What is COMMENTARY

?

Commentary is…O above all, an explanation of why the D&E

proves the argument in our thesisO after the factual, objective presentation of

D&E—a shift—where we advance our opinions, ideas, insights, and analysis about the D&E and the effect of the author’s choices

O an opportunity to look more deeply at the ideas and themes of the text

O an invitation, after eating the author’s feast, to bring something of our own to the table

Questions to ask when writing Commentary

Thesis: A central theme of David Galef’s short story “My Date with Neanderthal Woman” is the observation that personal differences can be overcome in relationships when at least one of the participants is willing to maintain an open mind.

Detail + Elaboration I want to use to show that Robert and Glena have some personal differences: At the start of their date, when Robert picks up Glena at her cave, he offers her a box of chocolates, a seemingly normal thing for a man to do on a first date. However, upon receiving the box from Robert, Glena proceeds to “[rip] it open and [crow] in delight” and then to “[stuff] several candies with their wrappers in her mouth” (19).

Questions to ask when writing Commentary

Detail I want to use: However, upon receiving the box from Robert, Glena proceeds to “[rip] it open and [crow] in delight” and then to “[stuff] several candies with their wrappers in her mouth” (19).

O Why does this detail prove my thesis? How can I connect the dots to my thesis (without simply repeating my thesis)?

O What do I notice about Galef’s choices in creating this detail that make it significant and part of my argument?

O While still focused on my thesis, what are connections—beyond the text—I can make with this detail?

Shallow CommentaryO Detail I want to use: However, upon receiving

the box from Robert, Glena proceeds to “[rip] it open and [crow] in delight” and then to “[stuff] several candies with their wrappers in her mouth” (19).

O Here, Robert and Glena are clearly different. She just snatches the box from his hands, howls like a wolf, and begins eating the chocolates with the wrappers still on. Robert is probably not used to this sort of behavior from a woman.All I’ve really done here is repeat the D+E.

I’m still working on the surface of the text. Must get deeper.

Insightful CommentaryO Detail I want to use: However, upon receiving the box

from Robert, Glena proceeds to “[rip] it open and [crow] in delight” and then to “[stuff] several candies with their wrappers in her mouth” (19).

O Here, Galef has created two characters with ridiculously extreme differences to represent actual real-life couples who experience genuine personal differences. Galef is exaggerating, of course. It’s unlikely that two modern-day people will be quite as different as Robert and Glena are from one another. However, in the midst of a dating relationship, even minor differences—of personality, background, interests, etc.—can sometimes feel enormous and insurmountable.