In-Depth Notes on Writing Commentary for Poetry Essays

Introduction to Commentary in Poetry Essays

• Commentary is essential for scoring well on poetry essays in high school and college.

• Writing commentary for poetry can be particularly challenging.

• Fortunately, there are tips, templates, and examples available to aid in this process.

Importance of Commentary

• Good commentary allows you to connect your evidence to your topic sentence effectively.

• It is crucial to ensure that the evidence you present relates back to your main claim.

Overview of Earlier Content

• In previous videos, the focus was on integrating evidence into body paragraphs.

• This session will build on that by guiding you through the construction of commentary.

Template for Commentary

• The commentary template consists of three sentences focused on connecting evidence to claims:

  • First Sentence: Paraphrase the evidence, articulating its meaning and context.

  • Second Sentence: Explain how this evidence supports the claim in your topic sentence.

  • Third Sentence: Discuss the broader implications or significance of the evidence.

• The template encourages critical thinking and deeper analysis, crucial for higher AP exam scores.

Example of First Sentence of Commentary

• Start with an -ing verb describing what the author is doing, then connect to the claim of the topic sentence.

• Add “because” after connection to further connect how what occurs in the story (what the literary device does) to reflect what it is trying to tell

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Importance of Logical Reasoning

• Adding phrases like "because" prompts deeper analysis and logical reasoning.

• Example: "Constructing a frame narrative in and of itself highlights the fractured state of the statue because…"

Building Further Commentary

• Second Sentence: Start with "Consequently" to connect your prior observation to a result.

• Example:

  

• Third Sentence: Use words like "thus" or phrases like "due to the fact that" to articulate logical connections further.

• You can use this as a way to connect to your other literary device, or expand on it if already done so

• Example:

  

Expansion of Commentary

• Continue adding sentences to elaborate on connections and implications.

• Employ transitional phrases like "Furthermore," "However," and "Therefore" to strengthen your arguments.

• Example: "Furthermore, the greater pauses that both the initial speaker and secondary speaker generate…"

Final Thoughts on Commentary

• Effective commentary can significantly improve your poetry essay scores.

• Use the commentary stems to maintain structure while introducing original reasoning.

• Practice is encouraged to refine your skills in constructing commentary.

Conclusion and Next Steps

• After mastering commentary, focus on writing conclusions for your poetry essays.

• More resources and templates may be available in the video series or linked materials in the description.