Comparative commentary prewriting sheet Common link Type of text Intended purpose Main message/theme Text Analysis How does the author use and organize language to achieve his purpose and communicate his message? Cite examples for supporting. Introduction: State the title, author, date written, genre, content and purpose. Summarize content of each text in one sentence. State the common link. Introduce which element of difference and similarities you are going to comment . Make a generalized point about how the two texts deal with the same theme but in a different way but try to add an element of originality. Example : The theme in both texts is similar; they both discuss XXX. However, the texts' positions regarding this theme are very different and so is the way they are expressed. The COMMON LINK of text 1(a) and 1(b) seem to be similar to a certain extent. Text la is an article taken from XXX, published on (DATE). It deals with the topic of XXX. Text lb also deals with the subject of XXX, however, unlike text la, it deals with XXX. Being a (TEXT TYPE), the text is (DESCRIPTIVE WORDS) and the author, XXX, contrasts the XXX. Both texts therefore share the common theme of XXX. Being of different genres they clearly do not share the same focus and deal with the subject matter in contrasting ways. Body of commentary: Compare and contrast the two texts. Must show how the language is used to communicate and explain the effect the themes of the text. Point - Quotation- Comment. Is one more effective than the other? Why? Was it effectively conveyed to the audience? To end on a short conclusion. Example: The author conveys the idea of XXX when he refers to XXX as "XXX" and this use of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE) emphasizes the XXX. This sharply contrasts with the XXX in text B which is described as "XXX ". Here the atmosphere is completely different and we see Example of incorporating quotations into your writing: The rhetorical SENTENSE/PHRASE/QUESTION "XXX" opens the article in an effective way, REASONS. This contrasts sharply with the more XXX language of `TEXT 2' which XXX'. These WORD CHOICE/FIGURATIVE LANUGAGE give us a good idea of XXX. Example of Body paragraph (structure) The first text is GENRE and therefore its purpose is to XXX. It expresses the XXX. The writer expresses this XXX thanks to the structure and form of the text. The title is very well chosen, we immediately understand the theme of the text and are interested to read on. The sentences in the text are DESCRIBE, making it easily read and much livelier. The short paragraphs and the question-answer format makes the XXX much more interesting. Conclusion example To conclude, the (GENRE) and (GENRE) successfully deal with the subject of XXX but in very different ways. TEXT 1’s aim was to XXX. It successfully does this through its XXX. On the other hand, TEXT 2 shows us the XXX but, like `TEXT 1', refers to a XXX. This evokes emotion in the reader as it deals with the XXX. Both texts are therefore successful in their aims of informing and entertaining a wide readership. Words and phrases for writing about a text The purpose to inform to explain to persuade (the reader) that … to argue that ... to entertain to express (sorrow, joy, anger etc) 宣传 The text is aimed at … is directed at … targets … The author describes / depicts / portrays / illustrates … argues that … suggests that … demonstrates that … recalls … compares … Elements that have effect on purpose Figurative or rhetorical device Intended audience Sound(poem) Perspective Structure (how are ideas organized) Chronologically Classification INTO LINES, PARAGRAPHS, STANZAS, COLUMNS; USE OF (SUB) HEADINGS; USE OF VISUAL ILLUSTRATION DIALOGUE moves from general to particular has a question – answer structure Setting (time,situation,place) Tone jubilant, joyful, exuberant, excited, enthusiastic, dramatic
dark, sombre, melancholy, gloomy, bleak, solemn, earnest, serious
playful, flippant, tongue-in-cheek, good-humoured, whimsical
satirical, mocking, sarcastic, ironic, cynical, irreverent
angry, bitter, harsh,
impersonal, dispassionate, cold
personal, intimate, emotional, lyrical, poignant, sentimental, warm
calm, philosophical, reflective, gentle, mellow, tranquil
formal, stately Sentences Parallel
formal
short, concise
long, complex
forceful, emphatic
loose, rambling Word choice simple, plain, colloquial, informal
elevated, literary, poetic, formal
concrete, precise, sensuous
figurative, idiomatic
technical, pedantic
vulgar, earthy, homely Standard English
Non-Standard English, a regional dialect Imagery vivid memorable very effective (WHY?) sensuous witty humorous startling resonant unusual suggests that … implies that … conveys … (an emotion, idea etc.) captures (an idea etc.) symbolizes … represents … alludes to … has connotations of … compares *** to ... Text type
Common link
Type of text
Intended purpose
Main message/theme
Text Analysis
How does the author use and organize language to achieve his purpose and communicate his message? Cite examples for supporting.
Introduction: State the title, author, date written, genre, content and purpose. Summarize content of each text in one sentence. State the common link. Introduce which element of difference and similarities you are going to comment . Make a generalized point about how the two texts deal with the same theme but in a different way but try to add an element of originality.
Example :
The theme in both texts is similar; they both discuss XXX. However, the texts' positions regarding this theme are very different and so is the way they are expressed.
The COMMON LINK of text 1(a) and 1(b) seem to be similar to a certain extent.
Text la is an article taken from XXX, published on (DATE). It deals with the topic of XXX. Text lb also deals with the subject of XXX, however, unlike text la, it deals with XXX. Being a (TEXT TYPE), the text is (DESCRIPTIVE WORDS) and the author, XXX, contrasts the XXX. Both texts therefore share the common theme of XXX. Being of different genres they clearly do not share the same focus and deal with the subject matter in contrasting ways.
Body of commentary: Compare and contrast the two texts. Must show how the language is used to communicate and explain the effect the themes of the text. Point - Quotation- Comment. Is one more effective than the other? Why? Was it effectively conveyed to the audience? To end on a short conclusion.
Example: The author conveys the idea of XXX when he refers to XXX as "XXX" and this use of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE) emphasizes the XXX. This sharply contrasts with the XXX in text B which is described as "XXX ". Here the atmosphere is completely different and we see
Example of incorporating quotations into your writing:
The rhetorical SENTENSE/PHRASE/QUESTION "XXX" opens the article in an effective way, REASONS. This contrasts sharply with the more XXX language of `TEXT 2' which XXX'. These WORD CHOICE/FIGURATIVE LANUGAGE give us a good idea of XXX.
Example of Body paragraph (structure)
The first text is GENRE and therefore its purpose is to XXX. It expresses the XXX. The writer expresses this XXX thanks to the structure and form of the text. The title is very well chosen, we immediately understand the theme of the text and are interested to read on. The sentences in the text are DESCRIBE, making it easily read and much livelier. The short paragraphs and the question-answer format makes the XXX much more interesting.
Conclusion example
To conclude, the (GENRE) and (GENRE) successfully deal with the subject of XXX but in
very different ways. TEXT 1’s aim was to XXX. It successfully does this through its XXX. On the other hand, TEXT 2 shows us the XXX but, like `TEXT 1', refers to a XXX. This evokes emotion in the reader as it deals with the XXX. Both texts are therefore successful in their aims of informing and entertaining a wide readership.
Words and phrases for writing about a text
The purpose
to inform
to explain
to persuade (the reader) that …
to argue that ...
to entertain
to express (sorrow, joy, anger etc) 宣传
The text
is aimed at …
is directed at …
targets …
The author
describes / depicts / portrays / illustrates …
argues that …
suggests that …
demonstrates that …
recalls …
compares …
Elements that have effect on purpose
Figurative or rhetorical device
Intended audience
Sound(poem)
Perspective
Structure (how are ideas organized)
Chronologically
Classification
INTO LINES, PARAGRAPHS, STANZAS, COLUMNS;
USE OF (SUB) HEADINGS;
USE OF VISUAL ILLUSTRATION
DIALOGUE
moves from general to particular
has a question – answer structure
Setting (time,situation,place)
Tone
jubilant, joyful, exuberant, excited, enthusiastic, dramatic
dark, sombre, melancholy, gloomy, bleak, solemn, earnest, serious
playful, flippant, tongue-in-cheek, good-humoured, whimsical
satirical, mocking, sarcastic, ironic, cynical, irreverent
angry, bitter, harsh,
impersonal, dispassionate, cold
personal, intimate, emotional, lyrical, poignant, sentimental, warm
calm, philosophical, reflective, gentle, mellow, tranquil
formal, stately
Sentences
Parallel
formal
short, concise
long, complex
forceful, emphatic
loose, rambling
Word choice
simple, plain, colloquial, informal
elevated, literary, poetic, formal
concrete, precise, sensuous
figurative, idiomatic
technical, pedantic
vulgar, earthy, homely
Standard English
Non-Standard English, a regional dialect
Imagery
vivid
memorable
very effective (WHY?)
sensuous
witty
humorous
startling
resonant
unusual
suggests that …
implies that …
conveys … (an emotion, idea etc.)
captures (an idea etc.)
symbolizes …
represents …
alludes to …
has connotations of …
compares *** to ...
Text type