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Commenting on a Text This passage/text/article/poem is entitled…. It is an extract from a novel, a play, a short story by…. The passage is devoted to the description of The text is structured as follows/ as far as the structure of the text is concerned…. It can be divided into two/three main parts/ sub-parts which could be entitled… The first/second part deals with, concerns, tackles the question of…. The recurrent themes in this passage, the main themes suggested by…, the outstanding facts… It tells/relates the story of…, it is a portrait of, a detailed description of…, a short account/narrative of… It deals with the problem/question of social inequalities/injustice. It raises ethical considerations… The historical and political context is that of… The various/main characters, the part played by each of them, the relationships between them, the role and signifiance of each of them, their feelings and attitudes … This text can be analysed/interpreted on various levels. The writer’s objective or overall purpose, attitude towards…, approach to the problem/subject. The author makes a parallel, comparison, a connection between….and…. He/she opposes/contrasts traditional and present-day values/views The author takes into account the causes and consequences of… It is a sharp criticism of… a satire, a caricature, a parody… The author is well-known for his positions in defence of… I consider it as an optimistic/a pessimistic view of… a vivid/lengthy, biased /unbiased account of… 1

Commenting on a Text

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Page 1: Commenting on a Text

Commenting on a Text

This passage/text/article/poem is entitled…. It is an extract from a novel, a play, a short story by….The passage is devoted to the description of

The text is structured as follows/ as far as the structure of the text is concerned…. It can be divided into two/three main parts/ sub-parts which could be entitled… The first/second part deals with, concerns, tackles the question of….

The recurrent themes in this passage, the main themes suggested by…, the outstanding facts…It tells/relates the story of…, it is a portrait of, a detailed description of…, a short account/narrative of… It deals with the problem/question of social inequalities/injustice. It raises ethical considerations…

The historical and political context is that of…

The various/main characters, the part played by each of them, the relationships between them, the role and signifiance of each of them, their feelings and attitudes …

This text can be analysed/interpreted on various levels. The writer’s objective or overall purpose, attitude towards…, approach to the problem/subject.The author makes a parallel, comparison, a connection between….and….He/she opposes/contrasts traditional and present-day values/views

The author takes into account the causes and consequences of…It is a sharp criticism of… a satire, a caricature, a parody…The author is well-known for his positions in defence of… I consider it as an optimistic/a pessimistic view of… a vivid/lengthy, biased /unbiased account of…

What characterizes the author’s style, language, choice of words.The use of symbols, metaphors, of religious connotations, (in)direct speech. The tone is that of humour, irony, pathos The lenght and the structure of sentences…

The impact/influence on the reader/the general public.

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Page 2: Commenting on a Text

I. Recipe/Format for an Introduction:

(a). Your first two to three sentences should start with the author’s full name, the title of the novel, and a brief summary or main point of the novel.

(b). In about one or two sentences, smoothly transition into the element that you will be examining for this paper. This part is not your argument; it is only general discussion about the element, such as a brief synopsis of it.

(c). In about two sentences, state your thesis and announce your outline. Your thesis statement should mention the element that you are writing about, what this element does for the structure of the text, such as how it impacts the character(s), and what it does for the reader’s understanding of the novel.

II. Format for the 1st Body Paragraph:

(a). Pick one scene that is relevant to the element that you are writing about, and summarize it in about two to three sentences.

(b) Write one significant quote from the novel, and make sure this quote comes from the scene you just summarized and that it relates to your argument. The quote will be textual evidence that will support your thesis statement.

(c). In about three to four sentences, provide an analysis of this quote. Explain how this quote relates to your thesis and what it makes the reader realize about the text and/or life.

(d). Seal off your paragraph with one closing sentence.

III. Format for the 2nd Body Paragraph:

(a). Using a transitional sentence, pick a second scene that is relevant to your topic. Be sure to set your scene up exactly the same way you did for body paragraph one.

(b). Pick another relevant quote from this second scene, and make sure that it is relevant to your argument.

(c). Write another three sentences that analyze this quote. Again, make sure you reveal how this quote relates to your argument.

(d). Give one closing sentence.

IV. Format for the 3rd Body Paragraph:

(a). Choose a third scene that is relevant to your argument. Again, you should set the context for this scene the same way you did for body paragraph one and two.

(b). Write out another relevant and direct quote from this scene.

(c). Provide another three-sentence analysis of this quote. (d). End your paragraph with one closing sentence.

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Page 3: Commenting on a Text

V. Format for a Conclusion:

(a). In about two sentences and using different phrasing, re-state your thesis.

(b). Summarize all of your main points and/or specific scenes in about three to four sentences. These are the scenes that you discussed in body paragraphs one, two, and three.

(c). End your entire essay with one to two sentences that are intelligent thoughts about the overall novel or about the element that you wrote about.

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