how to make good commentary in an essay

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From Summary to Insight: A Guide to Writing Commentary Essays with Depth

Writing an essay can be daunting, let alone if you’re also providing commentary on it. But the reward of a job well done is worth the effort when you’re finished!

It has been noted that essays with thoughtful commentaries have a higher chance of being accepted for publication. So I’m here to help make it clear that essay writers need to understand the power of commentary and how to incorporate it into their work.

In this article, I’ll share my experience as a writer and provide insight on how to make your voice heard in an essay by using effective commentary. By following my advice, you’ll be able to craft a piece that stands out from the crowd and makes your thoughts shine through!

What Is Commentary In An Essay?

Over the course of your writing, you may have heard of the term ‘commentary’ in relation to essay writing. But what does it mean?

Simply put, commentary is analysis. It’s when you take a text and try to identify the deeper implications at play. In literary texts this could be symbolism, metaphors or dual meanings; with non-fiction texts it could include examining how an author makes use of evidence and arguments to support their position.

Writing a commentary essay requires close reading skills and the ability to interpret a wide range of information. It also requires you to think critically about how ideas are connected and draw conclusions about why certain elements are included in the text.

Commentary is an essential part of any essay because it allows your reader – who may not be as familiar with the text as you – to understand why you have drawn certain conclusions based on your interpretation.

It’s like giving them a guided tour through your thoughts and ideas so they can explore what makes your argument unique and interesting. Commentary also enables you to make connections between different aspects of the text that might not be obvious on first glance, helping bring out its significance even further.

By using commentary effectively, you can write an engaging essay that really gets your point across clearly.

The Significance Of Commentary In Essay Writing

Writing commentary in an essay can be a powerful tool for communicating ideas and arguments. It is essential to engage in critical thinking, interpretation, and analysis when writing commentary. Writing effective commentary requires the ability to construct a well-developed argument that supports the main point of the essay.

Here are 4 key elements of effective commentary:

A clear thesis statement
Relevant evidence that supports the argument
Interpretation and analysis of the evidence
A conclusion that summarizes the argument

Commentaries should be written with an engaging style that encourages readers to think critically about the topic at hand. Good literary commentary should be accessible, yet thought-provoking; it should both inform and entertain the audience. Additionally, it should challenge preconceived notions about a subject and provide an insightful perspective on why something matters or how it affects our lives.

In order to write effectively, one must first understand their audience and what they hope to communicate through their words. With this knowledge in mind, one can craft a compelling commentary that offers fresh insight into any given topic.

Transitioning seamlessly into the next section…

Key Elements Of Effective Commentary

Like the rising sun that signals a new day, effective commentary can offer a fresh perspective to an essay. With the right words and emphasis, it can engage readers in an entirely new way and bring them closer to understanding your argument.

Like a shimmering beacon of light, it has the power to grab their attention and draw them into your ideas.

Commentary does more than just summarize facts or provide background information – it also evaluates, interprets, and analyses information.

It’s an opportunity for you to delve into the heart of what you’re writing about, offering insight into its significance and exploring potential implications. By taking this approach, you can evaluate the importance of each point and develop your thesis with greater clarity.

Through thoughtful commentary, you can make connections between ideas that your readers may not have previously considered and help them reach their own conclusions about your argument.

Strategies For Writing Potent Commentary In Essays

Writing potent commentary in essays is essential to making a successful argument and gaining the reader’s interest. Here are four strategies that can help you write a good essay commentary:

Develop a strong thesis statement

A thesis statement serves as the core of your essay, and it should be explicit, engaging and supportable by evidence. It should also be concise so that readers can understand your main message immediately.

Understand the topic better

Spend some time researching the topic before you start writing to ensure you have a thorough understanding of it. This will give your commentary more depth and clarity.

Body And Paragraphs Organized

Make sure your body paragraphs are organized logically and clearly explain how your points relate to the overall theme or argument of your essay.

Each paragraph should have a single purpose, and make sure that all sentences within each paragraph work together to support that purpose.

Use literary analysis

When writing your commentary you can draw on elements like tone, imagery, diction, and syntax to make your argument more persuasive and compelling for readers. This will also help them better understand what you’re trying to communicate in your essay.

By incorporating these strategies into your essay writing process, you can create powerful commentary that effectively supports your argument and engages readers with meaningful insight into the text or topic at hand. With these tips in mind, let’s look at how to use quotations and examples in commentary to further enrich our arguments!

The Use Of Quotations And Examples In Commentary

Now that we’ve discussed strategies for writing powerful commentary in essays, let’s explore the use of quotations and examples when constructing these sentences.

Quotations and examples are essential for making strong commentary sentences that support an argument or analysis. When used correctly, they can be a great way to illustrate a point and add interest and texture to your argument.

When including a quotation in your commentary, it is important to make sure it is properly attributed. You should include both the author’s name and the source from which the quote was taken. This not only strengthens your argument by adding credibility, but it also shows you have done your research.

Examples are also effective for proving a point or introducing a new concept. They help to break up longer paragraphs, explain difficult concepts in more detail, and provide evidence or substantiation for an idea or opinion. When using examples in commentary sentences, it is important that they are relevant to the topic at hand and accurately represent what you are attempting to say in your essay.

With this information in mind, let’s move on to examining types of commentary in essays; comprehending the contrasts.

Types Of Commentary In Essays: Comprehending The Contrasts

As a student writing a commentary essay, it is important to understand the differences between analyzing, summarizing, and evaluating. To help comprehend these contrasts, let’s take a look at four main points:

1. Analyzing – Looking closely at something and breaking it down into smaller parts to better understand it.

2. Summarizing – Taking the information from a larger group of data and boiling it down into its key elements.

3. Relating – Exploring how two or more ideas are connected and how they affect each other.

4. Evaluating – Examining different aspects of an issue or argument and determining its worth or value by expressing an opinion about it.

Using these four points as a framework for writing your commentary essays can help you to be more effective in your analysis, summary and evaluation of any given topic.

Furthermore, this knowledge will also serve you well when crafting strategies for writing literary essays that contain thoughtful commentary elements.

With this in mind, let us now turn our attention to creating such strategies…

Strategies For Writing Commentary In Literary Essays

Having discussed the differences between types of commentary, let’s now turn to strategies for writing effective commentary in literary essays.

When it comes to providing commentary, it is important to understand that you are making a statement about something; whether it be an interpretation or opinion, you need to make a clear statement.

You should also comment on any phrases or passages that have stood out and explain why they are significant.

It is also important to identify the underlying message of the text. This means going beyond surface-level analysis and delving into the deeper meaning of the work.

To do this, think about what is not being said as much as what is being said.

Make sure your comments add depth to your analysis and provide new insights for your readers.

Finally, take care when constructing your sentences so that your points come across clearly and convincingly.

Writing Commentary For Convincing Essays

I’m sure you’re excited to finally get started on writing your commentary for a convincing essay! It can be intimidating to write about something without knowing what type of essay you’re working on. But if you take the time to read through the assignment and passage, you’ll have a much better idea of what you need to write.

When it comes to writing your commentary, try not to worry too much about “sounding smart” or “having all the right answers.” Instead, focus on writing like yourself—in your own voice, with your own ideas. The more authentic and engaging your writing is, the more persuasive it will be to readers.

So don’t be afraid to express yourself—you may just surprise yourself with how creative and interesting your thoughts can be! With that said, let’s move on to creating commentary that supports your thesis statement.

Creating Commentary That Supports Your Thesis Statement

As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. Looking back now, it’s clear that writing an effective commentary for a convincing essay requires some finesse and insight.

When starting to write, it’s important to have a good understanding of the topic you are discussing and to provide enough context for your audience to understand what you are discussing. Additionally, it helps to have an understanding of opposing viewpoints before you start writing so that you can avoid falling into common traps.

To create commentary that supports your thesis statement effectively, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

1. Make sure your argument is sound and won’t be easily refuted by an opposing point of view.

2. Avoid introducing new evidence or topics in your commentary; instead focus on the evidence already presented in the essay body.

3. Take the time to help explain why certain evidence matters and why readers should care about it.

The goal of commentary is not just to express an opinion but also provide meaningful analysis that will help prove or disprove a point of view. By being mindful of these considerations when writing, it is possible to create effective commentary that will help readers better understand your argument and its implications.

Common Mistakes To Avoid In Commentary Writing

I think one of the biggest mistakes I can make when writing a commentary essay is to overgeneralize my points. It’s important to provide specific examples and evidence to back up my opinion and avoid making sweeping conclusions.

Additionally, when writing a commentary essay, it’s also easy to forget to include evidence to support my argument. Making sure to include evidence will make my piece of writing much more convincing and credible.

Avoiding Overgeneralization

When writing a commentary essay, it’s important to avoid overgeneralizing your topic.

Sure, it may be tempting to make sweeping statements about the issue at hand, but this won’t do justice to your argument.

Instead, try to focus on concrete evidence and facts that back up your opinion.

For example, include statistics or subjective accounts from experts in the field.

This will ensure that you don’t come off as too biased or uninformed in your commentary.

By avoiding overgeneralization and being specific in your evidence, you can present a much more convincing argument and captivate readers with innovation.

Remember: always strive for accuracy when building an argument!

Lack Of Evidence

When it comes to commentary writing, one of the biggest mistakes people make is not having enough evidence to back up their argument. Without any supporting evidence, your argument can easily be dismissed as biased and uninformed.

This is especially true when discussing contentious topics like politics or religion. It’s important to remember that you’re usually assigned a commentary essay for a reason—so make sure you have enough facts and figures to give your readers an informed opinion. Otherwise, you may struggle to convince them of your point of view.

To make sure your argument stands out from the crowd, research extensively and use concrete evidence whenever possible. This will show that you’ve put in the effort and will help ensure a more innovative outcome for your audience.

Tips For Revising And Editing Commentary

Revising and editing your commentary is an important step in writing an essay. It helps to ensure that you are conveying the most accurate and persuasive message.

To do this, it’s important to read through your writing again and summarize any points that you noticed while reading. This will allow you to make sure that each point is clear and concise. As students need to be able to write effectively, it is also important to pay close attention to the language used throughout the essay.

Looking for words that could be replaced with more precise ones or focusing on certain aspects of literature can help bring life to a paper.

It is also essential to check for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other errors before submitting the essay. Making sure all of these elements are correct can help enhance the paper’s overall quality.

Additionally, as you review your work, look for any areas where clarification may be necessary. Taking a second look at what you wrote will help ensure that the reader fully understands all of your points and implications.

By following these tips when revising and editing commentary in an essay, readers can gain a clearer understanding of the author’s intended message.

Examples Of Strong And Poor Commentary In Essays

A necessary part of writing an essay is the commentary. It’s the all-important part that allows for a deeper understanding of what is being written and allows the reader to get a fuller picture of the writer’s thoughts.

Unfortunately, not everyone understands the need to understand commentary. Many writers think they can simply paraphrase their sources without paying attention to how they are using irony or antithesis, missing out on valuable opportunities to add depth and complexity to their work.

Commentary should be used to engage readers in a way that speaks directly to their subconscious desire for innovation. It should be written in a personal tone of voice with contractions and an engaging style that will grab readers’ attention and make them want more.

If done correctly, it can bring new life and insight into an essay, allowing it to stand out from the rest.

Paragraph Construction With Commentary

In this section, I’m going to be talking about paragraph construction with commentary. As part of writing an essay, it is important to think about how you are going to use literary elements and techniques to convey your main idea or argument. I was always taught by my instructor that the way you structure your paragraphs can really make a difference in how effective your message is.

So, let’s take a look at some tips for constructing well-crafted paragraphs that provide an engaging commentary.

First of all, try not to write too long of a sentence as this can lead to confusion for the reader.

Secondly, make sure that each paragraph has one clear point that ties back into the main argument or idea you are trying to convey in your essay.

Finally, use transition words and phrases as needed throughout the essay so that readers can easily follow along with your discussion.

All these steps help ensure that readers understand and appreciate what you have written in your essay. With these tips in mind, let’s move on to discussing transition words and phrases for commentary.

Transition Words And Phrases For Commentary

In the world of higher education, commentary is a powerful tool that can bring literature to life in a way that no other piece can. It’s almost magical how one can take an otherwise mundane poem and turn it into something extraordinary with just a few words. Commentary has the ability to transform isolation into coherence in ways that are simply astounding!

Here is a 4-point list for successful commentary:

1. Read the text multiple times before writing any comments.

2. Take notes on what stands out most to you.

3. Use concrete examples from the text to better illustrate your points.

4. Be sure to engage with your audience in a way that encourages them to think more deeply about the subject matter at hand.

Commentary is an invaluable skill for anyone looking to make their mark on a piece of literature, so use it wisely and always strive for excellence! With this knowledge, we can now move on to exploring how to write a conclusion with commentary – do’s and don’ts included!

Writing A Conclusion With Commentary: Do’s And Don’ts

Now that you know the transition words and phrases for commentary, it’s time to learn how to write a conclusion with commentary. It can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be.

One of the most important things to remember is not to rely too heavily on your homework. Spending too much time memorizing facts and figures won’t help you in the long run when it comes to showcasing your opinion. Therefore, try to focus on critical thinking skills instead of wasting time studying for hours on end.

While two sentences are usually enough for a conclusion, make sure that each one packs a punch and is full of insight and analysis. Hone your skills by getting feedback from others so you can refine your writing and develop a style that resonates with any reader.

This can help ensure that your concluding remarks leave an impactful impression on those who read them.

Overall, effective commentary is essential for producing a successful essay.

Writing commentary allows you to demonstrate your understanding and personal thoughts on the topic and can really amplify your argument.

By incorporating examples, quotations, and other evidence into your commentary, you are able to bring life to your writing in a manner that will make it stand out from the crowd.

As an age-old proverb says, “A picture paints a thousand words”; similarly, strong commentary paints an even grander picture of your argument.

With these tips in mind, I look forward to seeing you all write some truly standout essays!

How to Write a Commentary

Last Updated: October 14, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Richard Perkins . Richard Perkins is a Writing Coach, Academic English Coordinator, and the Founder of PLC Learning Center. With over 24 years of education experience, he gives teachers tools to teach writing to students and works with elementary to university level students to become proficient, confident writers. Richard is a fellow at the National Writing Project. As a teacher leader and consultant at California State University Long Beach's Global Education Project, Mr. Perkins creates and presents teacher workshops that integrate the U.N.'s 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the K-12 curriculum. He holds a BA in Communications and TV from The University of Southern California and an MEd from California State University Dominguez Hills. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 686,094 times.

At some point in your life, you'll probably have to write a commentary. Whether you're a teacher, editor, student, or amateur critic, knowing how to constructively analyze someone's work is a useful skill. There isn't a magical formula for writing a commentary. The commentary you write depends upon what you're reviewing, why you're giving feedback, and what you think about the work. No matter what you’re working on, having a clear goal and strong writing will help make your commentary successful.

Writing a Literary Commentary

Your thesis is your argument or your point of view. This is where you take a stance, and spend the rest of the essay supporting your thesis.
Maybe you are writing a commentary on Great Expectations . Your thesis could be, “Not only is Dickens’ tale engaging, it is also an insightful commentary on the differences between social classes in industrial Britain.”

You might write at the top of your outline, “Important Themes in Great Expectations”. You could then make bullet points such as “Setting”, “Ambition”, “Class”, etc.

You might start by saying, “ Great Expectations is full of imagery that makes the reader feel as if they are in 19th century England with Pip. Dickens’ novel about class, ambition, and love sheds important light on the social divides of the time.”
You could then list the themes that you will discuss in the body of your commentary.

Step 4 Use specific examples to support your thesis.

An excellent specific example to illustrate this theme is pointing out that the character remains in her wedding dress, despite being jilted decades before.

Step 5 Connect your examples back to the theme.

You might write something like, “Miss Havisham is an example of the theme that love can sometimes go terribly wrong. This is also an important theme when examining the relationship between Pip and Estella.”
Make sure to use smooth transitions. When you move to a new example, use a good transition word or phrase. Some examples are “similarly”, “conversely”, and “again”.

In your commentary on Great Expectations , you would want to make sure that you emphasize your summary again: this is a good example of class divisions and how ambition is not always the best quality.
You might also choose to compare it to another book from the same period to illustrate why the work by Dickens is significant. However, you generally shouldn’t introduce new information in your conclusion.

Creating Data Commentary

You might also be asked by your boss or teacher to write a data commentary. Make sure to ask about their expectations, such as length.

For example, if the research is about the graduation rate in the Chicago Public Schools, you need to explain the numbers and illustrate why the results are important.

You might say something like, “As shown in Figure 1.2, the costs of healthcare have risen at a steady rate since 2000.”

As in the rest of your data commentary, your conclusion should refer to specific pieces of data.

You should include a specific section for resources at the end of your data commentary.
Any time you cite numbers or a quote, make sure to provide a reference.

Commentary Outlines

Expert Q&A

If you are writing a commentary for a class, make sure to carefully follow the instructions. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Make sure to carefully edit and polish your writing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/HOWTOWRITEALITERARYANALYSISESSAY_10.15.07_001.pdf
↑ Richard Perkins. Writing Coach. Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.
↑ https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/intranet/undergraduate/skills/commesswriting/commentarywriting/
↑ https://files.udc.edu/docs/asc/Outline_Structure_for_Literary_Analysis_Essay_HATMAT.pdf
↑ https://germanna.edu/sites/default/files/2022-03/Literary%20Analysis.pdf
↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-9-citations-and-referencing/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/writing-data-commentary/
↑ https://ebooks.hslu.ch/academicwriting/chapter/4-5-results/
↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4789530/

About This Article

To write a commentary, write about your observations and analysis of the text you read. You should craft a clear and specific thesis statement about the novel, poem, or play you are evaluating. Your thesis statement should explain your stance or argument about the text. Use this thesis statement to build a brief outline of your commentary and then choose specific details from the text to support your argument. Then, add an introduction to give your reader some context for the themes you will discuss. For tips from our Education reviewer on how to write a data commentary, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to write a commentary essay: tips and examples.

Updated: May 3, 2024

Ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of writing a commentary essay? It can be daunting to express your thoughts coherently and engage your readers effectively. A commentary essay requires you to analyze a text critically, offering your perspective in a structured and detailed manner. This blog will guide you through understanding what a commentary essay is, exploring its types, and providing steps and tips to write one effectively, including examples and essential do's and don'ts.

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Understanding what a commentary essay is.

A commentary essay is a type of writing where you, the author, provide your personal interpretation and analytical comments on a given text. This could be a book, an article, a film, or any other form of media. The purpose of this essay is not just to summarize the content but to dive deep into its elements and offer insights based on your understanding. This kind of essay helps in sharpening critical thinking skills and allows you to convey your perspectives in a structured manner.

In academic and professional settings, the importance of a commentary essay lies in its ability to demonstrate your ability to critically engage with texts and articulate your thoughts clearly. Here are some key aspects that highlight its significance:

Enhances analytical skills : By analyzing different layers of the text.
Improves writing skills : As it requires clear and coherent expression of your thoughts.
Encourages independent thinking : You interpret the text in your unique way without relying solely on external commentaries.

Exploring Types of Commentary Essays

Commentary essays come in various forms, each serving a unique purpose and audience. One popular type is the literary commentary , which focuses on analyzing a specific passage from a literary work. This type of commentary delves into the text's themes, stylistic choices, and overall significance within the larger context of the work. It's not about summarizing but rather interpreting and offering new insights about the text. Literary commentaries are particularly useful in academic settings where deep textual analysis is required to understand the nuances of literature.

Another distinct type is data commentary . Unlike its literary counterpart, data commentary does not deal with traditional texts. Instead, it focuses on interpreting and discussing data, often presented in formats such as graphs, tables, or charts. The key points of a data commentary might include the data's reliability, trends, and what these imply about the broader research context. This type is commonly found in scientific or technical fields, where understanding data is crucial for advancing knowledge and making informed decisions.

Steps to Writing a Commentary Essay

Writing a commentary essay involves a systematic approach that starts with thorough planning. Initially, you must carefully read and analyze the text to fully grasp its content and subtleties. This critical first step sets the foundation for your commentary, as it allows you to form a clear understanding of the text's main points and underlying messages. It's not just about understanding what the text says, but also about interpreting and evaluating its deeper meanings and implications.

After your initial analysis, the next step is to outline your essay. This outline should include an introduction that sets up your thesis statement, a body where you will expand on your main points with detailed commentary, and a conclusion that ties all your insights together and reinforces your thesis. The key to a successful commentary essay is linking your observations back to your main thesis , ensuring that each section of your essay contributes to a cohesive and persuasive argument.

Specific Methods for Crafting Commentary

One effective method for crafting insightful commentary in your essay is the "This Shows That" method . This technique involves starting your analysis sentences with the phrase "this shows that," which prompts you to explain the significance of a quotation or a detail from the text. This method helps in steering clear of mere plot summary by encouraging a deeper analysis of how specific elements of the text contribute to its overall meaning or theme.

Another powerful strategy is the "LET" method , which stands for Literary Elements and Techniques. This approach guides you to focus on the literary devices used in the text and discuss how they enhance the narrative or argument. For instance, you might analyze the use of metaphor, symbolism, or irony, and explain how these elements support the text's themes. By using the LET method, you can provide a more nuanced interpretation that highlights your ability to engage critically with literary texts.

Example of a Well-Written Commentary Essay

Let's consider an example of a well-written commentary essay on the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. The essay begins with an introduction that contextualizes the poem and presents the thesis: Frost uses the road as a metaphor for life's choices. The body paragraphs delve into detailed analysis:

Exploring the metaphor : The essay discusses how the "two roads diverged" symbolizes life decisions.
Imagery and tone : The commentary highlights how Frost's use of serene and contemplative imagery enhances the theme of choice.
Reader’s personal reflection : The essay includes the author’s personal interpretation, suggesting that the poem resonates with readers who face significant life choices.

In the conclusion, the essay synthesizes the analysis by reaffirming how Frost’s use of literary techniques, such as metaphor and imagery, effectively underscores the poem's deeper meaning about choices and consequences. This example demonstrates the key elements of a commentary essay:

Thesis-driven : It is centered around a clear, arguable thesis.
Textual evidence : It uses specific examples from the poem to support claims.
Personal interpretation : It reflects the writer’s unique perspective on the text.

Tips for Writing an Effective Commentary Essay

a person writing in a notebook with a pen

When embarking on writing a commentary essay, it's crucial to focus on structure, style, and content . Begin with a clear and concise thesis statement that will guide the flow of your essay. This statement should not only state your main point but also set the tone for the arguments you will present. Here are some style tips to consider:

Use a formal yet engaging tone to connect with your reader.
Vary your sentence structures to keep the essay dynamic and interesting.
Employ rhetorical questions sparingly to provoke thought without overusing them.

Structurally, your essay should have a logical flow that makes it easy for readers to follow your analysis. Start with an introduction that hooks the reader and provides a roadmap of your commentary. The body of your essay should then elaborate on your thesis statement, with each paragraph focusing on a single idea supported by evidence from the text. Finally, ensure your conclusion ties all your points together and reinforces your thesis, leaving the reader with a strong impression of your analytical skills. Remember, the key to an effective commentary is not just in what you say, but in how you say it.

Concluding Your Commentary Essay Properly

Concluding your commentary essay is crucial as it's your final opportunity to make an impact on the reader. A strong conclusion will not only summarize the main points but also reinforce your thesis statement and show how your analysis adds to the understanding of the text. Consider linking back to your introduction or using a quotation that emphasizes your main point. This creates a sense of completeness and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of your insights.

To ensure your conclusion is effective, try these strategies:

Synthesize, don't just summarize : Briefly reiterate your main points to show how they interconnect and support your thesis.
Include a provocative insight or quotation : This can give your conclusion depth and resonance.
Propose questions or suggest further areas of study : This encourages the reader to think beyond the essay and apply your analysis in broader contexts. By implementing these methods, your conclusion will serve as a powerful capstone to your commentary essay.

Key Terminology in Commentary Writing

Understanding the key terminology in commentary writing is crucial for anyone looking to master this style of essay. Terms like "thesis statement" refer to the main idea or argument that your essay proposes and defends throughout the text. Another important term is "textual evidence," which includes quotations, summaries, or paraphrases from the text to support your thesis. These elements are vital as they provide the foundation and support for your commentary, ensuring that your analysis is grounded in the text itself.

Additionally, the term "analysis" in commentary writing involves breaking down the text into its components to understand its meanings, themes, and implications more deeply. This process is often supported by identifying and discussing various literary devices such as metaphor, symbolism, or irony used by the author. Recognizing these devices helps to enrich your interpretation, offering a more nuanced view of the text. Personal interpretation , another key term, refers to your unique perspective and insights on the text, which adds originality and depth to your essay.

Do's and Don'ts in Commentary Essay Writing

When writing a commentary essay, it's crucial to adhere to specific best practices while avoiding common pitfalls. Do ensure you always cite your sources to back up your analysis and provide credibility to your essay. Do include a clear and concise title that reflects your thesis and the essence of the commentary. It's also important to thoroughly understand and present the original content you are discussing, including details about the author and publication.

On the flip side, there are several things you should avoid to maintain the quality of your commentary essay. Don't merely summarize the entire content; instead, focus on analyzing and interpreting the text. Avoid including irrelevant citations just to fill space—every source should add value to your argument. Lastly, don't overlook the importance of proofreading ; always review your work to correct any grammatical or structural errors, ensuring your final piece is polished and professional.

Enhance Your Commentary Essay with Samwell.ai

Samwell.ai significantly simplifies the process of writing commentary essays by providing AI-powered writing assistance. This tool is designed to help you craft well-researched, insightful essays that adhere to academic integrity. With features like advanced plagiarism checks and access to authentic sources , Samwell.ai ensures that your essay is not only original but also rich in content and analysis. This is crucial in commentary essays where depth and originality are key.

Using Samwell.ai, students and professionals can focus more on developing their analytical skills without the stress of extensive research and citation management. Here’s how you can benefit:

Ease of use : The interface is user-friendly, making essay writing more accessible.
Time-saving features : Quick access to data and citations speeds up the writing process.
Enhanced learning : Provides multimedia integrations for a comprehensive understanding of topics. To experience these benefits firsthand, visit Samwell.ai and start enhancing your essays today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start a commentary in an essay.

Starting a commentary essay effectively involves setting up a clear and engaging introduction. Begin with a hook to capture the reader's interest, followed by background information on the text you will be analyzing. Then, introduce your thesis statement, which will guide the flow of your essay and state your main point. This structure not only prepares the reader for what is to come but also sets the tone for a coherent and persuasive argument.

What is an example for commentary?

An example of a commentary essay is analyzing the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. The essay could start with an introduction that contextualizes the poem and presents the thesis that Frost uses the road as a metaphor for life's choices. The body paragraphs would delve into detailed analysis, discussing the metaphor of the roads diverging, the use of serene and contemplative imagery, and the personal reflection of the reader. The conclusion would then synthesize this analysis, reaffirming how Frost’s literary techniques effectively underscore the poem's themes about choices and consequences.

What is the format of writing commentary?

The format of writing a commentary essay includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Begin with an introduction that includes a hook, background information, and a thesis statement. The body should consist of several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific part of the analysis linked back to the thesis. Each paragraph should contain textual evidence and detailed commentary. Conclude the essay by synthesizing the main points, reinforcing the thesis, and suggesting further implications or questions for the reader to consider. This structured approach helps maintain a clear and logical flow, making your analysis easy to follow.

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School of Modern Languages and Cultures

Writing a literary commentary: guidelines, what is a commentary.

First and foremost, a literary commentary is NOT an essay. The passage in front of you is not, therefore, an invitation to write a general essay about the work from which it has been taken.
A commentary is an analysis of the given passage, its function and its characteristics. It should examine the key themes and stylistic devices of the passage, showing how the language works to convey (or at times undermine) its content.
A commentary should relate the passage to the rest of the work (novel, collection of poems, etc.), but remain focused in the main on the details of the passage itself.
Make sure that your commentary covers the whole passage. For instance, if you are given a poem with five stanzas, you should try to say something about each stanza.
Use line numbers (in both poetry and prose) in your commentary, rather than wasting time by quoting at length.
When you do quote, make sure that your comments don't simply repeat what the quotation already says: 'In the line "Il pleut dehors", the poet tells us that it is raining outside ...'
Avoid verbosity or inaccurate terminology. Clarity and precision are top priorities, and polysyllabic words do not improve a commentary.
Don't use words like 'effective', 'atmospheric', or 'beautiful' unless you are also explaining what the effect, atmosphere or beauty of the passage are, and how they are achieved.

How should I write my commentary?

There are no fixed rules for writing a commentary, but a general structure will be suggested. You should always PLAN your commentary before you start writing it, following these guidelines where appropriate.

1 Introduction

Put the passage into context , and summarise its arguments briefly (in a few sentences): do not spend too much time discussing matters outside of the passage.
You should assume that your reader has read the work from which the passage has been taken.
You may want to point out the passage's most important thematic and structural aspects in your introduction.
Introduce the main themes and structural aspects of the passage.
What kind of passage is it (description/dialogue/free indirect speech), and what is its function (in the rest of the work)?
What is its overall structure (repetitious/circuIar/leitmotifs/develops to a climax)?
What is the narrative point of view (first-person/third-person/omniscient or not)?
What are the register (high/low) and tone (comic/surreal) of the passage?

3 Detailed Analysis

This is the most substantial part of the commentary. It should not be simple description or paraphrase, but an analysis of how the language of the passage functions. The following are aspects of the text that you should look for:

Sentence structure
Tense usage
Word order (balance or lack thereof, harmony, repetition, parallels)
Figurative language (imagery, metaphors, similes, symbolism, allegory, personification, myth, antithesis, irony, paradox)
Characterisation (or lack thereof)
Narrative technique/point of view (first/third person, limited point of view, stream of consciousness)
Punctuation
Alliteration, assonance, rhyme (poetry and prose)

Remember that no text is likely to have instances of all of these elements, and that it is best to concentrate on those that are most relevant to the passage in question. Also, you should avoid simply commenting on the appearance of a particular technique: make sure you say why this is worth noticing. Ideally, your comments should cohere to explain how the various linguistic devices combine to produce the overall effect intended by the author.

4 Conclusion

Summarise your findings, drawing together the different aspects of the text that you have discussed in your commentary.
Assess briefly the achievements and significance of the passage, both in itself and in relation to the work from which it is taken.

Some useful aids to commentary-writing

Nurse, P. (ed.), The Art of Criticism: Essays in French Literary Analysis (Edinburgh, 1969) (sample commentaries of French literary texts)
Biard, J. D., Lexique pour I 'explication de texte (Exeter, 1980)
Benac, H., Vocabulaire de la dissertation (Paris, 1949)

(Binac and Biard provide lists of technical terms used in close analysis of a literary text in French, and give explanations and examples of usage)

Commentary Essay: Student Guidelines & Examples

Icon Calendar 7 September 2024
Icon Page 7343 words
Icon Clock 33 min read

When people need to express their thoughts or ideas about something, they need guidelines on how to write a commentary essay. Basically, this article begins by defining what is a commentary essay, its meaning, and outlining its basic format and structure. Then, some insights students can learn are that introductions should have hooks, background information, and thesis statements. In writing, body paragraphs of this type of essay should have topic sentences; evidence, mainly quotes; comments after the evidence; and transitions. Finally, a conclusion part should restate a central thesis and summarize main ideas. This writing guideline also gives an outline, template, possible topics, and a practical example of a commentary essay. Lastly, a presented article teaches students 10 dos and 10 don’ts as 20 tips for writing a high-standard commentary essay, as well as what to include in such compositions and what to avoid.

General Aspects

Reading is an academic exercise that develops a person’s mental faculties of intellect, memory, reason, intuition, perception, and imagination. In principle, these faculties develop when people utilize what they have acquired through reading to write different types of essays , including reports and research papers. Therefore, reading and writing are related because they both induce intellectual development. As such, this guideline on how to make a correct commentary in an essay teaches students and anyone passionate about writing how to create a good argumentative position that meets quality standards for intellectual discourse and publication. A provided guideline also offers vital insights, including a simple definition of what is a commentary essay, its basic format and structure, different types, possible essay topics, 10 dos and 10 don’ts, 20 tips, what to include and what to avoid for producing a high-standard essay. Therefore, reading this guideline is beneficial to students and others who may, from time to time, write a commentary in an essay to communicate ideas to specific audiences.

What Is a Commentary Essay and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a commentary essay is a form and type of academic writing where an author provides a detailed analysis and interpretation of a particular subject, such as a text, event, or issue. For example, the main purpose of writing a commentary essay is to analyze and critique a subject matter while providing a personal perspective, helping readers to understand deeper meanings or implications (Rogers, 2024). Unlike a summary, which simply recounts information, a commentary essay engages with a specific material, exploring how and why certain aspects are significant. Further on, students may examine different themes, underlying messages, or societal impacts, offering their viewpoints to spark discussion or further thought (Hackett, 2021). In writing, such papers include evidence to support interpretations, such as quotes, data, or real-life examples, ensuring an entire argument is well-grounded. Moreover, through this reflective process, this writing type of composition encourages readers to question, interpret, and explore different perspectives, fostering a more comprehensive engagement with a topic at hand (Lauritzen, 2021). In terms of pages and words, the length of a commentary essay depends on academic levels, assignment requirements, and subjects under analysis, while general writing guidelines are:

High School

Length: 2-4 pages
Word Count: 500- 1,000 words

College (Undergraduate)

Length: 4-6 pages
Word Count: 1,000-1,500 words

University (Advanced Undergraduate)

Length: 6-10 pages
Word Count: 1,500-2,500 words

Master’s

Length: 10-20 pages
Word Count: 2,500-5,000 words
Length: 20-30 pages
Word Count: 5,000 to 7,500+ words

What Is a Commentary in an Essay | Writing Guide & Examples

Note: Some writing sections of a commentary essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, depending on academic purposes and instructor’s requirements. For example, a standard commentary essay format involves an introduction that presents a specific topic and thesis, followed by body paragraphs that offer analysis, personal interpretation, and evidence, and concludes with a summary of insights and final thoughts (Rogers, 2024). Basically, commentary writing involves providing an individual’s analysis, interpretation, or personal insight on a specific topic, text, or event, often supported by evidence and critical reflection. Further on, in literature, a commentary is a specific act of providing an explanation, analysis, or personal perspective on a topic, text, or event, often focusing on its deeper meaning, significance, or implications (Lauritzen, 2021). A commentary example might be a person analyzing a specific novel by discussing some themes of identity and self-discovery, explaining how a protagonist’s journey reflects broader societal issues, and using quotes from a text to support various interpretations. Moreover, in an argumentative text, commentary refers to a person’s explanation of how the evidence supports a central claim, providing analysis, interpretation, and insight to strengthen a main idea (Hackett, 2021). In turn, to start a commentary essay, people introduce a unique topic, provide necessary context, and present a clear thesis that outlines their interpretation or argument regarding a specific subject.

Defining Features

From a simple definition, a commentary is a descriptive account of an event, an expression of opinions about a political, economic, social, or cultural issue, or elucidating a point or topic of public interest. From this perspective, a commentary essay is a document that students write to express opinions about an issue or topic through a descriptive expression and explanation of ideas (Hackett, 2021). In writing, a commentary essay differs from other types of texts, including an argumentative, personal narrative, cause and effect, compare and contrast, or problem and solution compositions, as well as a report and a research paper, because it means expressing an individual’s perspective concerning an issue or topic. For example, commentaries are products of a critical analysis of societal problems across political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions (Iskander et al., 2018). When writing a commentary essay, students should analyze and interpret a specific source under discussion, such as a text, film, article, video, advertisement, event, object, subject, book, poem, speech, presentation, literary work, novel, sculpture, or image, among others, using a basic sandwich rule: giving a commentary after each quote or citation.

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Basic Structure

Like other texts, a commentary paper has a basic essay structure that dictates how students should organize their content. For example, this writing structure has 3 components: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion (Rogers, 2024). Firstly, an introduction section is where people introduce their assigned topics using a hook, context, and an argumentative thesis statement. Although this type of essay is not a persuasive paper, an argumentative thesis indicates a person’s perspective on a chosen issue, which can be contentious in the eyes of readers. Then, a body section of a commentary essay is where authors construct a defense of their perspectives through writing body paragraphs; each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that establishes a claim; supporting evidence, like quotes, data, or examples; a commentary that analyzes and explains information cited in an essay; and a concluding sentence with a transition to create a logical connection to a next paragraph (Lauritzen, 2021). Finally, a conclusion section restates a central thesis and makes a final remark of writing. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a commentary essay are:

In today’s world, a subject of [topic] presents numerous challenges and questions that demand deeper examination, particularly when considering its impact on [societal issue, group, or theme].
An entire work of [author, event, or text] provides a fascinating exploration of [theme or idea], revealing complex layers of meaning that prompt readers to reflect on broader societal, cultural, or personal implications.
At a heart of [related topics], a hot discussion surrounding [subject] becomes more than a surface-level debate, offering valuable and challenging insights into the ways in which [issue] shapes people’s understanding of [related field or societal impact].
In an analysis of [topic or text], it becomes clear that there is a deeper, often overlooked element at play, one that forces people to reconsider their assumptions about [theme, issue, or perspective] and its relevance to contemporary discourse.
A narrative presented in [text or event] brings to light significant themes, such as [name some themes], which not only shape an entire story but also offer commentary on broader implications of [issue or topic] in modern society.
While at first glance, [topic or text] may appear straightforward, a more thorough investigation reveals underlying complexities related to [specific issue], encouraging readers to engage with a material on a more critical level.
By examining intricate details of [topic], this essay will analyze different arguments and themes that contribute to a deeper understanding of [related field or idea], ultimately highlighting its relevance in today’s world.
A controversial discussion surrounding [text or issue] often centers on [popular interpretation], yet a closer look reveals subtleties that challenge this conventional view, offering a more nuanced perspective on [key theme or argument].
Through a careful analysis of [event, text, or subject], one can observe how [specific aspect] acts as a microcosm for larger societal or cultural dynamics, providing deeper insight into [related theme or issue].
An exploration of [subject] in this essay seeks to explain a significant impact it has on [broader topic or field], not only offering critical insights but also questioning prevailing narratives that dominate discussions on [related issue].

5 Main Types

Because a commentary in an essay expresses a person’s perspective about an issue, idea, or topic, it is evident in a body section of such a paper, where people describe their perspectives every time they provide evidence. For example, there are different writing types of commentary people may use for organizing their papers (Rogers, 2024). A first type is an opinion essay where authors analyze evidence, such as a quote, text, or image, and state their stands with their critics. A second type of commentary essay is an interpretation, where students explain a complex concept to enhance a reader’s understanding. A third type is character or subject’s feelings, where learners depict an emotional state of a person they have described in a commentary sentence. A fourth type of commentary essay is a personal reaction, where people communicate their stances on an issue, while A fifth type is an evaluation, where students evaluate a section and give a critical judgment.

Alternative Forms and Examples

Besides the common types presented above, students may write alternative commentaries when their essay is part of a bigger writing project, such as a systematic exposition of an idea, theme, or topic. For example, students must know unique features of each type, including when to use it, what to focus on, and how to organize a commentary essay’s content in writing (Hackett, 2021). As such, alternative forms and examples are:

1️⃣ Close, Direct Analysis of Passages

An example of an alternative commentary in an essay is a close, direct analysis of robust passages from a specific source, such as an article, film, poem, literary work, book, or novel. Basically, they are standard in bigger writing projects, like expositions or being part of a critic’s work (Rogers, 2024). In principle, students adopt this type of commentary when they have to read a passage in a text or pick a speech in a movie and write a film analysis essay that expresses a person’s perspective on central issues, ideas, or concepts. As a result, a following writing example of a commentary essay demonstrates a close, direct examination of a first stanza of a famous poem “Night Wind” by Christopher Dewdney:

Tonight the wind blows through all the worlds I have known and through all the lives I have led. The wind blows in the trees, deeper into each. The wind blows forever, strains like something endlessly departing. Restless, impatient, it races without burden.

Example of a Commentary on Celebration of Nature in the First Stanza of Christopher Dewdney’s Poem “Night Wind”

Christopher Dewdney’s 1984 poem “Night Wind” celebrates nature by depicting the night wind as a permanent, free expression of nature. The poet describes the wind on a particular night in the first stanza. By using a first-person perspective in the first three lines, Dewdney depicts himself as an observer. This writing style expresses a personal dialogue in which the poet directly relates his senses, experiences, and impressions. Dewdney opens the poem with the words: “Tonight the wind blows through / all the worlds I have known and / through all the lives I have led.” In this passage, the author expresses to the reader how the unity of the wind in whatever time or place leaves a lasting impression on him. Ideally, he views the wind as an omnipresent force but also regards it as very transient and fleeting. The words “endlessly departing” indicate to the reader the sense that the wind encompasses the entire continuum of the poet’s existence. Nonetheless, it is always in a rush to be at another location. The reader gets the impression that wind is a celebration of nature when Dewdney mentions its interactions with nature: “The wind blows in the trees, deeper into each.” This statement induces an imagination of trees fighting against a pervasive wind. The poet ends the stanza by personifying the wind, and he assigns it human qualities of restlessness, impatience, and playfulness. In this respect, the first stanza uses the wind as a reason to celebrate nature.

2️⃣ Commentary Annotations

Annotations are another writing type of alternative commentary in an essay where students use a short claim on a source, like a text, film, or image. For example, this kind of commentary essay also looks like an annotated bibliography (Hackett, 2021). Typically, people adopt annotations when they need to explain complex words, phrases, or concepts to readers; give a historical or cultural context of a topic; support or challenge author’s arguments in an essay; expose literary devices, like contrast, irony, or sarcasm, or rhetorical devices, like ethos, pathos, and logos; provide a personal interpretation of a text under analysis. Therefore, annotations aim to enhance a reader’s understanding of a short passage from a source (Berterö, 2016). Below are three writing examples of annotations of complex content in writing a commentary essay for Christopher Dewdney’s Poem “Night Wind.”

3 Examples of a Commentary With Annotations

➖ “The night wind is an empire / in exodus, a deliverance / beside the dark shape of trees.”

This statement is in lines 13-15 of Dewdney’s poem, where the poet alludes to a biblical concept, exodus, to express the wind’s freedom. By stating that the wind is “… in exodus, a deliverance…,” Dewdney makes the reader compare the wind to the incident in the book of Exodus in the Bible where Moses leads the children of Israel, God’s chosen people, to Canaan, the promised land, after freeing a life of bondage in Egypt. In this respect, lines 13-15 confirm that the wind is free and expresses nature’s freedom.

➖ “The wind takes / me in its giddy rush and / gathers me into a storm of longing, / rising on wings of darkness.”

In this statement in lines 18-21, the phrase “wings of darkness” emphasizes the wind’s freedom and mystery. The poet contextualizes the wind as an unpredictable force that can take a person anywhere .

➖ “Along oceans and rivers, / the gale’s mysterious, unspoken imperative / is a joyous delirium with / nothing at its end.”

This passage in lines 36-39 expresses Dewdney’s excitement in not knowing where the wind may take him. It suggests that it does not matter where the wind takes him because he is truly free. In essence, the statement makes the reader imagine the wind as a mystery because it can take one anywhere, emphasizing the theme of freedom.

3️⃣ Data Commentary

Data commentary is another writing type of alternative commentary in an essay where students summarize a study by analyzing critical information that helps readers to have a sneak peek of a project. Basically, main features students should incorporate in a commentary essay include visual illustrations, like charts, diagrams, graphs, and tables, to capture statistical data, allowing readers to compare them easily (Lewis et al., 2021). In writing, data commentary reflects the results section of a research paper because that is where scholars use visual illustrations to report statistical data. For example, to write a commentary in a synthesis essay, people explain how the evidence from different academic sources supports their thesis, analyze some connections between these articles, and provide their interpretation or insights on their combined significance (Lauritzen, 2021). Further on, another feature is a conclusion summarizing a commentary essay by reiterating key points and expressing a person’s final remark, meaning a main perspective on a given topic. Lastly, people must provide a reference page listing credible sources they consulted to write data commentaries, such as reports and research articles. Below is a writing example of data commentary.

Example of Data Commentary

Table 3 shows respondents’ responses to statements about the barriers to exercise prescription for people with mental illness. Those who agreed that patients’ mental health denies them the opportunity to exercise was 58%, while those who agreed that obtaining an injury during exercise is a concern was 45%. There was an overwhelming response by 87% of the respondents who agreed that exercise is beneficial and were interested in prescribing it for patients with mental health problems. However, only 13% agreed that prescribing exercise falls outside their job description. Nonetheless, 16% stated that they did not know how to prescribe exercise for the population. Overall, 71% approved that exercise professionals are best suited to prescribe exercise for people in the population.

Possible Uses of Block Quotations

When writing a commentary essay, students can use block quotations to organize comments. However, this feature is suitable mainly for extensive passages. For example, in a simple definition, a block quote is a text that captures direct quotations longer than 40 words, which a person offsets from a main text and does not include quotation marks (Pears & Shields, 2022). In writing, such a text appears on a new line with a 0.5 inches indentation or 5 to 7 spaces. Moreover, using single space for a block quote is standard, even in an essay requiring double spacing. Hence, students must know how to format block quotes in APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian referencing styles when writing a commentary essay.

📕 APA Format

There are two ways in which students can use block quotes in APA style when writing their commentary essays.

I. A first block captures an author’s name before a quote:

In their tabulation of results, Vancampfort et al. (2019) showed:

Almost 75% of the respondents indicated that they would “definitely” attend further training for exercise prescriptions for people with mental illness, in particular, related to how to assess patients and how to motivate them towards an active lifestyle. More than seventy percent of the participants also reported that exercise to people with mental illness is actually best delivered by an exercise professional, although only one respondent referred patients to such an exercise professional (p. 2178).

“[Your comments on a block quote starts here]”

II. Alternatively, a block quote can have an author’s surname at the end:

According to the findings:

📕 MLA Format

Similarly, MLA style has two ways of formatting a block quote when writing commentary essays.

I. Having a surname of an author preceding a block quote in an essay:

The results by Vancampfort et al. indicate:

II. Having an author’s surname at the end of a quote:

📕 Harvard Format

Harvard style also has two ways of formatting a block quote when writing commentary essays.

I. Indicating an author’s surname before a block quote in an essay:

In their findings, Vancampfort et al. (2019) established that:

II. Citing an author’s surname at the end of a block quote:

📕 Chicago/Turabian Format

Chicago/Turabian style also has two ways of formatting a block quote when writing commentary essays.

I. Mentioning an author’s surname before a block quote in an essay:

According to Vancampfort et al.:

II. Showing an author’s surname in a footnote:

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Key Features of Formatting Block Quotes

Looking at the examples of writing a commentary in an essay above, there are some similarities and differences in formatting block quotes. APA and Harvard are similar because they show a research article’s publication year and a page number of the information people cite in their commentary essays (Pears & Shields, 2022). Basically, the main difference is a specific arrangement of these details, including a place for putting comas. On the other hand, MLA and Chicago/Turabian styles are similar in that they do not show a research article’s publication year (Pears & Shields, 2022). In writing, the main difference is that the Chicago/Turabian style uses footnotes to show the author(s) and all the bibliography details at a commentary essay’s end. Moroever, MLA style shows only an author’s surname and a page number in a text. In turn, people begin writing their commentaries in the following line after a block quote as a standard paragraph in all the formats.

Examples of Commentary Essay Topics

Students should choose easy essay topics when writing a commentary essay to avoid complicating their tasks. For example, a specific topic should indicate a particular source document one is commenting on, such as a text, film, or image (Rogers, 2024). Basically, a standard practice is that instructors define commentary essay topics students should write about. However, people can choose other themes they are comfortable with if such instructions do not exist for writing a commentary essay. In writing, the best approach to choosing an easy topic is to engage with course content and read widely to generate and incubate ideas (Lauritzen, 2021). When the time comes to write an entire essay, one finds it easy to construct arguments that fit an entire task. As such, the following are possible commentary essay topics because they suggest analyzing and examining a source from a person’s perspective.

In Memory of Amelia Earhart: Sky’s Fearless Lady
Digital Privacy: A Fundamental Right or a Trade-Off for Security
Analyzing Bias in Mainstream News Media
Cultural Factors Influencing Eating Disorders
Central Themes in Harper Lee’s Novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”
“The Great Gatsby” Through Contemporary Lens
A Rhetorical Stance in Jessica Grose’s “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier”
A Key Message in Robert Frost’s Poem “The Road Not Taken”
Maya Angelou’s Magic in “And Still I Rise”
Demystifying Mental Disorders Through the Film “Black Swan (2010)”
An Actual Essence of Margaret Atwood’s “Negotiating With the Dead: A Writer on Writing”

Outline and Template

Title : Unique Topic

Title of a commentary essay must be precise to an assigned topic.
Title must be short, clear, and easily understandable.
Title must be interesting, catchy, and with relevant keywords.

I. Introduction

Essay introduction must have a hook that interests readers enough to grab their attention and stir a curiosity to continue reading.
Introduction must refer to a specific source (text, film, or image) and its author(s).
Introduction must summarize an assigned source that includes the main characters (if any), themes, or concepts.
Introduction must have a clear thesis statement that states a person’s claim.

Body paragraphs (at least three):

Each body paragraph of a commentary essay must have a topic sentence that emphasizes a single idea central to a main claim in a thesis statement that a person will defend in a paragraph.
Each body paragraph must include evidence from a source under analysis, such as a quote, indicating a character responsible and a context.
Each body paragraph must give a commentary about the evidence through relevant analysis, linking the information to a single idea at the beginning of a paragraph and a central claim in a thesis.
Each body paragraph must end with a closing statement and a bridge sentence to facilitate a logical flow to a next paragraph or section of an essay.

III. Conclusion

Sum up a commentary essay by:

Restating a thesis.
Emphasizing main ideas of a commentary essay.
Giving a final remark that confirms an actual importance of a discussed topic.

List of References

Cite a central source under analysis in an essay, including other academic articles, credible websites, or books, and follow specific citation rules, such as APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian referencing formats.

Commentary Essay Example

Title: A Rhetorical Stance in Jessica Grose’s “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier”

Introduction

A woman never rests, not with society constantly demanding her value at every turn. This idea is a central message in Jessica Grose’s famous article, “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier.” The author argues that cleaning remains a feature of women’s value in society, despite men’s growing involvement in childcare and cooking. The article also opens with personal accounts and convincing facts, suggesting its credibility as a source of information about the dynamics confronting American women. In her article, Grose communicates her message effectively by adopting a rhetorical stance characterized by emotional appeals.

Body Paragraphs

A. Commentary on a Main Idea of an Article

Grose opens the article with a personal story of her and her husband cleaning their house after Hurricane Sandy forced them indoors. For example, Grose (2013) uses an uneven distribution of a cleaning task in her marriage to point out a larger feminist issue of who between a husband and wife should do a job. The article gives three reasons why men shy away from the cleaning task, including the fact that it is women who receive praise for a clean house, the media focuses on men’s growing involvement in childcare and cooking, and it is not fun. Even the distribution of a cleaning task can happen by creating a task chart that shows who does what on a basis of skill and ability and adopting cleaning gadgets to make cleaning more fun.

Throughout the article, Grose uses sources to appeal to a reader’s ethos and build her argument. For example, Grose (2013) uses some of the sources to achieve these goals, and they include a study by sociologists Judith Treas and Tsui-o Tai and an article by Matthew Krehbiel, North America Fabric Care Brand Manager for P&G. Citing these sources helps the author to build her credibility in the eyes of readers.

Regarding appeals to logos, Grose mentions statistics and interesting facts that help to enhance the logical progression of ideas central to her argument. For example, temphasize the uneven distribution of the cleaning task, Grose (2013) says, “My husband and I both work…I do the dishes nine times out of ten, and he barely knows how the washer and dryer work.” Such facts confirm and support the idea that women do more household chores than men. Grose (2013) also cites statistics, showing “55 percent of mothers working full-time in America do some housework daily compared to 18 percent of fathers.” In this respect, the article is factual about an uneven distribution of household chores that disadvantages women. As a result, personal details and statistics from credible sources help the author to impress upon a reader how society uses a modern domestic environment to subjugate women.

The article appeals to a reader’s pathos in the beginning and middle sections, where Grose uses emotionally charged words and phrases to induce the audience’s sympathy. For example, Grose (2013) laments that, while she “was eight months pregnant,” her husband experienced the complexity of fighting “a massively pregnant person.” These words evoke an image in a reader’s mind that portrays women as vulnerable in a current domestic space because of natural factors, like high emotions and pregnancy. Indeed, readers may feel sympathetic to Grose and the women who generally live in this social context. Moreover, using words and phrases, like ‘argued,’ ‘sucks,’ ‘be shunned,’ ‘be judged,’ and ‘headachey,’ evokes readers’ negative feelings about cleaning. As such, they are more drawn to sympathize with men and view men as selfish.

Grose takes a rhetorical stand throughout the article to persuade her audience of an unfair distribution of cleaning labor in a modern domestic space. By referencing credible sources, citing statistics and interesting facts, and portraying women as adversely disadvantaged, Grose effectively appeals to a reader’s ethos, logos, and pathos. This rhetorical stand is critical in communicating how society remains unfair to women in ta current domestic space despite men’s growing involvement in some household chores, like childcare and cooking.

Grose, J. (2013, March 19). Cleaning: The final feminist frontier . The New Republic. https://newrepublic.com/article/112693/112693

How to Write a Commentary Essay

Writing a commentary essay is a technical process that requires students to grasp essential details. For example, to write a commentary essay, people analyze a subject matter critically, present their interpretation or argument, support a main claim with evidence, and connect their insights to broader themes or implications while maintaining a clear structure and focus throughout (Rogers, 2024). In principle, these details reflect 4 writing steps: preparation, stage setup, writing a first draft, and wrap-up. Typically, each step’s details of writing a commentary essay reflect a unqiue wisdom students should exhibit when creating any scholarly text.

Step 1: Preparation

Preparation is a first step in writing a commentary essay. For example, it is when students take time to create a favorable environment to write their papers (Lauritzen, 2021). In principle, a first task is identifying a single subject, where people should select good sources they can analyze easily, including poems, novels, or films. Moreover, a second task is to create a topic, where students must write short topics that communicate a precise message of a commentary essay.

Step 2: Stage Setup

Setting a stage is a second step of writing a commentary essay. For example, a first task is to read, watch, or examine an assigned source to identify key themes and ideas (Hackett, 2021). Then, a second activity is to research reliable sources that help to generate ideas that align with these themes and concepts to write about. Further on, a next task is to create a clear essay outline emphasizing an introduction, body, and conclusion with all the essential writing details (Lauritzen, 2021). As a result, to start a commentary in an essay, people introduce a subject or text, provide a relevant context, and present a clear thesis or central argument to guide their analysis.

Step 3: Writing a First Draft of a Commentary Essay

Writing a first draft is a third step in creating a commentary essay, and a central focus is generating a paper that can be used for further editing and improvement. For example, a standard format of writing a commentary involves presenting a clear thesis, supporting analysis with evidence, providing interpretation or personal insights, and concluding with a summary of an argument or reflection on its broader significance (Rogers, 2024). As such, students should organize their ideas into text, emphasizing a central claim in a thesis statement, ideas in topic sentences, evidence (quotes), and transitions in body paragraphs. In writing, they should also ensure their conclusions restate a thesis, summarize main ideas of a commentary essay, and give a final remark about their commentaries, focusing on an assigned source and topic.

Step 4: Wrap-Up

A final wrap-up is a last step in writing a commentary essay. For example, a main focus is transforming a first draft into a final text by eliminating all mistakes and flaws (Lauritzen, 2021). Typically, students should revise all sections that do not make sense to a central claim or those that affect a paper’s logical progression and its writing. Moreover, they should edit a commentary essay by adding or deleting words and phrases and eliminating grammatical mistakes, missing punctuation, formatting or writing errors, and incorrect citations.

Looking at the information in the preceding sections, writing a great commentary essay is a complex task that requires students to demonstrate knowledge of what it takes to create a quality paper. Some of the tips for writing a commentary essay include identifying a single source, which can be a text, film, or image; noting a source’s basic information, like an author, title, and publication date; identifying central themes in a given subject; writing an introduction that emphasizes a source’s basic information; creating a thesis that communicates a claim about an assigned source; adopting a unique structure as above; beginning paragraphs with a topic sentence; incorporating quotes from a source into body paragraphs; commenting on some quotes and their significance; and concluding a commentary essay with a summary that makes a final remark about a single source and topic.

10 things to do include:

identifying a source for writing a commentary essay;
reading, watching, or analyzing an assigned source carefully and closely;
outlining critical details, like themes, ideas, and literary devices;
writing an introduction with a hook and an argumentative thesis statement;
providing body paragraphs with topic sentences, concluding sentences, quotes, commentary, and transitions;
maintaining a formal tone in a commentary essay;
using the applicable format (APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian) correctly;
presenting an introduction that summarizes a commentary essay;
avoiding grammatical and writing mistakes;
proofreading a final version of a commentary essay.

10 things not to do include:

failing to document source’s essential details, like an author’s name and surname;
concentrating on an introduction more than a body;
not incorporating quotes in body paragraphs;
focusing on too many ideas in writing a commentary essay;
not defending a central claim in a thesis;
ignoring a unique outline of a commentary essay;
writing with too many grammatical mistakes;
using different formatting styles (APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian);
not implementing transitions in body paragraphs;
creating a commentary essay without a logical flow of ideas and thoughts in writing.

What to Include

Common mistakes.

Summarizing Instead of Analyzing: Providing a mere summary of a text, event, or issue without offering personal interpretation or critical insight.
Lack of a Clear Thesis: Failing to present a focused thesis that guides a commentary essay’s purpose and main argument.
Not Supporting Claims With Evidence: Making assertions without backing them up with quotes, examples, or data, weakening an overall analysis.
Overloading With a Personal Opinion: Giving too much subjective opinion without balancing writing with analysis and evidence from a source material.
Ignoring Opposing Viewpoints: Neglecting to consider alternative interpretations or counterarguments, making a whole analysis one-dimensional.
Focusing on Irrelevant Details: Including unnecessary information that does not contribute to a main argument or writing.
Poor Organization: Failing to structure a commentary essay logically, leading to a confusing or disjointed flow of ideas and writing.
Overuse of Quotes: Relying too heavily on direct quotations instead of interpreting and explaining their significance in an entire analysis.
Weak Conclusion: Ending a commentary essay abruptly without effectively summarizing main points or reinforcing a thesis in writing.
Inconsistent Tone or Style: Switching between formal and informal language or inconsistent use of academic tone throughout a paper.

A commentary essay is a piece of writing where an author analyzes and interprets a specific topic, often a text or event, providing personal insights. Basically, such a paper follows a structured writing format, typically with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. An example of commentary is a written analysis of a novel where a person discusses key themes, an author’s intent, and how an entire story relates to current societal issues, providing personal insight and interpretation. Further on, the main parts of a commentary essay include an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs that analyze a specific subject with evidence and personal insights, and a conclusion that summarizes key points and restates an actual significance of an entire analysis. In writing, an introduction presents a specific topic and thesis, while a body explores key themes with evidence. Finally, a conclusion restates a main argument. Moreover, different types of commentary essays include opinion, interpretation, and evaluation. As a result, people should balance personal viewpoints with evidence to engage critically with a chosen subject. In turn, key takeaways to remember are:

Choose a single source that is simple to analyze.
Create a clear thesis that emphasizes a central focus of a commentary essay, such as a claim.
Identify passages or themes in an assigned source that help to build an argumentative claim.
Use an introduction paragraph for its purpose: to introduce a specific topic. As such, writing should be short and precise.
Use a body section for its purpose: to analyze a particular source and defend a central claim comprehensively. Therefore, it should be long and have quotes as evidence.
Use a conclusion part to summarize a commentary essay, and writing should be concise. More importantly, a final sentence should leave readers with a lasting impression of a defined source and topic.

Berterö, C. (2016). Guidelines for writing a commentary. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being , 11 (1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v11.31390

Hackett, U. (2021). Brilliant essays . Red Globe Press.

Iskander, J. K., Wolicki, S. B., Leeb, R. T., & Siegel, P. Z. (2018). Successful scientific writing and publishing: A step-by-step approach. Preventing Chronic Disease , 15 , 1–6. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.180085

Lauritzen, J. (2021). Read, write, and cite . Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

Lewis, K. B., Graham, I. D., Boland, L., & Stacey, D. (2021). Writing a compelling integrated discussion: A guide for integrated discussions in article-based theses and dissertations. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship , 18 (1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2020-0057

Pears, R., & Shields, G. J. (2022). Cite them right: The essential referencing guide (12th ed.). A&C Black.

Rogers, D. (2024). Writing better essays: A rhetorical guide to writing and revision . Equinox Publishing Ltd.

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How to Write a Commentary Essay (With Examples)

Apr 29, 2024 | 0 comments

Apr 29, 2024 | Blog | 0 comments

Commentary essays are a common assignment in higher education, requiring students to express their opinions and back them up with evidence. This type of essay writing allows for deeper topic analysis, providing valuable insights and potentially sparking important discussions. However, many students struggle with the structure and format of these essays. Fear not, as this article will provide a step-by-step guide on How to Write a Commentary Essay, complete with examples to help you understand the process better. Whether you’re analyzing a piece of literature, a current event, or a social issue, mastering the art of commentary writing is essential for any student looking to excel in their academic endeavors. Following the writing tips, guidelines for writing a commentary essay and examples provided in this article, you can craft a well-structured and persuasive commentary essay that will impress your professors and classmates. So, let’s dive in and learn how to write a commentary essay like a pro.

Table of Contents

What is a Commentary Essay?

A commentary essay is a written piece that provides an opinion on a particular subject. It is usually written in response to another work, such as a blog post, article, or book passage. In a commentary essay, the writer will offer their take on the subject, using evidence and examples to support their claims.

Commentary essays are commonly assigned in academic institutions to help students develop their critical thinking skills and provide an individual perspective on a subject. They are particularly useful for helping readers understand a topic in more depth and can be used to evaluate various concepts and analyze a subject in a broader scope.

Commentary essays are distinct from other types of essays in that they allow the use of the first-person pronoun “I” to present the writer’s point of view. They also do not require a general topic discussion or a thesis statement. Instead, the focus is on providing a detailed analysis and description of a specific text, such as a newly published article or story.

What is a literary commentary?

A literary commentary is a detailed analysis of a text, such as a poem or novel, that focuses on specific aspects of the work. The commentary often includes an examination of the author’s use of literary devices, themes, and figurative language. It can also delve into the historical or cultural context of the text. A stanza by stanza analysis is a common part of the commentary, where the reader breaks down the poem into smaller sections to examine the meaning of each. The author may provide their opinion on the work, but a literary commentary should also demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the text being analyzed.

While some literary commentaries can be formulaic in their approach, a truly insightful commentary will broaden the reader’s understanding of the text and its applicability to the world around us. By delving into the intricacies of a work and exploring its themes and symbols, a commentary can offer new perspectives and interpretations that enrich the reader’s experience of the text. It is a way to engage with literature on a deeper level and appreciate the artistry behind the words.

How to Write a Commentary Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that we understand what a commentary essay is let’s go through the steps to writing a literary commentary:

Step 1: Choose a Topic and Gather Information

Before writing your commentary essay, you must choose a topic and gather relevant information. This could be a newly published article or text you want to analyze and provide your perspective. Ensure you understand the text by reading it multiple times and noting any important keywords or ideas.

Step 2: Create a Commentary Essay Outline

Once you have gathered your information, it’s time to create a commentary essay outline for your essay. This will help you organize your thoughts and ideas and ensure your essay’s structure is clear. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you should provide basic information about the text, such as the title, author, publication date, and genre. You should also include a hook to grab the reader’s attention and a thesis statement that states your essay’s main claim.

Step 3: Write the Introduction

In the introduction, you should be able to provide context for your analyzing text and state your thesis or main argument. You can also list the themes that you will discuss in the body of your essay. Remember to keep the introduction brief and assume that your reader has already read the text.

Step 4: Write the Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are where you will support your thesis with specific examples and evidence. Each body paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that states what the paragraph will discuss and how it supports your thesis. Include relevant quotes or examples from the text and explain how they connect to your thesis. Make sure to use smooth transitions between examples to help your reader follow your argument.

Step 5: Write the Conclusion

In the conclusion, you will tie together the main points of your essay and emphasize the importance of the text you are analyzing. Summarize your argument and extend it by comparing it to other works or discussing its broader implications. However, avoid introducing new information in the conclusion.

Step 6: Revise and Edit

Once you have completed your first draft, it’s time to revise and edit your essay. Read it over multiple times to identify any areas that need improvement and make sure it follows your outline. You can also ask for feedback from friends or classmates to get a fresh perspective on your essay. Finally, proofread your essay for any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.

Tips for Writing a Strong Commentary Essay

Here are some additional tips to help you write a perfect commentary essay:

Create a strong and clear thesis statement that outlines the main points of your essay.
Engage your readers by giving them food for thought and urging them to think about the topic.
Treat your readers as co-thinkers and respect their intelligence, even if your perspectives differ.
Don’t be too neutral or objective; be sure to present your own viewpoint clearly.
Use the “This Shows That” Method to help you analyze and interpret the evidence effectively.
Use color-coding or ratiocination to visualize the connections between different parts of your essay.
Use the LET method (Literary Elements and Techniques) to identify literary techniques and devices used in the text and explain how they support your argument.
Use the concept of four cells to analyze each piece of text and combine your comments into a cohesive whole.

What is LET method and how it can be used in a commentary essay?

The LET method is a useful tool for analyzing literary texts and can be applied when writing a commentary essay. It stands for Literary Elements and Techniques and involves identifying and examining the various literary devices and techniques used by the author. Here’s a more detailed explanation of each component:

Literary Elements: These are the fundamental concepts and components of a literary work, such as plot, character, setting, theme, point of view, diction, syntax, and imagery. When using the LET method, you would identify and analyze the specific literary elements that the author has used and how they contribute to the overall meaning and effect of the text.
Elements and Techniques: This involves looking at how the literary elements are employed and the techniques the author uses to craft the work. For example, you might consider the author’s word choice (diction) and sentence structure (syntax) to understand their impact on the tone and style of the text. You would also analyze the literary techniques, such as metaphors, similes, symbolism, and motifs, and how they enhance the themes and ideas presented.

By using the LET method in your commentary essay, you can demonstrate your understanding of the text’s construction and the author’s craft. It allows you to dig deeper into the text and uncover the symbolism and underlying messages that the author has woven into the work. This method helps you support your arguments and interpretations with specific references to the text, making your commentary essay more persuasive and insightful.

Here’s an example to illustrate how the LET method can be applied:

Let’s say you’re writing a commentary essay on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” Using the LET method, you might focus on the symbol of the green light and its repetition throughout the novel.

Literary Elements: The green light is a symbol that represents Gatsby’s longing for Daisy, who is always out of his reach. It is a recurring motif that appears in key moments of the novel.

Elements and Techniques: Fitzgerald uses the symbolism of the green light to explore themes of desire, social class, and the American Dream. The repetition of the symbol emphasizes the persistent nature of Gatsby’s pursuit of Daisy and the elusive nature of his dream. The description of the light as “always distant, always glowing” reflects the unattainable nature of Gatsby’s desires.

Good Commentary Essay Examples

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Get Help With Your Commentary Essay Paper

We are the best in the industry. Place your order today by clicking the ORDER NOW button above to get our expert writing help. When it comes to writing services for academic writing, including commentary essay writing, our team of professionals is able to write with precision and expertise. A commentary essay requires a general structure that is focused on a complete analysis of a particular topic. With a mixture of reflection, interpretation of the subject, and in-depth analysis, our writers can provide a detailed description from different perspectives. They are skilled at incorporating quotations, counterarguments, emotional responses, and key points into the essay to give a well-rounded and constructive view.

In Conclusion

Writing a commentary essay can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and practice, it can become easier. Remember to choose a topic that interests you and gather relevant information to support your analysis. Create a clear outline to structure your essay, and always revise and edit your work for clarity and coherence. By following these steps and tips, you’ll be well on your way to writing a strong and effective commentary essay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start a commentary in an essay.

To start a commentary in an essay, you should begin with an introduction that provides context for the content you’ll be analyzing. Your introduction should include a brief summary of the text or topic you are commenting on, along with your thesis statement that outlines your main argument.

What is an example of a commentary?

An example of a commentary could be a piece of social commentary found in news and magazine publications. This type of commentary often offers a critical analysis of the given subject matter, providing insights and personal opinions on social issues or current events.

What is the format of writing commentary?

The format of writing a commentary typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, present the focal article or main idea and provide some background information. Body paragraphs should contain your analysis and interpretation, supported with citations and references. Finally, the conclusion should summarize your main points and reinforce your personal opinion on the topic.

What is the structure of a commentary?

The structure of a commentary essay typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs that analyze and interpret the text, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the text and provide evidence to support your analysis.

How to write a commentary essay step-by-step?

To write a commentary essay, follow these steps:

Create an outline: Organize your thoughts and arguments before you start writing.
Complete analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of the text or topic you are commenting on.
Writing process: Start with a strong introduction, develop your arguments in the body paragraphs, and conclude with a summary.
Support your points: Support your analysis with evidence, examples, and quotes.

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Five Ways to Target Commentary for Essay Writing

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From Summary to Insight: A Guide to Writing Commentary Essays with Depth
As a student writing a commentary essay, it is important to understand the differences between analyzing, summarizing, and evaluating. To help comprehend these contrasts, let's take a look at four main points: 1. Analyzing - Looking closely at something and breaking it down into smaller parts to better understand it.
Commentary Essay ⇒ Writing Guide with Analysis Examples
Such a paper aims to make students enable and use their critical thinking, analyze a subject, and provide an individual commentary essay. For instance, the Purdue University Fort Wayne course ENG W131 relies on a commentary essay as a distinct type because it simply helps the reader understand the topic more in-depth and provides a strong ...
3 Ways to Write a Commentary
1. Define your thesis. In many high school and college courses you will be asked to write a literary commentary. This assignment requires you to evaluate a piece of literature, most often a novel, poem, or play. The key part of a successful commentary is a strong, clear thesis statement. [1]
How to Write a Commentary Essay: Tips and Examples
The format of writing a commentary essay includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Begin with an introduction that includes a hook, background information, and a thesis statement. The body should consist of several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific part of the analysis linked back to the thesis.
Five Ways to Target Commentary for Essay Writing
The commentary part of any essay is always the most difficult. It is the part of the essay in which the writer analyzes evidence, and this analysis speaks to the writer's own unique voice. While we have standard, formulaic ways to teach other parts of the essay such as thesis statements, blending quotes, topics sentences, etc., commentary is ...
How to Write a Good Essay: Stop Summarizing, Start Commentating
How to Write a Good Essay Part 1: Learn the Difference between Commentary and Summary. You need to understand the difference between commentary and summary. While both writing styles can be used to discuss another piece of work (like a play, book, movie, or poem), this is about the sum total of their similarities.
Writing a Literary Commentary: Guidelines
There are no fixed rules for writing a commentary, but a general structure will be suggested. You should always PLAN your commentary before you start writing it, following these guidelines where appropriate. 1 Introduction. Put the passage into context, and summarise its arguments briefly (in a few sentences): do not spend too much time ...
What Is a Commentary in an Essay
An example of an alternative commentary in an essay is a close, direct analysis of robust passages from a specific source, such as an article, film, poem, literary work, book, or novel. Basically, they are standard in bigger writing projects, like expositions or being part of a critic's work (Rogers, 2024).
How to Write a Commentary Essay (With Examples)
Step 2: Create a Commentary Essay Outline. Once you have gathered your information, it's time to create a commentary essay outline for your essay. This will help you organize your thoughts and ideas and ensure your essay's structure is clear. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Commentary for Literary Analysis: Four Square Strategy for Success
Commentary, or analysis, is the most difficult part of writing a literary analysis essay. All other parts of essay writing have formulas to follow except commentary, which is why it is the most important skill to practice and master in essay writing. This blog explores a strategy to target commentary for essay writing to help students dig ...

From Summary to Insight: A Guide to Writing Commentary Essays with Depth

What Is Commentary In An Essay?

The Significance Of Commentary In Essay Writing

Key Elements Of Effective Commentary

Strategies For Writing Potent Commentary In Essays

Develop a strong thesis statement

Understand the topic better

Body And Paragraphs Organized

Use literary analysis

The Use Of Quotations And Examples In Commentary

Types Of Commentary In Essays: Comprehending The Contrasts

Strategies For Writing Commentary In Literary Essays

Writing Commentary For Convincing Essays

Creating Commentary That Supports Your Thesis Statement

Common Mistakes To Avoid In Commentary Writing

Avoiding Overgeneralization

Lack Of Evidence

Tips For Revising And Editing Commentary

Examples Of Strong And Poor Commentary In Essays

Paragraph Construction With Commentary

Transition Words And Phrases For Commentary

Writing A Conclusion With Commentary: Do’s And Don’ts

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How to Write a Commentary

Writing a Literary Commentary

Creating Data Commentary

Commentary Outlines

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How to Write a Commentary Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose a Topic and Gather Information

Step 2: Create a Commentary Essay Outline