how to do commentary in 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!

Learning Materials

How to write a commentary essay: tips and examples.

Updated: May 13, 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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Commentary Essay Example, Writing Guide, and Tips

Introduction

Welcome to The Knowledge Nest, your go-to resource for all things related to commentary essay writing. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of crafting an impactful commentary essay, providing useful examples and valuable tips to help you enhance your writing skills.

What is a Commentary Essay?

A commentary essay is a type of academic writing that aims to analyze and provide an in-depth interpretation of a particular text or topic. It offers a critical examination and evaluation of the subject matter, exploring various perspectives and providing evidence-based arguments to support the author's viewpoint.

Why Write a Commentary Essay?

Writing a commentary essay allows you to develop critical thinking skills, enhance your analytical abilities, and strengthen your written communication. It provides a platform to express your ideas and opinions, engage with different viewpoints, and present a well-rounded analysis of the chosen subject matter.

Key Components of a Commentary Essay

1. Introduction: Begin your essay with a captivating introduction that presents the topic and provides context for the reader.

2. Thesis Statement: Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines your main argument or perspective.

3. Body Paragraphs: Develop your analysis in well-structured body paragraphs, each focusing on a specific point or theme. Use relevant evidence, examples, and expert opinions to support your claims.

4. Counterarguments: Address potential counterarguments or alternative viewpoints and offer thoughtful rebuttals to strengthen your position.

5. Conclusion: Summarize the main points of your essay and reiterate your thesis statement, leaving the reader with a lasting impression.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Commentary Essay

Step 1: choose a relevant topic.

Select a topic that aligns with your interests and falls within the scope of your assignment or academic requirements. Consider the relevance and significance of the subject matter to engage your readers.

Step 2: Conduct Extensive Research

Gather information from credible sources such as academic journals, books, reputable websites, and scholarly articles. Engage with different perspectives and take diligent notes to support your analysis.

Step 3: Outline Your Essay

Create a clear and well-structured outline that outlines the main points, arguments, and supporting evidence you will present in your essay. A well-organized outline ensures a cohesive and logical flow of ideas.

Step 4: Craft an Engaging Introduction

In your introduction, provide a brief overview of the topic and its significance. Hook the reader's attention with an intriguing opening sentence or a thought-provoking question.

Step 5: Develop Your Arguments in the Body Paragraphs

Divide your essay into distinct body paragraphs, each focusing on a specific point or theme. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that establishes the main idea, and support it with relevant evidence, examples, and analysis.

Step 6: Address Counterarguments

Acknowledge alternative viewpoints and counterarguments to demonstrate your awareness of different perspectives. Articulate thoughtful rebuttals that strengthen your arguments and distinguish your viewpoint.

Step 7: Conclude with Impact

In your conclusion, summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement. Leave the reader with a compelling closing thought or call-to-action that invites further reflection or discussion on the topic.

Commentary Essay Example

To provide you with a better understanding, let's consider an example of a commentary essay on the topic of climate change:

Introduction:

Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing global issues of our time. This commentary essay aims to analyze the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to address this environmental crisis.

Body Paragraph 1: The Causes of Climate Change

The first body paragraph delves into the primary causes of climate change, such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and industrialization. It explores how human activities have contributed to the accelerated pace of global warming.

Body Paragraph 2: The Impacts of Climate Change

In the second body paragraph, we examine the far-reaching impacts of climate change on ecosystems, weather patterns, and human livelihoods. We explore the devastating consequences of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the loss of biodiversity.

Body Paragraph 3: Potential Solutions to Climate Change

The third body paragraph focuses on potential solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It explores renewable energy sources, sustainable agricultural practices, and international collaboration as key strategies to combat this global crisis.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the commentary essay emphasizes the urgent need for collective action to address climate change. By understanding its causes, impacts, and potential solutions, we can work towards a sustainable future for generations to come.

Writing a commentary essay enables you to dive deep into a specific topic, critically analyze it, and articulate your thoughts effectively. By following our comprehensive guide and utilizing the provided tips, you will be well-equipped to create impactful commentary essays and improve your writing skills.

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

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When people need to express their thoughts or ideas about something, they need guidelines on how to write a commentary essay. This article begins by defining what is a commentary essay, its meaning, and outlining its basic structure. Some insights students can learn are that introductions should have hooks, background information, and thesis statements. Body paragraphs of a commentary essay should have topic sentences; evidence, mainly quotes; comments after the evidence; and transitions. The conclusion part should restate the thesis and summarize the main ideas. This guideline also gives a sample outline template, possible topics, and a practical example of a commentary essay. Lastly, the article teaches students 10 dos and 10 don’ts and 20 tips for writing a high-standard commentary essay.

How to Write an Outstanding Commentary Essay & Examples

Reading is an academic exercise that develops a person’s mental faculties of intellect, memory, reason, intuition, perception, and imagination. 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. This guideline on how to write a commentary in an essay teaches students and anyone passionate about writing how to create a good argumentative position that meets the quality standards for intellectual discourse and publication. The guideline also offers vital insights, including the definition of what is a commentary essay, its basic essay structure, different types, possible essay topics, 10 dos and 10 don’ts, and 20 tips 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 in an Essay | Writing Guide & Examples

Definition of What Is a Commentary in an Essay and Its Meaning

From a 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. In this respect, a commentary essay differs from other types of papers, including an argumentative essay, a personal narrative, a cause and effect essay, compare and contrast essay, or a problem and solution essay, as well as a report and a research paper, because it means expressing the writer’s perspective concerning an issue or topic. Commentaries are products of a critical analysis of societal problems across political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions. When writing a commentary essay, students should analyze and interpret the 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 of a Commentary Essay

Like other texts, a commentary paper has a basic essay structure that dictates how writers should organize their content. This structure has three components: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction is where writers introduce their assigned topics using a hook, context, and an argumentative thesis statement. Although this type of commentary essay is not an argumentative essay, an argumentative thesis indicates the writer’s perspective on the issue, which can be contentious in the eyes of readers. The body of a commentary essay is where authors construct a defense of their perspective through 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 the next paragraph. In turn, the conclusion restates the thesis and makes a final remark.

5 Main Types of Commentary

Because a commentary in an essay expresses the writer’s perspective about an issue, idea, or topic, it is evident in the body section of a commentary essay, where people describe their perspectives every time they provide evidence. In this respect, there are different types of commentary. The first one is an opinion essay where writers analyze evidence, such as a quote, text, or image, and state their stands with their critics. The second type of a commentary essay is an interpretation, where authors explain a complex concept to enhance the reader’s understanding. The third type is character or subject’s feelings, where students depict the emotional state of the person they have described in a commentary sentence. The fourth type of commentary essay is a personal reaction, where people communicate their stances on an issue, while the fifth type is an evaluation, where writers evaluate a section and gives a critical judgment.

Alternative Commentary Types and Examples

Besides the types of commentary above, students may write alternative commentary types when their essay is part of a bigger writing project, such as a systematic exposition of an idea, theme, or topic. Students must know the unique features of each type, including when to use it, what to focus on, and how to organize a commentary essay’s content.

1️⃣ Close, Direct Analysis of Passages

An example of an alternative commentary is a close, direct analysis of robust passages from the source, such as an article, film, poem, literary work, book, or novel. In this respect, they are standard in bigger writing projects, like expositions or being part of a critic’s work. 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 the writer’s perspective on the central issues, ideas, or concepts. The following example of a commentary essay demonstrates a close, direct examination of the first stanza of the 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 type of alternative commentary where writers use a short claim on a source, like a text, film, or image. This kind of commentary essay also looks like an annotated bibliography. Typically, writers adopt annotations when they need to explain complex words, phrases, or concepts to readers; give a historical or cultural context of the topic; support or challenge the 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 the text under analysis. Therefore, annotations aim to enhance the reader’s understanding of a short passage from a source. Below are three 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 type of alternative essay commentary where writers summarize a study by analyzing critical information that helps readers have a sneak peek of the project. The 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. In this respect, data commentary reflects the results section of a research paper because that is where scholars use visual illustrations to report statistical data. Another feature is a conclusion summarizing a commentary essay by reiterating the key points and expressing the writer’s final remark, meaning the main perspective on the 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 an 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 for Writing a Good Commentary Essay

When writing a commentary essay, students can use block quotations to organize comments. However, this feature is suitable mainly for extensive passages. In a simple definition, a block quote is a text that captures direct quotations longer than 40 words, which the writer offsets from the main text and does not include quotation marks. The text appears on a new line with a 0.5 inches indentation or five to seven spaces. 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 write block quotes in the APA style when organizing their commentary essays.

I. The first block captures the author’s name before the 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 the author’s surname at the end:

According to the findings:

📕 MLA Format

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

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

The results by Vancampfort et al. indicate:

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

📕 Harvard Format

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

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

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

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

📕 Chicago/Turabian Format

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

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

According to Vancampfort et al.:

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

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Key Features of Formatting Block Quotes When Writing a Commentary Essay

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 the research article’s publication year and the page number of the information the writer cites in their commentary essay. The main difference is the arrangement of these details, including the place of putting comas. On the other hand, the MLA and Chicago/Turabian styles are similar in that they do not show the research article’s publication year. The main difference is that the Chicago/Turabian style uses footnotes to show the author(s) and all the bibliography details at the commentary essay’s end. The MLA style shows only the author’s surname and the page number in the text. In turn, people begin writing their commentaries in the following line after a block quote as a standard paragraph in all the formats.

Easy Sample Topics for Writing a Great Commentary Essay

Students should choose easy essay topics when writing a commentary essay to avoid complicating their tasks. Ideally, a specific topic should indicate a particular source document one is commenting on, such as a text, film, or image. The standard practice is that instructors define essay topics or commemorative speech 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. The best approach to choosing an easy topic is to engage with course content and read widely to generate and incubate ideas. When the time for writing a commentary essay comes, one finds it easy to construct arguments fitting the task. The following are possible commentary essay topics because they suggest analyzing and examining a source from the writer’s perspective.

In Memory of Amelia Earhart: Sky’s Fearless Lady
The Central Themes in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”
“The Great Gatsby” Through Contemporary Lens
The Rhetorical Stance in Jessica Grose’s “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier”
The 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)”
The Essence of Margaret Atwood’s “Negotiating With the Dead: A Writer on Writing”

Sample Outline Template for Writing a Commentary Essay

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 Section of a Commentary Essay

Essay introduction must have a hook that interests readers enough to grab their attention and stirs 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 the writer’s claim.

II. Body Section of a Commentary Essay

Body paragraphs (at least three):

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

III. Conclusion Section of a Commentary Essay

Sum up a commentary essay by:

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

Example of a Commentary Essay

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

I. Example of an Introduction of a Commentary Essay

A woman never rests, not with society constantly demanding her value at every turn. This idea is the 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.

II. Example of Body Paragraphs of a Commentary Essay

A. commentary on the main idea of the article.

Grose opens the article with a personal story of her and her husband cleaning their house after Hurricane Sandy forced them indoors. She uses the uneven distribution of the cleaning task in her marriage to point out the larger feminist issue of who between a husband and wife should do the 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. According to Grose, even distribution of the cleaning task can happen by creating a task chart that shows who does what on the basis of skill and ability and adopting cleaning gadgets to make cleaning more fun.

Throughout the article, Grose uses sources to appeal to the readers’ ethos and build her argument. Some of the sources she uses to achieve these goals 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. To emphasize the uneven distribution of the cleaning task, she 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. She 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 the uneven distribution of household chores that disadvantages women. As a result, the personal details and statistics from credible sources help Grose to impress upon the reader how society uses the domestic environment to subjugate women.

The article appeals to the readers’ pathos in the beginning and middle sections, where Grose uses emotionally-charged words and phrases to induce the audience’s sympathy. For example, Grose 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 the readers’ mind that portrays women as vulnerable in the 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.

III. Example of a Conclusion of a Commentary Essay

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

4 Easy Steps for Writing a Commentary Essay

Writing a commentary essay is a technical process that requires students to grasp essential details. For example, 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 the wisdom writers should exhibit when creating any scholarly text.

Step 1: Preparation

Preparation is the first step of writing a commentary essay. As the name suggests, it is when writers take time to create a favorable environment to write their papers. The first task is identifying a single source, where students should select good sources they can analyze easily, including poems, novels, or films. The 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 the stage is the second step of writing a commentary essay. The first task is to read, watch, or examine an assigned source to identify key themes and ideas. The second activity is to research reliable sources that help to generate ideas that align with these themes and concepts. The next task is to create a clear essay outline emphasizing the introduction, body, and conclusion with all the essential details.

Step 3: Writing a First Draft of a Commentary Essay

Writing a first draft is the third step in creating a commentary essay, and the focus is generating a paper that can be used for further editing and improvement. As such, students should organize their ideas into text, emphasizing the claim in the thesis statement, ideas in the topic sentences, evidence (quotes), and transitions in the body paragraphs. Students should also ensure the conclusion restates the thesis, summarizes the main ideas of a commentary essay, and gives a final remark about their commentaries, focusing on an assigned source and topic.

Step 4: Wrap-Up

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

20 Tips for Writing a Commentary Essay

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 the source’s basic information, like the author, title, and publication date; identifying the central themes in the source; writing an introduction that emphasizes the source’s basic information; creating a thesis that communicates a claim about the source; adopting the unique structure as above; beginning paragraphs with a topic sentence; incorporating quotes from the source into body paragraphs; commenting on the 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 when writing a commentary essay 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 mistakes;
proofreading a final version of a commentary essay.

10 things not to do include:

failing to document the source’s essential details, like the author’s name and surname;
concentrating on the introduction more than the body;
not incorporating quotes in body paragraphs;
focusing on too many ideas in a commentary essay;
not defending the claim in the 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.

Summing Up on How to Write a Perfect Commentary Essay

Choose a single source that is simple to analyze.
Create a clear thesis that emphasizes the 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, it 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 it should be concise. More importantly, it should leave readers with a lasting impression of a defined source and topic.

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Education and Communications
Studying Literature

How to Write a Literary Commentary

Last Updated: February 23, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. 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 704,102 times.

A literary commentary is a detailed analysis of a passage of text, focusing specifically on the text itself. It should not be confused with a literary analysis essay, as it does not need a thesis statement or a general discussion of the book as a whole. Instead, the literary commentary should only analyze and reflect on a specific passage. To write a literary commentary, start by reading the text and creating an outline. Then, dive right into a detailed discussion of the text. Make sure you polish the literary commentary for style, grammar, and spelling before handing it in so it is at its best.

Literary Commentary Help

Starting the Literary Commentary

Make sure you have a hard copy of the passage so you can mark it up as you read it. Jot down any initial thoughts or questions you may have about the text as you read it several times.

You should also look for words that are repeated in the text, as this means they are likely important. Notice if the same word is used in a different context in the passage and highlight each mention of the word.

Introduction section: Identify the text
Body section: Discuss the main features of the text
Conclusion section: Summarize your thoughts on the text

Writing the Literary Commentary

Step 1 Identify the title, author, and genre in the introduction.

For example, you may note, “Published in 1966, Seamus Heaney’s ‘Blackberry-Picking’ is a poem that appears in his poetry collection, Death of a Naturalist .”
If the text is from a larger work, do not write about the overall plot of the larger work. You should also not include details from the author’s biography or the historical period when the text was written, unless it feels relevant to the passage.

Step 2 Discuss the text’s subject, themes, and audience.

For example, in Seamus Heaney's poem, "Blackberry-Picking,” the subject is two people picking a large quantity of blackberries. [2] X Research source
The themes of the poem could be nature, hunger, and decay or rot.
The poem begins with a dedication to “Philip Hobsbaum,” which means he could be the intended audience of the poem, the “you” addressed in the poem.

Step 3 Look at the genre, form, and structure of the text.

The genre and form of the text will also help you determine the structure of the text. For example, Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking” takes the form of a poem and fits in the genre of poetry. It uses a familiar poetic structure, such as short lines of text and is broken into two stanzas.

For example, in Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking,” the speaker uses the first person voice. The speaker then addresses a “you” in the text, indicating there are two characters in the poem.

For example, in Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking,” the tone in the first stanza is nostalgic and light. The tone then shifts in the second stanza to be more serious and dark.

Step 6 Identify the literary devices in the text.

For example, if you are discussing Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking,” you may look at a simile like “You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet/Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it.” Or you may discuss imagery like “a rat-grey fungus” or “fruit fermented.”
You can find a complete list of literary devices in literature online. [5] X Research source

For example, if you are discussing themes of decay in Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking,” you may quote a line like “I always felt like crying./It wasn't fair/That all the lovely canfuls smelt of rot.”

Step 8 Wrap up the commentary with a summary of your thoughts.

For example, you may end your literary commentary on Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry-Picking” by noting how the poem fits into the poetry collection and reflects common themes in Heaney’s work.

Polishing the Literary Commentary

Step 1 Read the commentary aloud to yourself.

You can also read the commentary aloud to someone else to get their feedback. Ask a peer, a friend, or a family member to listen to you read the commentary and then ask for their feedback.

Step 2 Confirm the commentary follows a clear outline.

You can go through the commentary and write down “introduction” or “discussion of text” next to the relevant paragraphs in the commentary. Doing this will ensure you cover all the necessary information in the commentary.

Step 3 Review the commentary for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

If you are using a computer to write the literary commentary, you can use the spellcheck option in the computer program. However, you should not rely on spellcheck only to go through your work. Make sure you also do a close review of the commentary for any errors before you hand it in.

Community Q&A

↑ https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/intranet/undergraduate/skills/commesswriting/commentarywriting/
↑ https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50981/blackberry-picking
↑ http://literary-devices.com/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-aloud/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

To write a literary commentary, begin by closely reading the text at least twice while paying attention to the content and structure. While commentaries do not need a thesis statement, you should identify the title, author, and genre in your introduction. In your body paragraphs, discuss the text’s subject, themes, and audience while pointing out any literary devices, like metaphors or symbols, that you notice. Use quotes to illustrate your points and conclude with a summary of your thoughts on the text. For advice about how to read and annotate your text from our Writer reviewer, scroll down. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Commenting Efficiently

10 STRATEGIES FOR RESPONDING TO STUDENT WRITING MORE EFFICIENTLY

Skim through the pile to discern the range of responses to an assignment.
Read each essay through quickly, before making any marks, to identify major strengths and weaknesses.
Think about strengths and weaknesses in terms of clear assessment criteria—thesis, structure, analysis, and so on.
Comment representatively in the margins by noting patterns.
Use a reliable format for structuring final comments—for example, restatement of thesis, discussion of strengths, and discussion of weaknesses.
Identify in final comments no more than three or four areas for improvement.
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Department of History

Guide to writing a commentary on primary source(s).

This shorter assignment (1,500-words, worth 10%) takes the form of a commentary on a primary source or two conceptually linked sources or a comparison of two primary sources. You could take any of the documents set out for the classes on the module website (whether or not we have yet discussed them) or find the longer versions of them if they are extracts, or choose another document (please ask me about the latter).

Each week we discuss pieces of primary text, so essentially this exercise replicates on paper the type of analysis you routinely conduct in class. The assignment will also help prepare you for both a second or third year dissertation, or a third year module, where close engagement with primary material is a basic requirement.

Focus on text, context and significance .

You don't need a question heading unless you would find it useful to give you an angle on the source(s).

Some questions you might want to ask (not all will be applicable to all sources, but many will be):

Text. What are the essential or notable features of what is being said [this might have to do with the language/wording used as much as the content]? What keywords, phrases or concepts are involved? Why are they important?
Context. Who wrote this and what do we know about them – is it important? What do we know about the aims of the author(s)? When was it written and is this significant? In what ways is it significant to know the historical context in which it was written?
What is the significance of what is being said? Is this text part of a larger series of texts and if so, does this larger corpus have significance? How does the piece relate to other texts and to the period as a whole? Was it representative? innovative? aberrant? Influential? What is its broader historical significance? How did readers react? Does the piece raise historiographical questions or relate to a historiographical debate? What are the key debates to which this relates? How have historians interpreted it or documents like it?

The marking criteria are the same as for any other piece of work. Reference secondary material in the normal way. You can refer to the online versions of the sample documents (cite as 'Coursework document X, p.y) or go back to the originals.

How to Write a Commentary? Quick Study Guide for Students

“What does commentary mean?” There is a common misconception among the average students in this regard. To put it clear, a literary commentary is not the same as the commentary essay or literary analysis even though they are similar in form and essence. It may take a single paragraph or be a 5-paragraph paper like most of the essays whereas the writer should focus on the analyzed piece of content. The good news is that students do not have to waste time on developing a thesis statement or discussing the entire story (summarizing it) when crafting a literary commentary. It works this way: you simply pick a specific passage and provide feedback on it. Your feedback is basically your sentiment on the chosen message.

There are several types of commentaries:

Literary commentary
English composition commentary
Social commentary
Personal commentary
Scientific commentary

As you can see, the text you should give your feedback on must relate to the specific field of study. For a scientific commentary, for example, you should pick out a scientific journal or scholarly article for this. Likely, you’ll find online or in the college library a lot of material. In some cases, you’ll be given by your tutor specific pieces to read and evaluate. This task might be a bit challenging, so keep the following agenda in mind:

Relevant to your subject
Interesting

If there is no access to the text in its fullness, you’d rather pick out the other one. The point is that you should take a closer look at the entire content to understand what’s it all about. Writing a commentary requires of you reading the whole “story” from cover to cover. If you wish to learn how to write a good commentary, the first rule is to avoid being lazy or postponing the assignment to the last minute.

While reading the selected passage out loud several times, one may find the hidden meaning. It is a useful practice to improve reading, comprehension, memorizing, and critical thinking. Try to read the content slowly to capture every sign that matters. Here is what you should do while reading:

Speak out the words loud instead of reading to yourself.
Jot down the main points and questions.
Underline the keywords (useful when you are writing online).
Highlight the words you don’t understand to check them in the dictionary later.
Make a list of all possible topics appropriate in your commentary.
Pick the idea that makes the most sense to you after finishing your reading.

The next step is to develop a writing plan.

How to Write an Outline for a Commentary?

The next step on the way to excellent commentary writing is developing a perfect outline. Of course, you will shape it differently than the one in a standard essay. Even though the commentary should be much shorter than an average essay, there are more points in the outline to mention. At the same time, you should not bother creating a thesis. Focus on analyzing the structure, message, and form of the work in question. The outline in this situation could look as follows:

Introduction
Speaker’s tone
Meter of the poem
Artistical devices
Rhyme & rhythm
Impression on the reader

It is an example of the commentary in a poem. In other words, you have to deal with some kind of introduction, body (main part), and a conclusion. However, try to keep it as short as possible (300-500 words).

Time-Tested Tips for Smart Commentary Writing

Here is a couple of things that might get your reader excited not to stop but to keep on reading.

Start with a bang. The primary question before you settle down to this assignment is how to start a commentary. It makes sense because you are going to catch the reader’s attention from the very first line. That is why — instead of simply putting the name of the author and the title of the selected story on the front page — begin with a bang. It’s worth starting your commentary with a joke, with an interesting fact, with a rhetorical question, with a literary quote, whatever.
Things to keep in mind Except for the author’s full name and title of the studied piece, you should remember to mention the genre. If in doubts, check with the web.
Voice and mood matter It is essential to identify the writer’s style correctly. If you do not know the difference between, let’s say, the ironic tone and the serious one, you are in danger of ending up with a misleading central message.
Cite the original text You may also need to provide citations from the analyzed content to justify your stance.
Save time on research Do not use any third-party sources. All you need is an original paper and your head full of wonderful thoughts — it is as simple as that!
Make sure you know the topic You should interrogate the whole topic to deliver in your commentary an objective point of view. Second, you need to learn the lexical elements of the language used by the author. If in doubt, check with the dictionary.
Mind your format How about the recommended commentary format? In most cases, your commentary will have to be in MLA or APA style as these are the two most renowned citation styles for referencing academic works.
Summarizing your points Writing a commentary is all about sharing your opinion on the given topic. Your ideas matter even more than the original ones delivered by the author.
Polish the final draft You should confirm that the commentary follows a clear outline, formatting, and grammar rules before submitting it to your teacher. Remember proofreading!

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Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being

Guidelines for writing a commentary

A commentary is a comment on a newly published article. A commentary may be invited by the chief editor or spontaneously submitted. Commentaries in International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being are peer reviewed. We now welcome commentaries!

What is a commentary?

The goal of publishing commentaries is to advance the research field by providing a forum for varying perspectives on a certain topic under consideration in the journal. The author of a commentary probably has in-depth knowledge of the topic and is eager to present a new and/or unique viewpoint on existing problems, fundamental concepts, or prevalent notions, or wants to discuss the implications of a newly implemented innovation. A commentary may also draw attention to current advances and speculate on future directions of a certain topic, and may include original data as well as state a personal opinion. While a commentary may be critical of an article published in the journal, it is important to maintain a respectful tone that is critical of ideas or conclusions but not of authors.

In summary, a commentary may be:

A critical challenge to one or more aspects of the focal article, arguing for a position other than that taken in the focal article.
An elaboration or extension of the position taken in the focal article, basically sympathetic to the position taken in the focal article but pushing the argument further.
An application of a theoretical or methodological perspective that sheds light on the issues addressed in the focal article.
A reflection on the writer's experiences in applying the issues addressed in the focal article, in particular health and well-being settings.
A comment on the applicability of the issues raised in the focal article to other settings, or to other cultures.

How to write a commentary

Commentaries in International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being should not exceed 10 manuscript pages. A tightly argued four- to six-page commentary is likely to be better received than a meandering 10-page ditto. Use these simple guidelines:

Do not summarize the focal article; just give the reference. Assume the reader has just read it. Move directly to identifying the key issues you want to raise.
Do not include general praise for the focal article.
Use only essential citations. For commentary purposes, cite only works absolutely essential to support your point.
Use a short title that emphasizes your key message. (It should be clear in context that all commentaries are a reaction to a particular paper).
Do not include an abstract.
Make clear your take-home message.
Make sure there is full author information (name, affiliation, address, phone, email) for all authors. Authors must be individuals.

Review process

Commentaries will be peer reviewed and most likely accepted if they are in line with the definitions and guidelines outlined. A small set of reviewers will read and evaluate all commentaries as they need to compare commentaries for issues of redundancy and to make evaluations of relative merit.

Queries for the editor

Authors should feel free to correspond with the chief editor prior to submitting a commentary if there are questions about any aspect of the evaluation and publication process. Authors may prepare a brief outline of the key points they desire to present in the commentary and send it to the chief editor.

Does it cost anything to submit a commentary?

Spontaneously submitted commentaries incur a cost of €65 per typeset page. The author will be invoiced once the commentary has been accepted for publication.

We hope you will send us a commentary whenever you think there is a need to broaden the perspectives on health and well-being presented in our journal.

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A Research Guide
Writing Guide
Assignment Writing

How to Write a Commentary Essay

What is a literary commentary, steps to prepare for a commentary, steps to write the commentary, it takes a broad thinking and analysis, it should be critical yet with a respectful tone, prepare before writing, outline the main points.

Useful information: Check research paper outline example and learn how to write it.

Check out our full review: Read More

Identifying the basic information

Mention about the theme, subject, and audience, observe the structure and genre of the content, identify how the text is presented, understand the tone, look for the literary devices that deepen the meaning, take the quotes included in the text, wrapping up your commentary with a summary, make your commentary presentable, ask for the feedback.

Read also: Reliable “ write research paper for me ” service will assist you with any writing task.

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Commentary: The government must do more for older Americans facing homelessness

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As Donald Trump and President Joe Biden continue their 2024 campaigns, Americans are asking difficult questions about aging: What does it mean when each nominee is over the age of 75? How will the impacts of aging affect their abilities to serve?

Meanwhile, those on the frontlines of America’s homelessness crisis are facing the aging question not from the perspective of the powerful and well-connected, but from the perspective of those with the fewest protections.

About the author

Tom Murphy is vice president of communications for the National Alliance to End Homelessness and a public voices fellow of The OpEd Project, in partnership with the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Yolanda Stevens is a program and policy analyst for the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Older adults are the fastest growing age demographic of people experiencing homelessness. The latest federal data indicates that over 138,000 adults aged 55 and older were experiencing homelessness on a given night in 2023. Almost half were living on the streets or in locations not meant for human habitation.

As a society, this shift should force us all to reconsider our assumptions about who becomes homeless and why.

Stereotypes and misinformation are pernicious forces working against the efforts to end homelessness. Despite clear evidence that a prolonged nationwide affordable housing crisis is the primary driver of homelessness, many find it easier to embrace oversimplified narratives about addiction and mental illness. Despite proof that the nation’s social safety net insufficiently serves the nation’s most vulnerable, we insist on narratives that personal decisions are the cause of homelessness. Despite our nation’s history of racist housing policies, many deny that racial inequities cause Black and Brown people to disproportionately experience homelessness.

How do we reconcile those stereotypes against a wave of homeless older adults, a population we should honor and protect? Advertisement

To start, we must come to understand their experiences.

On one hand, there is a cohort of people that is growing old on the streets. They have cycled in and out of homelessness for years, struggling to access consistent employment and housing. Their experiences have prematurely aged them, bringing the onset of chronic diseases that often go untreated to the point of medical crisis.

But there is an equally alarming trend of people who are becoming homeless for the first time in their older years.

Many have been financially insecure and precariously housed throughout their lives. Some have lost a partner or spouse, leaving them without needed income. Others have had their finances ravaged by health care costs, financial scams, predatory lending and the increasingly high costs of meeting their most basic needs. They are all suffering the effects of a frayed social safety net and rental market that is out of reach.

Unfortunately, their public benefits just don’t go far enough today: Although Social Security benefits increased by 8.7% in 2022, increases rarely topped 3% in the previous 30 years. Similarly, Supplemental Security Income has lagged far behind the cost of living, offering a mere average benefit of $552.29 in 2023. Meanwhile, health care costs force low-income Medicare patients to spend more of their limited income on premiums and other costs.

And, of course, the cost of housing has increased for decades. These costs — particularly crushing since the COVID-19 pandemic — left older adults with fewer affordable units, and less income to pay for rent. A new analysis confirms that the nation is short 7.3 million units of affordable and available housing for the lowest income renters. Advertisement

Without immediate action, these forces will drive more and more of our elders into a homelessness system that cannot adequately care for them. Fortunately, our leaders can take action.

As a first step, Congress must ensure that all seniors have a place to live, with the supports to age in place. The best investment Congress can make is to expand the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8 Housing) Program, which currently only serves about one quarter of the people in need of housing assistance. Similarly, investments in rental assistance programs would keep older adults (and other low-income Americans) in their homes.

Likewise, federal leaders must increase their support for housing programs that serve elders. Three important programs include the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, the USDA 515 Rural Rental Housing program, and the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program. These programs were not consistently supported in the most recent federal budget; they will all need robust funding in the future if we intend to stem the flow of elders into homelessness.

Efforts will be even more successful if federal leaders also support programs that address the poverty rate among older adults, as well as programs that provide in-home support like home and community-based services.

Unfortunately, it isn’t enough to just stop the flow. Leaders must also commit the resources to ensure that homeless systems can meet the needs of an aging population. That includes investments in nursing home offerings and long term, respite, and in-home care. Medicaid expansion states are well positioned to fund these efforts. They must also support states in developing or expanding housing-related supports and services for Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities and older adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

No matter which presidential candidate wins the 2024 campaign, it is certain that each of them will be comfortably housed. Without urgent action, our nation is unable to make any such guarantee for similarly aged Americans

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Commentary | Commentary: Private schools in Florida do have…

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Commentary | disney plan calls for investing up to $17b in orlando, desantis-backed district says, commentary | commentary: private schools in florida do have accountability measures — they’re called parents.

The charges ignore the many state accountability measures that have been in place for years for private schools that accept scholarships. The paper also overlooks one key component of private school accountability: parents.

Having over 30 years of experience in private school education in Florida, which includes witnessing the birth of state-funded choice scholarships two decades ago, I can attest to the accountability mandates schools must comply with in order to serve scholarship students.

Stacy Angier the principal of Christian Life Academy. (courtesy, Tamarac)

For example, any school receiving more than $250,000 in scholarship funds in a school year must submit a financial report completed by an independent certified accountant. Material exceptions found in financial reports must be forwarded to the Florida Department of Education (DOE) for further review.

Schools that fail to comply can lose their eligibility to participate in the state’s scholarship programs, which for many are the lifeblood of their existence. If they aren’t allowed to accept scholarships, they close.

Furthermore, all scholarship students in grades 3 through 10 must take a nationally norm-referenced test approved by the DOE or the statewide assessment. Schools must submit these annual test results to the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University, which publicly reports statewide learning gains for reading and math.

It’s worth noting these test results show scholarship students make the same gains in reading and math as all students nationally. Research has shown that scholarship students were more likely than similarly economically disadvantaged students in public schools to attend a four-year college and to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Among other mandates, the state also requires that schools provide parents quarterly progress reports and information regarding their children’s teacher qualifications.

But there is another form of accountability that private schools are subject to that few district schools are: the parents themselves. That’s because scholarships fund students, not systems. If parents are unhappy with a school, for whatever reason, they have the freedom to unenroll their child at any time during the school year and take their scholarship dollars to a different school. If schools cannot provide families with what they want, their doors will close. There will be no influx of government resources to keep them open.

My schools have always had very high levels of parental involvement. Why? Because they choose to be there, investing their scholarship funds in their children’s future.

This is an exciting time for education in Florida. The growth in scholarship programs and the expansion of education savings accounts has given families more flexibility in how they spend their children’s education funds, allowing them to customize their education in innovative ways that are constantly evolving. They can choose the best brick-and-mortar school, or they can instruct their children at home, or they can combine the two in a hybrid model, or they can spend funds on education-related expenses. For example, we have a family at my school that used scholarship funds to purchase tutorial services for their child last summer.

These programs also have empowered teachers to create their own innovative schools that reflect their instructional visions and values and meet the increasingly diverse needs of families. And the programs have infused educational systems with competition that has invigorated all institutions to focus on improving.

As parents receive more flexibility in how they can spend their children’s education funds, they will require more information to make informed decisions. Websites such as Schoolahoop.org have been created in recent years to guide families, and undoubtedly more such resources will blossom to meet parents’ demands.

Parents should always visit a school they might be considering for their children, talk to administrators and teachers and ask hard questions. If they aren’t satisfied with the answers, they should find another school. Having the freedom to choose is the best way to ensure children receive the education opportunity that works best for them — and to keep schools in line.

Stacy Angier the principal of Christian Life Academy in Tamarac.

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Opinion | My City, My Voice: What do Baltimore teens wish…

Opinion | My City, My Voice: What do Baltimore teens wish others knew about them?

Teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice, essay contest participate in a roundtable with Baltimore Sun diversity, equity and inclusion reporter Maya Lora, right, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library, on May 22, 2024.

From left, Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington and Chaneé Howard, 18, of Franklin Square participate in a panel discussion with two other teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Members of the audience listen to the five teen winners of the Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest during a roundtable at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest participate in a roundtable as panelists with Baltimore Sun reporter Maya Lora, at right, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library. (Amy Davis/Staff)

One of the five winners of The Baltimore Sun's teen essay contest, Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, left, answers a question from Baltimore Sun reporter Maya Lora during a roundtable at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Baltimore Sun Managing Editor Samuel C. Davis congratulates Victoria Atewogbola, right, and the other teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Sun diversity, equity and inclusion reporter Maya Lora, right, moderates a discussion with My City, My Voice essay contest winners, from left, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington, Chaneé Howard, 18, of Franklin Square, Jaylah James, 15, of Edmondson Village, and Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. Not pictured is contest winner Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde. (Amy Davis/Staff)

From left, Chanée Howard, 18, of Franklin Square, Jaylah James, 15, of Edmondson Village, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington, Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, and Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde, are the winners of the Baltimore Sun's inaugural My City, My Voice" teen essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

A screen displays the names of the winners of The Baltimore Sun's inaugural My City, My Voice teen essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Eric Ford, executive director of the UMBC Shriver Center, addresses the audience at a roundtable featuring the teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest. UMBC was a sponsor of the contest and event. (Amy Davis/Staff photo)

The audience listens to the teen winners of the My City, My Voice essay contest during a panel discussion at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Samuel C. Davis, Baltimore Sun managing editor, welcomes the audience to a roundtable with five teens who won The Sun's "My City, My Voice" essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

I just wanted to be a kid for once. That rare night out flipped how I feel about becoming an adult.

A one-way sign marks the southerly flow of N. Monroe Street at Edmondson Ave. in West Baltimore. For Chanée Howard, one of the My City, My Voice essay contest winners, a rare night out outside the city changed her perspective on turning 18. (Chanée Howard)

Free. That’s what my friends and I felt one surprisingly warm October night as we drove around Towson. I had grown up inside of my home, not allowed to go anywhere with anyone, as the streets were too dangerous. My entire life was “Did you hear about … what happened at …?”

There is no place for teenagers in Baltimore. It’s just a cycle of keeping an eye out for possible danger that is everywhere. If you walk for long enough, you’ll hear gunshots off in the distance, a grown man trying to holla at a girl, young or old, police and ambulance sirens closing in. Everyone says New York is “the city that never sleeps” but living in Baltimore, I beg to differ.

Asking my mother a question like “Can I go out with friends?”, something she has said “no” to so many times before was the most nerve-wracking thing to me. This time, I hoped she’d say yes. She had to. I was an “A” and “B” student. I was about to turn 18. I was a good kid who just wanted to be a kid at least once before it was over.

A police car is seen at the end of a roadway leading to a ballfield in the northwestern corner of Druid Hill Park. The field is adjacent to the former Reptile House of what is now called the Maryland Zoo. (Chanée Howard)

The thought of turning 18 was, to me, not a fun one like people made it out to be. Turning 18 in Baltimore was an inevitable fear. Eighteen meant needing to have a job even if you hated it. Eighteen meant soon being questioned by family and friends whether you had a man and when were you going to have kids. At 18, Baltimore started looking like an invisible box, walking up and down the same street you grew up on, to go to work and to come home, and nothing else, that is, until God called you home. I didn’t want any of that, but it felt inevitable.

Shockingly, my mother said yes. That night, we went bowling, walked around the mall, ate, and laughed. We piled into a friend’s mother’s minivan and drove around until it was time to go home, having already planned the next time we would go out.

That night lit something inside me. Something clicked, something hot, something that made my heart swell beyond my chest, something that made my mind wander beyond the few streets of Baltimore City that I knew. That night being 18 in Baltimore wasn’t the end, but my beginning.

— Chanée Howard, 18, Franklin Square*

Expecting the worst out of teens is a stereotype that fulfills and perpetuates itself.

When I was younger I felt as though I could be anything and that nothing could stop me from being what I wanted to be. But now, I feel something different. Teens in Baltimore are capable of extraordinary things, but people don’t seem to care enough to see it.

My parents are some of those adults who want to believe in me to graduate and go to college. But they don’t see what I see, feel what I feel, or even think what I think. Can you believe that my dad thought I couldn’t get into Western High School? He told me not in a sour way but in a surprised voice. I didn’t know how to feel. But I felt like most teenagers in Baltimore — “dumb” — even if they won’t admit it, ’cause, if someone close didn’t believe in me, how could I?

You see, when I look on social media on those Baltimore pages, I don’t see anything about teenagers doing anything great. Instead, I see teenagers who either committed a crime or have died. The adolescents who live in Baltimore will always be thought about in this way simply because we follow the adolescents before us.

People don’t say, “Oh yeah, didn’t a teenager get an award there last month?” Instead, they say, “Didn’t a boy die ’cause he was dealing with gangs?” But that boy could’ve been remembered by something else.

This is who they are supposed to be. When we are brought up, people don’t say, “Oh yeah, didn’t a teenager get an award there last month?” Instead, they say, “Didn’t a boy die ’cause he was dealing with gangs?” But that boy could’ve been remembered by something else. He could’ve been a well-known artist remembered by his art and not violence. The thing is that teenagers here will always end up in a bad situation because we are following adults here and we will soon tell our teens the same statements.

We only know what we see and hear. We don’t know what we can show and tell because there is no one there to truly believe in us. Being a teen in Baltimore shouldn’t be in the way of me and others being someone great. Teenagers in Baltimore are capable of extraordinary things but they don’t know how to share their abilities, nor does it seem people care enough to see them. So I just sit, put my headphones on and see what most adults can’t.

— Jaylah James, 15, Edmondson Village*

In a city of contrasts, drugs and guns are opportunities that can knock persistently.

Weathered remembrances adorn a utility pole on Sinclair Lane in Northeast Baltimore. (Victoria Atewogbola)

As a teenager living in Baltimore, I wish people understood how easy it was to make bad decisions. I am an immigrant, hailing from Nigeria. I immigrated well over seven years ago, coming to live in eastern Baltimore. My time living as a teenager in Baltimore has come with many perks, and penalties as well. Baltimore is extremely culturally diverse, with its residents saluting from many different places in the world. Because of this, I have been open to loads of different points of view, and the dissimilar ways that people see life. Nevertheless, there is one thing that many Baltimoreans can agree on: the danger that comes with living in our city. There are countless examples of why Baltimore is so dangerous, which is constantly covered by the media. However, no one has ever truly expanded on how much more threatening it is as a teen living in Baltimore City.

Litter like this cigar wrap packaging is among ways teens can be exposed to drugs, a subject of the essay by Victoria Atewogbola, one of the My City, My Voice winners. (Victoria Atewogbola)

Everywhere I go, I am met with persistent examples of why Baltimore is so rich: the art, the food, the music, etc. Nonetheless, I am also faced with reasons why it is so easy to be led astray in this city. To say that the opportunities in Baltimore are endless would not be an understatement, but that does not always have good meaning behind it. As a teenager in this city, it is almost impossible to avoid an experience with some form of illegality, especially when it comes to substances. I am almost ashamed to speak about how easy it would be for me to obtain some form of drugs, guns, and even more as a teenager. To say that it is practically normal for people my age to have experience with this would be an understatement. I am enraged at how easy it is to be led astray as a young person. I am frustrated that there are not enough set laws and regulations in place that prevent this. However, in spite of all of this, I am disheartened that experience in these topics is viewed as customary, just because I happen to be a teenager who lives in Baltimore.

— Victoria Atewogbola, 14, Belair-Edison*

To try to fit in, I was changing who I was. I caught myself, but too many teens don’t.

To put it simply, the city of Baltimore is a tough hill to climb; it’s a hill that so many fail to climb, especially teenagers. It’s a hill that needs to be climbed in order to navigate your way through this city.

Being a teenager in Baltimore can feel like walking through a room with no lights. Many teenagers feel lost. Many teenagers feel a constant need to fit in that can lead them to make poor decisions out of fear of being picked on for not fitting in.

When I migrated from Trinidad to Baltimore I was met with a drastic culture change. The schools of Baltimore, the citizens of Baltimore, the places of Baltimore, etc. It was all so new to me, I felt out of place as if I wasn’t meant to be here. Wherever I spoke others looked at me as though my words were secret codes only I knew. The kids thought of me as some alien that was attending their school from some alien planet they never heard of. All of this led to me making decisions I should have left as just thoughts, such as changing who I was in order to be accepted. I did all of this as a shield to protect me from the poisonous arrows that came after every laugh, every negative comment, every bit of embarrassment.

So many teenagers have taken the wrong road as I almost did. Some don’t even realize they are going the wrong way until they no longer recognize their surroundings or even themselves as they are too far gone.

Looking back I realize that many teenagers have been through this; they are going through it right now as I write down these words. Teenagers in Baltimore are lost in the dark room searching for the light. It’s time that more people help those teenagers find the light by understanding their struggles. So many teenagers have taken the wrong road, as I almost did. Some don’t even realize they are going the wrong way until they no longer recognize their surroundings or even themselves as they are too far gone. But there is always hope. Impossible only exists if you don’t believe in possible. You don’t water the leaves of a plant, you water the roots. It’s time we look for the root of the problem before we start attacking what’s on the outside. Teenagers of Baltimore are heavily influenced by others; it’s time to limit this influence and open the gate to let the true love of Baltimore flow once again. It’s never too late.

— Brandi Gonzales, 14, Cheswolde*

People know Baltimore’s quirks and problems. But they don’t know me.

Being a teenager in Baltimore can be intimidating. Most people have an idea of what you should be like, talk like, and act like, but I don’t fit in any of those boxes. The majority of people get their information from social media and occasionally the news, though it isn’t as popular in this generation. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, have made it a common thing to categorize people from Baltimore claiming they know us from the way we say “tew” or based on how we dance. But I wish people understood that not all of us are the same or fit in that box.

Amirah Haney, 18, one of the My City, My Voice essay contest winners, poses near the Inner Harbor. Amirah wrote about charting her own path in the face of assumptions others make about her. (Myra Boyd)

I personally don’t want to be defined by my environment. Just because I live in Park Heights doesn’t mean I sell drugs. Just because I work in Mondawmin Mall doesn’t mean I witness shootings all the time. These are just a few of the fixed assumptions people make about people from Baltimore City. I couldn’t be more opposite. I am usually shy and avoid meeting new people. If I see a crowd of people, I’m quick to go another way even if it means it takes me longer to get to my destination. I work at Mondawmin Mall because it’s close and convenient. I’ve never had alcohol or drugs and don’t plan on doing so. I haven’t gotten into a fight since middle school, and I hate dancing in public. I wish people understood that a lot of teens have goals and want to leave this city but often don’t have the opportunities or financial stability to do so.

The greenery of late spring frames a gray Northwest Baltimore sky. (Amirah Haney)

Sometimes even our family holds us back, whether that is because they need us to take care of our younger siblings or for more selfish reasons. Too many of us are young moms and feel that that’s our sole responsibility and we can’t leave or dedicate time to school because we’re too busy being moms. I know this could apply to people all over the world, but I think people don’t really expect successful people from Baltimore or have lost hope, especially for teens. Living in Baltimore, a city of lost souls, poverty and crime doesn’t define me. I will always put my best foot forward and continue to strive for the best, regardless of what people think even if that means I’ll have to do it on my own.

— Amirah Haney, 18, Arlington*

Gunshots can have a long echo for the young bereaved like me.

Do you know how hard it is for teenagers to grow up with one parent? Growing up with one parent is hard and it’s very sad and stressful. Being a teenager in Baltimore, there’s a lot of killing that takes people’s families away from them, seeing a loved one just be gone forever. People should understand that it’s hard and it could change the person mentally and emotionally by losing a loved one.

During my childhood, I always spent time with my dad, always having fun around the people he was around and feeling loved. At the age of 6, my dad was taken away from me by gun violence and I was never going to be able to see him again. The rest of my childhood was good because I didn’t realize the loss I had until I got older. My dad’s death wasn’t impacting me because I was so young. I just knew that I wasn’t seeing him anymore; even at his funeral, I wasn’t sad.

As I got older I started to get sadder. I tried to stay connected with my dad’s side of the family that I would always be around but eventually, we fell off. Finally hearing the story of how my dad passed was creating anger in me. I started to put my guard up with everyone; I didn’t trust anyone. My mom started to see the change in me. I wasn’t letting anyone in and didn’t talk about my feelings at all. I became very calm and emotionless about everything.

I had no other parent to go to when I and my mom got into an argument like other kids did. Seeing my cousins have a good relationship with their dads would sometimes hurt me because I wish I could have that.

The way I changed started to affect all of my relationships. I was going through changes mentally and more and more people started to realize something was wrong. Every time I had to talk about my feelings, I shut down. Having only one parent was hard at times. I had no other parent to go to when I and my mom got into an argument like other kids did. Seeing my cousins have a good relationship with their dads would sometimes hurt me because I wish I could have that.

As a teenager in Baltimore, I want people to understand that gun violence kills family members and it impacts us by causing us to change mentally and emotionally.

— Laithan Phillips, 15, Perring Loch

Baltimore is brimming with passion. I see it, but more people need to be shown it.

s expected, Baltimore is defined as an “urban” area. According to the Department of Health, urban areas are “”locations with high population density.” However, as a society, we have labeled the word urban as another word for Black. Some may also argue that “urban” has a negative connotation. Despite knowing that, I am proud to say I am from an urban area. I am proud to say I am from Baltimore.

When people think of Baltimore, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Poverty? Drugs? Even murder? As someone who has lived in Baltimore for as long as I can remember, I can tell you Baltimore is so much more than that.

Baltimore bleeds passion from every crack and crevice. Growing up in Baltimore, you realize that there is passion all around you. Everyone wants to have a grind; everyone wants to have a hustle. From little girls braiding hair, to boys cutting hair. People from this city want others to succeed. They want another success story about how someone from their city made it. They want inspiration and proof that they can reach their goals while being from a city that is portrayed so negatively.

People from this city want others to succeed. They want another success story about how someone from their city made it. They want inspiration and proof that they can reach their goals while being from a city that is portrayed so negatively.

I’d say Baltimore is the hidden gem of cities. When you think of places you want to visit or potentially live, Baltimore is usually not on the list. It is overlooked, despite being one of the most beautiful, passionate and hearty cities out there.

No other place goes as hard for their city as Baltimore. We rock Ravens jerseys as if the last time we made it to the Super Bowl wasn’t 2013. The whole city makes a ruckus over the Poly vs. City homecoming game, despite us knowing who wins before the game even begins. You know you’re in Baltimore when you see people rocking Under Armour like it’s designer. You know you’re in Baltimore when you see a group of girls and they’re all wearing puff-sleeved denim jackets. We are the type of city that despite any “beef” we may have with people, we know when Lor Scoota comes on it’s time to put that all aside. We’re the type of city that has everyone mesmerized when pronouncing “to” and “you.” Baltimore is the type of city to have a mayor with an Afro. Baltimore is much more than what they show in the media.

— Empress Rasheem, 16, Hamilton Hills

How does it feel to be a teen? Under-understood.

Being a teen in Baltimore ain’t an easy life. When you are living in a fast world, it’s hard to balance growing up fast to adapt to society but not too fast to be seen as fast.

Around my peers, I always feel like I’m behind in something as if I’m too short on something. I’m always the “No, I don’t smoke” friend, the “I don’t go to parties” friend. But strangely enough, I’m the most experienced. I’m the friend that “swears like a sailor” or can give you relationship advice. Nevertheless, I’m also a friend that you can lean on because I understand what it’s like to feel alone. I listen to my friends dealing with mental health because I understand what it’s like to feel like something is always wrong with you, that I’m never enough. I always feel like teenage life is hating yourself until you have reached self-acceptance. I understand that my peers smoke because their life ain’t easy, that they use smoking to help the fact that their life ain’t no piece of cake. I understand that my peers go to parties to let go of their problems and have fun. I just wish adults understood that. I’m not condoning smoking or the bad things that come with partying; however, I understand.

Giving kids an environment to be vulnerable helps them shake off their troubles without resorting to drugs.

Understanding is something I think adults lack. It’s always “You think my life’s easy?” or “You’re too young to experience anxiety/depression.” Comments like these cause kids to pick up those habits, especially if their parents do it. Giving kids an environment to be vulnerable helps them shake off their troubles without resorting to drugs. Also, “old school” parents make it harder to balance teen life. I try to use clothes and music to help balance. Yet it always turns into “You’re a representation of me, and you will dress accordingly.” Making me dress as if I’m not a teen. When I listen to music, they worry too much about the fact that the artist is cussing instead of the message.

Saying teen life isn’t easy is an understatement. As teens, we go through a lot that adults can’t understand. Each generation has their problems that they have to deal with growing up. We as teens just want adults to remember their experiences and empathize with teens to help them become independent adults, not just surviving adults.

— Onyx Abung, 15, East Arlington

This project was sponsored by UMBC and supported by the Solutions Journalism Network Complicating the Narratives fellowship of former Sun audience engagement journalist Sanya Kamidi.

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Off-peak LIRR riders also deserve a break on fares

Kick off the people on the train who say they can’t afford it, a reader says about LIRR fare dodgers. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.

This guest essay reflects the views of Sabina Sethi Unni, a writer, urban planner and second-generation Long Islander who commutes into Manhattan from Long Island on the LIRR every day.

Perhaps you’re a construction worker who needs to be at a job site at 5:45 a.m. Perhaps you’re a nanny or domestic worker who cleans houses and starts at noon. Or a home care aide or nurse who starts a night shift at 9 p.m., or an adjunct teaching night school.

If you are, and you're commuting to or from Long Island, chances are you're riding the Long Island Rail Road during off-peak hours. Peak trains arrive weekdays in New York City terminals between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., depart those terminals between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and have the highest demand and ridership. Everything else is off-peak. Peak tickets cost more than off-peak. But if you buy a monthly ticket to get a discount on daily fares, you pay the same price whether you're riding peak or off-peak. That's unfair and discriminatory.

It makes sense for peak fares to be higher than off-peak fares, and transit agencies stagger prices for a variety of reasons: increasing revenue based on higher demand (similar, but not quite, to Lyft and other ride-sharing apps), subsidizing extra costs like greater electricity use for extra cars needed for peak trains, and reducing the financial burden for students, senior citizens, riders with disabilities, and low-income customers who ride off-peak. Equal fares mean off-peak riders are subsidizing peak riders who put more stress on the system.

Daily commuters like me benefit from buying monthly tickets, which give peak riders a discount from 55% to 66.5% per trip compared to the cost of buying single peak tickets, depending on the length of the commute. But you won’t benefit from this if you’re a Long Islander who works outside “regular” hours because all monthly tickets are peak pricing.

Why is this discriminatory? Off-peak riders — often working-class New Yorkers in blue-collar and service industries dominated by people of color — are subsidizing fare discounts for peak riders, who have incomes at least 20% more than off-peak riders and take trips nearly double the length, according to City Observatory and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. If you ride the train during off-peak hours every day and get a monthly ticket, you’re losing anywhere between $69.24 to $173.57 a month. Weekly off-peak 10-ticket passes are even more expensive than a monthly peak pass, ranging from $70 to $410 more per month.

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The MTA knows off-peak riders are disproportionately burdened by less frequent and reliable transit service (i.e., fewer trains and more cancellations). Why should these riders also have to pay thousands of additional dollars per year? And cost reductions often increase revenue. When the LIRR’s Atlantic Ticket program reduced ticket costs for rides between the LIRR's New York City stations to $5, ridership jumped 45% and revenue increased 22%.

Everyone deserves access to government-subsidized fees for public transportation, not just those who happen to commute on a 9-to-5 schedule.

Long Island has been forever plagued by the legacies of discriminatory housing practices, segregated schools, income inequality, and racism. The LIRR is not the salve for these issues, but small changes are a start to restitution. Instead of worrying about whether congestion pricing might harm low-income Long Islanders, we should focus on LIRR pricing which already does, and create an off-peak discounted monthly LIRR ticket.

If we can't make public transit truly equitable by making it free for all users, at least we can give off-peak riders the fare they deserve.

This guest essay reflects the views of Sabina Sethi Unni, a writer, urban planner and second-generation Long Islander who commutes into Manhattan from Long Island on the LIRR every day.

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Guest Essay

I’ve Seen How the Biden-Trump Rematch Ends, and It’s Pretty Scary

Boris Yeltsin holding a small child aloft. He is surrounded by cameras and men in suits.

By Mikhail Zygar

Mr. Zygar is a Russian journalist and the author of a book about Russia in the 1990s.

An elderly president isn’t sure whether he should run for a second term. His approval ratings are low, and there are concerns about his health. His advisers, adamant that he is the only bulwark against a formidable opponent, insist that his candidacy is crucial for the survival of democracy. If he does not run, they say, dictatorship will prevail. Despite his reservations, the president agrees. He pledges to defeat his opponent and protect his country’s future.

This isn’t America today; it’s Russia in 1996. That aged president is not Joe Biden but Boris Yeltsin. His fearsome rival is not Donald Trump but the Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov . As I watch the American presidential campaign unfold, I’ve been constantly reminded of their contest. For all the differences between them, I can’t shake a sense of déjà vu.

Back in the ’90s, Russia stood at a crossroads, seemingly faced with a clear choice: democracy or tyranny. Today it is evident that this was a false dichotomy. Instead, a dishonest campaign based on fear not only undermined Russians’ faith in democracy but also inadvertently facilitated the rise of a future dictator, Vladimir Putin. It’s a pretty scary story.

At the end of 1995, Boris Yeltsin’s popularity was dismally low, with approval ratings around 6 percent. Yet his advisers were bullish. Overlooking other, more popular democratic candidates — Viktor Chernomyrdin and the young Boris Nemtsov — they believed Mr. Yeltsin was the only one capable of saving the nation from a Communist resurgence, citing his electoral victory over the Communists in 1991. The country’s young democracy was at stake. Reluctant at first, he was eventually convinced.

It’s true there was reason to be concerned. Amid countrywide discontent, Mr. Zyuganov was running a campaign that might be summarized by a familiar slogan: “Make Russia great again.” By the end of 1995, his party had triumphed in the parliamentary elections , effectively securing control over the lower house. In early 1996, his presence at the World Economic Forum in Davos cemented his status as the presumptive next president of Russia, with many considering his victory all but assured.

But Mr. Yeltsin’s advisers were not going to give up easily. Instead, they set about creating a remarkably effective campaign, following what they called the formula of fear. One of the campaign managers, Sergei Zverev, explained their thinking to me when I was researching a book about the ’90s in Russia. “It was essential to deploy every tactic to instill a fear of the future among the populace,” he told me, “ensuring that the potential horrors of a non-Yeltsin victory would overshadow any existing discontent with his persona.”

The Russian media, which previously enjoyed a significant degree of freedom, transformed into an extension of the presidential propaganda machine. Major television channels and newspapers not only supported Mr. Yeltsin but also vilified Mr. Zyuganov. They depicted grim scenarios of a Communist victory — including the restoration of the Soviet Union, mass arrests, widespread repression and the introduction of stringent censorship.

In the absence of press scrutiny, the president’s re-election campaign was opaque. Officially, there were voluntary contributions from big business to stave off a Communist victory. The reality was starkly different. Vast sums of state money were funneled to businessmen close to the regime who siphoned off a portion for themselves before allocating the remainder to the campaign. Several years ago, multiple oligarchs candidly admitted to me that they profited from the campaign, revealing the depth of the corruption that underpinned it.

By the spring of 1996, Mr. Yeltsin’s bid for re-election was in full swing. He wasn’t well. He had suffered several heart attacks and there were numerous reports that he frequently consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, claims his family persistently denied. Yet despite his health challenges, he traveled extensively across Russia, speaking energetically at numerous rallies and even dancing onstage to dispel any concerns about his vitality. The media, meanwhile, continued to do its work.

Despite early concerns about his performance, Mr. Yeltsin narrowly won the first round of the election in June, leading his Communist challenger by a slim margin of 3 percent. But just days before the runoff, disaster struck: Mr. Yeltsin suffered another heart attack . His campaign team, in shock, made a decision. The seriousness of the president’s health would be kept from the public. He no longer made live appearances; instead, television channels broadcast old footage of him.

Mr. Yeltsin emerged victorious in the second round of the election. Yet it remains unclear whether he was capable of governing. His inaugural speech was alarmingly brief, lasting only 44 seconds, and many pivotal decisions afterward were reportedly made not by him but by his family. Vladimir Potanin, a prominent Russian oligarch and first deputy prime minister in the late ’90s, once described the era to me starkly: “No one was managing the country.”

In 1999, with Mr. Yeltsin still ailing from his last heart attack, his inner circle orchestrated his early resignation. Casting around for someone easy to manage, they named as his successor the director of the Federal Security Service at the time. Mr. Putin would go on to embody the dire predictions that were spread by the media in 1996. He initiated efforts to restore aspects of the Soviet Union, carried out censorship and began a series of repressions — a level of authoritarianism that, in retrospect, seems far beyond what Mr. Zyuganov might have imagined at his worst.

Remarkably, many architects of the 1996 election still believe their actions were justified. Anatoly Chubais, who was the head of the presidential administration in 1996 and ’97, told me that those elections were crucial for preserving Russian democracy. He even claimed they paved the way for what he called the “Russian economic miracle of the 2000s.”

Other views are available. Alexei Navalny, for instance, argued that the 1996 election significantly eroded Russians’ trust in the principles of free speech and fair elections. While imprisoned in 2022, he wrote “ My Fear and Loathing ,” in which he expressed disdain for those he believed dashed Russia’s democratic prospects in the ’90s. “I despise those who sold, squandered and wasted the historic opportunity our country had at the start of the ’90s,” he wrote. “I abhor those we mistakenly called reformers.”

Many Americans might think the comparison between the Russian election of 1996 and the current U.S. presidential campaign is a bit of a stretch. To be sure, there are plenty of differences. Mr. Biden is clearly a very different leader from the hard-drinking Mr. Yeltsin; the American electoral system is markedly more transparent, with campaign financing regulated by law; and the media, far from an organ of state propaganda, is free and sharply polarized. American democracy, what’s more, is no fledgling.

Yet Mr. Yeltsin’s campaign is a cautionary tale. Besides underscoring the need for a candidate to offer more to voters than protection from something worse, it reveals the risks of arguing that only one person can save democracy. The formula of fear, however well founded, is a losing one. When voters vote not for but against — out of fear alone — it undermines faith in the system. And trust in democratic institutions, once lost, is hard to recover.

The tragedy of Russia did not unfold entirely in 1996; rather, the year laid the groundwork for Mr. Putin’s eventual dictatorship by eroding public trust and fostering widespread cynicism among citizens. In America today, I frequently hear that the fate of democracy hinges on the coming election. I agree. But as Russia’s experience shows, it’s never as simple as just defeating the bad guy.

Mikhail Zygar ( @zygaro ) is a former editor in chief of the independent news channel TV Rain and the author of “ War and Punishment : Putin, Zelensky and the Path to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine” and The Last Pioneer newsletter.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Commentary Essay ⇒ Writing Guide with Analysis Examples
What Is a Commentary Essay? (As a Separate Paper) A commentary essay is a written piece that provides an opinion on a particular subject. This type of essay is usually written in response to another piece, such as a blog post, article, or book passage.In a commentary essay, the writer will typically offer their own take on the situation, using evidence and examples to support their claims.
3 Ways to Write a Commentary
Make sure to ask about their expectations, such as length. 2. Present your summary. One of the key components of a data commentary is synopsis of the research. You need to concisely write about the results of the study and why it is important. Make sure to analyze and summarize the data.
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.
Samwell
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.
Writing a Literary Commentary: Guidelines
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 ...
Commentary Essay Example, Writing Guide, and Tips
Key Components of a Commentary Essay. 1. Introduction: Begin your essay with a captivating introduction that presents the topic and provides context for the reader. 2. Thesis Statement: Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines your main argument or perspective. 3.
What Is a Commentary in an Essay
Step 1: Preparation. Step 2: Stage Setup. Step 3: Writing a First Draft of a Commentary Essay. Step 4: Wrap-Up. 20 Tips for Writing a Commentary Essay. 10 things to do when writing a commentary essay include: 10 things not to do include: Summing Up on How to Write a Perfect Commentary Essay.
How to Write a Literary Commentary: 14 Steps (with Pictures)
2. Highlight keywords in the text. Take a pen, pencil, or highlighter and mark any words that feel important in the text. Look for words that are bolded or italicized in the text, as this likely means they are important for the author and key to understanding the text.
Commentary Essay Example, Writing Guide, and Tips
Commentary Essay Example (On Poem "When You Are Old" By Yates) William Butler Yates' poem When You're Old (1895) is about love. This is evidenced by the language and literary images used. These two elements combine to create a work that represents the nostalgia and depression generated by lost love. At the beginning of the poem, "old, gray and ...
Commenting Efficiently
Commenting Efficiently. Skim through the pile to discern the range of responses to an assignment. Read each essay through quickly, before making any marks, to identify major strengths and weaknesses. Think about strengths and weaknesses in terms of clear assessment criteria—thesis, structure, analysis, and so on.
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 ...
PDF Strategies for Essay Writing
Once they do read the prompt, they often find that it answers many of their questions. When you read the assignment prompt, you should do the following: • Look for action verbs. Verbs like analyze, compare, discuss, explain, make an argument, propose a solution, trace, or research can help you understand what you're being asked to do with an
Commentaries and Gobbets Guidelines
A commentary or gobbet is largely concerned with the explication of a single passage of text; an essay is directed towards a different goal, making a more general argument or arguments on a set topic, using a wide range of primary and secondary evidence. Here are some guidelines on commentary- and gobbet-writing which may be of use.
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.
Guide to Writing a Commentary on Primary Source)s)
Guide to Writing a Commentary on Primary Source (s) This shorter assignment (1,500-words, worth 10%) takes the form of a commentary on a primary source or two conceptually linked sources or a comparison of two primary sources. You could take any of the documents set out for the classes on the module website (whether or not we have yet discussed ...
How to Write a Commentary Essay: Your Student's Guide
Abstract (summarize the rest of the literary commentary in 250-300 words maximum — 1/3 of a page). Introduction (introduce the analyzed piece and its author). Several body paragraphs (include a topic sentence and transitions in each). Conclusion (summarize everything said above, restate your thesis, and finish on a powerful accord).
How to Write a Commentary Like a Pro
To put it clear, a literary commentary is not the same as the commentary essay or literary analysis even though they are similar in form and essence. It may take a single paragraph or be a 5-paragraph paper like most of the essays whereas the writer should focus on the analyzed piece of content. The good news is that students do not have to ...
Guidelines for writing a commentary
Use a short title that emphasizes your key message. (It should be clear in context that all commentaries are a reaction to a particular paper). Do not include an abstract. Make clear your take-home message. Make sure there is full author information (name, affiliation, address, phone, email) for all authors.
How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay
Table of contents. Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices. Step 2: Coming up with a thesis. Step 3: Writing a title and introduction. Step 4: Writing the body of the essay. Step 5: Writing a conclusion. Other interesting articles.
Writing a good reflective commentary
The reflective commentary is not an academic essay, so you don't need to use academic jargon. Use first person, because it's a personal reflection on your work. However, don't be too colloquial and chatty either - your tone needs to be moderate and considered. Don't say "I tried to do X but it was rubbish".
How to Write a Commentary Commentary Writing in an Essay
Identifying the basic information. At this step, you have to note the basic information given in the article. They are the title, the author name, publication date, and the genre. You have to include these details in the introduction section of the commentary. Note the major event when the major work was introduced.
Teaching Students How to Write Commentary for the Literary Analysis Essay
Writing commentary is undoubtedly the most difficult part of writing any essay. All other parts of the essay are more formulaic in nature. There are standard rules for how to write a thesis statement, a topic sentence, a blended quotation, etc. But when it comes to commenting on evidence, there isn't one set way to do it.
How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.
Dan Rodricks: Mac Mathias, a principled Republican senator
The three-term senator is described in "Mathias of Maryland: Remembering a Lincoln Republican in the Senate," a series of insightful and nostalgic essays published this month by McFarland ...
Commentary: The government must do more for older Americans facing
The latest federal data indicates that over 138,000 adults aged 55 and older were experiencing homelessness on a given night in 2023. Almost half were living on the streets or in locations not ...
Commentary: Private schools in Florida do have accountability measures
The principal of Tamarac's Christian Life Academy responds to an editorial questioning accountability at private schools that take state voucher money, pointing out independent accounting ...
What Baltimore teens wish others knew about them
From little girls braiding hair, to boys cutting hair. People from this city want others to succeed. They want another success story about how someone from their city made it. They want ...
Off-peak LIRR riders also deserve a break on fares
If you ride the train during off-peak hours every day and get a monthly ticket, you're losing anywhere between $69.24 to $173.57 a month. Weekly off-peak 10-ticket passes are even more expensive ...
Opinion
The media, meanwhile, continued to do its work. Despite early concerns about his performance, Mr. Yeltsin narrowly won the first round of the election in June, leading his Communist challenger by ...

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

Recommended Reading...

Learning Materials

Updated: May 13, 2024

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Exploring Types of Commentary Essays

Steps to Writing a Commentary Essay

Specific Methods for Crafting Commentary

Example of a Well-Written Commentary Essay

Tips for Writing an Effective Commentary Essay

Concluding Your Commentary Essay Properly

Key Terminology in Commentary Writing

Do's and Don'ts in Commentary Essay Writing

Enhance Your Commentary Essay with Samwell.ai

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example for commentary?

What is the format of writing commentary?

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Introduction

What is a Commentary Essay?

Why Write a Commentary Essay?

Key Components of a Commentary Essay

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Commentary Essay

Step 2: Conduct Extensive Research

Step 3: Outline Your Essay

Step 4: Craft an Engaging Introduction

Step 5: Develop Your Arguments in the Body Paragraphs

Step 6: Address Counterarguments

Step 7: Conclude with Impact

Commentary Essay Example

Introduction:

Body Paragraph 1: The Causes of Climate Change

Body Paragraph 2: The Impacts of Climate Change

Body Paragraph 3: Potential Solutions to Climate Change

Conclusion:

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

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Definition of What Is a Commentary in an Essay and Its Meaning

Basic Structure of a Commentary Essay

5 Main Types of Commentary

Alternative Commentary Types and Examples

1️⃣ Close, Direct Analysis of Passages