Recap
Commentary explains the relationships among evidence, the line of reasoning and the thesis. A line of reasoning is the logical sequence of claims that together defend the thesis, and it is communicated through commentary. Commentary should say what the evidence shows, how the writer’s choice works and why it matters to the claim and thesis.
Key relationships
| Idea | What it is | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | An exact detail or quotation | Is it short, accurate and relevant? |
| Paraphrase | Restating the evidence | Does it add interpretation? (If not, it is not commentary.) |
| Commentary | Explains what, how and why | Does it name a choice and link to the claim? |
| Line of reasoning | Logical sequence of claims | Does each claim build on the last? |
| Thesis | The overall interpretation | Do all claims support it? |
| Transition | A phrase that shows a link | Does it say how one claim leads to the next? |
What you may assume
- Commentary usually runs longer than the quotation it discusses.
- A line of reasoning may qualify or complicate an earlier claim.
- You may start from evidence and form a line of reasoning, or start from a line of reasoning and find evidence.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaving a quotation without commentary.
- Using paraphrase as commentary.
- Repeating the same claim in different words.
- Ordering claims at random.
- Forgetting to link a claim back to the thesis.
Key terms
- Commentary: explanation of how evidence supports a claim and how the claim supports the thesis.
- Paraphrase: restating the evidence, which is not commentary.
- Line of reasoning: claims in a logical sequence.
- Transition: a phrase that shows how one claim builds on another.
Sentence frames
- “The [word or image] works by …, so that ….”
- “This matters because …, which supports the claim that ….”
- “More than …, this shows …, which leads to ….”
Mini-example
Evidence: “Creeps in this petty pace”. What: time is slow and trivial. How: the verb “creeps” and the adjective “petty”. Why: his actions have emptied his world of meaning.
How questions ask about this
- “Which of the following is commentary?”: choose the sentence that explains how or why, not a paraphrase or quotation.
- “What is the main weakness of this commentary?”: it usually lacks the how or the why.
- “Which order of claims forms the most logical line of reasoning?”: choose the order in which each claim builds on the last.
- Constructed response: quote briefly, then write at least a how and a why.
Quick self-check
- What are the three levels of commentary after paraphrase?
- Why is “This shows he feels free” thin commentary?
- What makes claims a line of reasoning and not a list?
Answers.
- What it shows; how it works (the writer’s choice); why it matters (link to claim and thesis).
- It repeats the quotation without naming a choice or linking to the claim.
- Each claim builds on the last, they do not repeat, and commentary shows the connections.
Full explanations are in the study guide. Try the practice questions next.