COMMENTARY

What is a commentary?

Defined as a “descriptive account of an event or performance as it happens” or “explanatory notes”

Types of Commentaries Play-by-play sports commentary Social commentary providing

commentary on issues in a society Often done with the idea of implementing or

promoting change by informing the general populace about a given problem

Literary commentary literary criticism

Examples of Commentaries

'Suddenly Ali looks very tired indeed, in fact Ali, at times now, looks as though he can barely lift his arms up... Oh he's got him with a right hand! He's got him! Oh you can't believe it. And I don't think Foreman's going to get up. He's trying to beat the count. And he's out! OH MY GOD he's won the title back at 32! Muhammad Ali!' Said by Harry Carpenter when Muhammad Ali beat George

Foreman in October of 1974 Animal Farm is a social commentary (allegorical fiction) Editorial section in the newspaper

Where columnists give their opinion on current affairs

IRONIC ESSAY

What is an ironic essay? Where the author deliberately writes what he/she does not mean Situational irony

Where the outcome of a certain situation is significantly different from what was expected or considered appropriate

Dramatic irony Found in plays and movies Where the reader or audience knows something that the character(s) do not know

Verbal irony play on words used to overstate, understate, or imply the opposite meaning of

something “Writing ironically is like ‘winking’ at your reader” Need to say the opposite of what you mean convincingly Ironic – Alanis Morrissette

Example of Ironic Essay The Joys of Traveling By Air

With the various methods of travel nowadays, traveling by air is by far the most convenient and enjoyable method. The hours spent in the airport, waiting to get on board, are totally worth the gourmet plane food, the lazy-boy quality seats, and the spacious setting.

When entering the security check line, where carry on luggage and passengers are searched, it is a joy to stand in the mile long line. It is like standing in a roller coaster line except with a more memorable experience at the end. What makes the experience more meaningful is counting the tiles on the floor and the number of people waiting in line until it's your turn. Sometimes it is fun to play "I-Spy," naming a color and guessing the object of that color, to pass the time fast as a lunch break. Sometimes it is even best to bring your lunch with you in line because if you get hungry and wander off in discovery for food, the person behind you will most likely let you back in the line. The older gentleman, who looks like a motorcyclist and was hassled by security, will be your best bet of someone who would allow you back in line. Before you know it, you find yourself the next person to go in the security...

INTERVIEW REPORT

What is n interview report?

Purpose of an interview is to elicit and record information, opinions and experiences which are unique to the person being interviewed

Individuality and personality of your subject should be evident in your written interview

Consider the following… Before you conduct your interview…

Decide your purpose – what do you want to learn? Write a list of questions or topics to ensure that you

cover what you need to in the interview Record the interview either on tape or in notes Set up a goal, or end purpose, for the interview Organize notes so that they logically support the

goal

Consider the following… Integrate direct quotations into the body of

your paper Some things to avoid…

Including material and quotations which are interesting but not relevant to your purpose

Losing track of the individual in an avalanche of data and information

Sample Interview Report Interview report for Bates College admis

sion

CHARACTER SKETCH

How to write a character sketch

Want your reader to have a strong mental image of the person How they talk, ways of doing things, possibly the person’s value system, etc.

Give a snapshot of the character Describe a character who epitomizes a “type” Tell a story about an encounter with him/her

Describe the setting briefly Focus on things in the scene that are somehow representative of the person you are

describing Describe how the person is dressed Tell what happened as you spent time together Describe the person’s gestures or facial expressions

Example Grandma Atkinson

1. Physical Description Most common way of describing a character Identifies anything physical about the character Example:

The soldier wore his dress blues for the event; shined

black leather shoes that shone in the light, perfectly

pressed pants and a jacket displaying his rank. He

was a tall man that stood out in a room. Almost six

foot seven inches, he towered over most of his peers.

2. Name analysis Analyzing a character’s name is looking more

closely to it’s meaning (if there is one) and describing it.

Not all characters have a name with significance to the story.

A lot of times, authors choose a character’s name to represent something about the character and/or story

3. Attitude/Appearance The readers description of the

character’s attitude The character’s attitude is how the

character appears to feel about what is happening to him/her in the story

Example “She suffered constantly, feeling that all

the attributes of a gracious life, every luxury, should rightly have been hers”

4. Dialogue Includes the character’s choice of words Includes the tone and diction of the

character when he/she speaks Is the character serious? Sarcastic? Shy?

Obnoxious? Ignorant? All of these qualities can be conveyed through

dialogue

5. Reactions of Others How characters react to or treat the

character that you are characterizing Reactions include verbal responses and

physical or emotional treatment Character reactions can tell you if the

character is liked or disliked, popular, honest, trustworthy, etc.

6. Action or Incident

A character can be represented or analyzed by how they react to any given action or incident

MEDITATION

What is a meditation? “A thoughtful or contemplative essay,

sermon, discussion, or essay – especially one that encourages introspection and self-analysis.”

Meditation 17 – John Donne Explores what death means, if we truly

believe that all human begins are interconnected to each other spiritually