1. Analysis Essay
Crafting Commentary

2. What is “Commentary?”
Writing commentary is another word for analysis, opinion, or interpretation.
Commentary is the most important part of the analytical essay.
Commentary should make up the majority of your essay.
Commentary essentially means “commenting” on the evidence (textual support) in the essay.
Commentary analyzes what is implied by the text and makes connections with elements and techniques used by the author.

3. Basic Essay Outline with Commentary
I. Introduction with thesis statement
II. Body paragraph #1
A. Topic Sentence
B. Evidence #1
1. commentary
C. Evidence #2
D. Evidence #3 (optional)
Concluding sentence

4. Basic Essay Outline with Commentary, Cont.
Body paragraphs #2 and #3 follow the same pattern.
IV Conclusion

5. Commentary vs Plot Summary
Plot summary is not analysis
Plot summary merely offers the big events in a story and does not offer any analysis
Here is an example of plot summary using textual evidence:
First this happened as shown in this quotation, “quotation.”
Then this happened as shown in this quotation, “quotation.”
Then this happened, too.
Finally, this happened
All of this shows how ambition leads to corruption.

6. Consider your Audience
Who will be reading your essay? Other students, your teacher, or professor.
Your audience knows the story; avoid plot summary!
Focus on the analysis of the evidence (commentary).

7. Commentary is…
Explaining how textual evidence demonstrates the argument (thesis statement).
Discussing the importance of each quotation in proving the thesis.
Supporting your opinion, which is your thesis statement
Elaborating on your thesis to make it more specific.

8. Do’s and Don’ts of Crafting Commentary
Do: Provide proof in the form of textual evidence (quotations) to support your opinions.
Don’t: Offer opinions without quotes.
Do: Stay focused on explaining the text.
Don’t: Digress from the text and explain mankind’s nature or the world in general.
Do: Stay focused on explaining the quotation you have selected and ONLY the quotation you have selected.
Don’t: Explain or summarize other parts of the text that are NOT shown in the quotation.

9. Do’s and Don’ts of Crafting Commentary, cont.
Do: Write at LEAST two sentences for each quote to explain the quote. What does the quote show? How does your quote selection PROVE your quote?
Don’t: Simply write one sentence of commentary or none at all. This is the MEAT of the essay. You should have more explanation (or commentary/analysis) than quotations in each body paragraph.
Do: Analyze the quote and explain it beyond what is obvious.
Don’t: Simply restate what the quote already says. Go beyond the obvious and read between the lines. What is implied by the quote? What can we not see?
Do: Use commentary that is focused on the quote.
Don’t: Use hypothetical “if” / “then” statements in the commentary because they CANNOT be proven.

10. Crafting commentary strategy #1: The “this shows that…” method
Step one: After a new quotation, begin a new sentence with “This shows that…” and then finish the sentence with your explanation.
Example: Macbeth concludes, “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” ( ). This shows that Macbeth’s conscience is still intact, so he resolves to do nothing to become king and not to act on the witch’s prophesy.
Step two: Add an additional “This shows that” sentence that explains HOW the quotation SHOWS the topic sentence in action (i.e. how the quotation provides evidence that the thesis is true). Note that commentary should not be random. It should connect to the topic sentence and the thesis statement, so be sure you only show the reader what’s important for your argument.

11. Crafting commentary strategy #1: The “this shows that…” method, cont.
Step two example:
Topic Sentence: Selfish desires in the guise of ambition can lead a person down the path of evil as Macbeth shows with regression of his morality from a victorious thane to a lustful killer.
Evidence: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other” ( ).
Commentary: This shows that Macbeth knows the only reason he has to kill Duncan is because of his own ambition for power. It also shows that he recognizes that his ambition will cause him to “fall.” In this respect, Macbeth’s selfish desires outweigh his sense of right and wrong.

12. Crafting commentary strategy #1: The “this shows that…” method, cont.
Step three: It’s not enough to offer only one piece of evidence and it’s not enough to one sentence of commentary per quotation.
Offer your reader explanations, connections, thoughts, and analysis in order to be convinced.
A good rule of thumb is TWO SENTENCES (minimum) FOR EVERY QUOTATION.
The majority of thought and words in an essay should be YOURS, so writing twice as much commentary as evidence will ensure this.

13. Crafting commentary strategy #1: The “this shows that…” method, cont.
Step 3 example:
This shows that for Macbeth, the only reason to kill Duncan is his own ambition for power. This also shows that Macbeth is willing to commit an evil act that is an illogical decision since he gives three reasons not to kill the king and only one reason to kill the king. This shows that Macbeth is not thinking clearly through his decision and is acting on his emotions.

14. Crafting commentary strategy #1: The “this shows that…” method, cont.
Step 4: After using the “this shows that…” method, you want to edit out the words, “this shows that…”
Continuing the use of “this shows that…” makes the essay sound choppy and repetitive.
Once the words “this shows that” are deleted, the essay will read fluidly and intelligently.
Be sure to add any transitional words needed to smooth out the new revision.

15. Crafting commentary strategy #1: The “this shows that…” method, cont.
Step 4 examples:
Example 1: Macbeth concludes, “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” ( ). Macbeth’s conscience is still intact, so he resolves to do nothing to become king and not act on the witches’ prophesy.
Example 2: Macbeth knows that the only reason he has to kill Duncan is because of his own ambition and selfish desire for power. He is willing to commit an evil act that is an illogical decision since he gives three reasons not to kill the king and only one reason to kill the king. Macbeth is not thinking clearly through his decision and his acting on his emotions.