1. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Writing a Commentary

2. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Four Central Questions: 1. What is the author doing on the page? (Plot) 2. How is the author doing this? (Style) 3. Why is the author doing this? (Theme) 4. How does this page contribute to the understanding of the text as a whole?

3. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 General Points  If the passage involved follows an argument or sequence of events, a “linear” commentary may be used.  The passage may also involve areas of significance such as content, description, chronology, and contrasts which may be treated in “chunks” much like a comparative essay.  The linear approach can be successful, but you must avoid giving a line-by-line analysis as you may end up just paraphrasing or “translating” what the author is saying

4. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Where to Begin  An acronym to remember what to look for in a prose passage is SCASI:  Setting  Character  Action  Style  Ideas/Theme

5. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Where to Begin  If you look at each of these in an analytical way, you should be able to avoid “translating” the work. Keep the following questions in mind as well:  Who is narrating the passage?  How is the passage structured?  What language effects are striking?  What part does setting play?

6. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Questions to Keep in Mind  What tense and mood is used?  Is dialogue used?  Where does this passage fit in the novel (i.e. beginning or end)?  Is irony present?  What kind of effect does the passage have on you?

7. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Where to Begin  After reading the passage several times, annotate it using different colour highlighters and pens to help group and organize your thoughts

8. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Working From Top to Bottom  As a general rule, you should not jump around in your response – organize it by moving basically from the beginning to the end of the passage  Follow this when writing too, do not jump around in your response  Do not take this too literally, however, as you must incorporate other aspects of the text as well

9. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Group Your Ideas  Put similar things together  Indicate rhetorical devices on your text as you work through it and then link them together  Note similar ideas or structure

10. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Form and Content  Make connections based on how the form and content match up, and where they create meaning by opposition.  Essentially you must construct and deconstruct the passage.

11. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Context  Check the context of the passage in relation to the rest of the novel  Look at your notes and see if they match what you know about the text, or if they illuminate the text in a different way.  Be sure to give the context in your commentary as it makes the reader aware of, and comfortable with where they are, and confident in you as a guide to the passage.

12. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Clear Main Idea  Make sure what you want to say about the passage is clearly being expressed and you are identifying a clear main message  Look at your notes and formulate a main idea  This will become your reference point for your discussion  It is like a thesis, that ties your various points together – it is just not called a “thesis” in a commentary

13. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Inside, Outside, In  Make your comments about the page and then move outside the page to the novel as a whole.  Make connections to other significant points in the novel or stylistic examples that are relevant.  Whatever connection you want to make, be sure to highlight where in the text the idea originated and get back to it as soon as possible – the big marks are for analysis of the page itself.

14. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 The Introduction  There is no ONE correct way to write an introduction, but there are a few essentials that must be present. That is, you must ensure that your introduction has a clear focus.  The focus of your introduction can speak of the ways in which you will develop your commentary, which often means pointing out some literary devices.

15. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 For Example: In his poem “The Heron,” Vernon Watkins describes the striking sight of a heron standing on a rock by the sea. Through his descriptive images, metaphors, alliteration, complex rhyme scheme, and suggestions of Greek mythology and the Bible, Watkins gives the bird almost epic significance, completely transforming this simple occurrence.

16. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 The Introduction  Although this is in relation to poetry, the author demonstrates a clear grasp of the key concepts presented.  It is this perception of the “transforming vision” that makes this commentary good rather than merely satisfactory.  In the second sentence the author identifies literary techniques that specifically in this case help create both the meaning and the effect of the poem.  Many students vaguely refer to “language” rather than identifying the techniques that specifically characterize the chosen text.

17. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 The Introduction  You can also bring in outside knowledge of the author or the work if it is relevant. If the knowledge you have does not illuminate the passage in any way, do not bother.  Remember, however, not to go too far off track when speaking of the author or the rest of the text.  Keep in mind, this is an evaluation of the particular page you are assigned.

18. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 For Example “There’s no woman anywhere around the world that knows as much about business as I do, and we’re proud of that, but of course, the real work always fell on us.” Willa Catha’s 1913 novel O Pioneers! aims to capture the effects of the late 19th century land rushes in the unsettled territories of the United States on women, using strong characterization through dialogue. Like her other novels, Catha uses her writing to depict the struggle for land as well as power.

19. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 The Introduction  Although the quotation in the beginning does not really help the introduction as a whole, the paragraph itself is effective.  The author is clearly demonstrating an academic understanding of the text as they are not simply regurgitating plot, or translating what is on the page.

20. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 The Body  The body should be logically divided into paragraphs based on your separate ideas  You do not, however, need topic sentences to start each “argument” (as you do not necessarily have 3 arguments to support your main idea)  Remember, do not simply translate the page throughout  Instead, analyze the devices you have identified in terms of their significance to the passage

21. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 The Conclusion  Much like the conclusion in an essay, your commentary's conclusion will sum up your ideas  Remember, this is the last point you are leaving the reader with, so make it count

22. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0 Rubric Level RLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4 Knowledge & Understanding  Introduction lacks focus  Shows little understanding of literary devices  Shows limited understanding of the key features of the passage  Conclusion attempts to sum up commentary  Introduction has some focus  Shows some understanding of literary devices  Shows some understanding of the key features of the passage  Conclusion vaguely sums up commentary  Introduction has clear focus  Shows clear understanding of literary devices  Shows clear understanding of the key features of the passage  Conclusion sums up commentary  Introduction has a clear and insightful focus  Shows clear and insightful understanding of literary devices  Shows clear and insightful understanding of key features of the passage  Conclusion successfully sums up commentary Thinking & Inquiry  Focus statement is not clear  Poor incorporation of quotations  Quotations are inconsistently explained  Response consists mainly of narration and/or repetition of content  Focus statement is somewhat clear  Choppy incorporation of quotations  Quotations are adequately explained  Some awareness of the literary features of the extracted work  Focus statement is clear  Smooth incorporations of quotations  Quotations are well explained  Good awareness and detailed analysis of he effects of he literary features of he extract or work  Focus statement is clear and insightful  Seamless incorporation of quotations  Quotations are expertly explained  Excellent awareness and critical analysis of the effects of the literary features of the extracted work Communication  Little evidence of a structure to the response  Frequent coherence problems  Poor use of vocabulary  Some evidence of a structure to the response  Occasional coherence problems  Satisfactory use of vocabulary  Clear and logical structure to the response  Minor coherence problems  Competent use of vocabulary  Purposeful and effective structure to the response  Essay is coherent  Expert use of vocabulary Application  Frequent punctuation and sentence structure errors  Frequent verb tense errors  Frequent spelling errors  Frequent word choice errors  Poor paragraphing  Occasional punctuation and sentence structure errors  Occasional verb tense errors  Occasional spelling errors  Occasional word choice errors  Occasional paragraphing errors  Minimal punctuation and sentence structure errors  Minimal verb tense errors  Minimal spelling errors  Minimal word choice errors  Minimal paragraphing errors  Relatively free of punctuation and sentence structure errors  Relatively free of verb tense errors  Free of spelling errors  Relatively free of word choice errors  Free of paragraphing errors