

Example:

Concrete detail: Snowball only wanted good things for the animals, such as when he made the windmill that promised “light in the stalls and [warmth] in winter” (Orwell 54). **all following examples will use this quote**

Commentary: Snowball’s guarantee of “warmth” connotates more than just a literal warmth. By having these luxuries, the animals will also be warmed from within, connected by a common bond, which is reaping the benefits of their labor. However, Napoleon usurped this “warmth” by robbing them of a literal warmth, which would of course undermine the figurative “warmth”.

2) Explain how the information in the quote relates to a significant action, characterization or idea from the text.

Example: Reference back to the 3rd step. Notice how I analyzed the characterization.

3) Sometimes what a quote doesn’t say is more important than its surface details. Explain how the information the quote lacks relates to a significant action, characterization, or idea from the text.

Commentary: Snowball’s promises reveal how idealistic he is. He is only pointing out the good things about the windmill. Sometimes people who are too idealistic have trouble seeing the realities of life. Napoleon does the complete opposite; he only inflicts the harsh realities of life.

4) Discuss the symbolism of an object mentioned in the quotation.

Commentary: The windmill represented far more than just electricity to the animals. It also symbolized unity as they animals would need to band together and work as one in order to complete a project so vast. If Snowball had still been around, and let the animals have heating and electricity, the animals would have been living in a Communist set-up. However, Napoleon taints this.

5) Explain the irony of the quotation.

Commentary: Orwell uses this part of the novel to invoke satire, as it is impossible for animals to build windmills all on their own. Part of the satire he uses here is to poke fun at leadership styles, considering Snowball only thought about the positive aspects and is soon banished. He is saying that true Communism never lasts.

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