Paper 1 Dominant-effect thesis statement driven Commentary 11 Days To Our Exam

WHAT’S A COMMENTARY AGAIN? Commentary=close reading and interpretation of a passage presented in essay form You will demonstrate Understanding of thought (ideas) and feeling (emotions) of the passage Support your points with detailed references to the passage (quotations) Analyze and show appreciation of how the passage achieves its effects

For Paper I, how much should I write? Flipping through finished practice exams, we can almost always predict scores based on length. When we had kids write on notebook paper, double-spaced, I would tell them 6-8 pp = fully developed (this is when they have 2 hours); 4 pages or less = underdeveloped = will score lower

Writing an Introduction to your commentary… Go straight to the literature Write 2-3 sentences explaining what the poem or passage is about (shows understanding) Write your thesis stating a clear argument about dominant effect (intellectual and emotional). Do NOT list a bunch of techniques.

Commentary Body Paragraphs Nuanced evidence analyzed insightfully Well-paragraphed New idea, new paragraph BTSs show the clear development of your argument, linking one idea to the next

Conclusion of your commentary Don’t repeat Briefly sum up what you’ve said DRAW A CONCLUSION – so what?

Using Titles of Prose and Poetry Selections Short story titles are related in quotes In Karen Russell’s “Swamplandia!”, she uses [some dominant literary device] to [show something significant about the world]. Poem titles are related in quotes **The Art of the Lathe is the book that the poem is published in, and you won’t need that title for your essay at all. In B H Fairchild’s poem, “The Machinist, Teaching his Daughter to Play the Piano”, the author uses [some dominant literary device] to [show something significant about the world].

B H Fairchild’s “The Machinist, Teaching his Daughter to Play the Piano” Dominant Motifs: Parenting/teaching/molding Communication Machinery [or roughness] vs Art [or delicacy] Religious imagery Music Hand Imagery Structure: Use of tercets and physical structure Italics vs plain font Varied Interpretations: Is the daughter speaking or is that piano noise?

GET YOUR WRITING FOLDER MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU HAVE YOUR WRITING FOLDER IN CLASS TOMORROW AS WE WILL BE CHARTING YOUR PROGRESS

IN YOUR WRITING FOLDER, you should have… Paper 1: Sonnet one-pager rubric Paper 2: Hamlet rubric with reflection on the back Paper 1: Semester I Final Exam 4th: “Specimen Paper” 6th: 2007 Exam Paper 2: Woolf/Austen comparative essay Paper 1: 2016 Exam Intro & Outline

Karen Russell’s “Swamplandia!”, Dominant Motifs: Predatory tourism Gender roles/sexism/marriage discord Appearance v reality Narrative voice: youthful Maternal sacrifice Color green

Structuring your Paper 1 Essay: Linear/Chronological Moves sequentially PROS: Can work well when an extract has a clear sense of development Topic statements (first sentences of paragraphs) can focus on points of transition CONS: Danger of falling into retelling

Structuring your Paper 1 Essay: Conceptual/Thematic Organized by different aspects of content and language (Key Aspects/Ideas/Techniques) EXAMPLE: Par. 1: Character of Narrator Par. 2: Her Relationship with her parents Par. 3: Setting Par. 4: Controlling Metaphor Par.5: Etc.. Look at language/techniques as you go to support points

Structuring your Paper 1 Essay: Conceptual PROS: More holistic Allows you to show more control over your thesis, and develop your ideas more coherently

Structuring your Paper 1 Essay: Remember… No formula guarantees success Careful thinking for yourself about the best way to structure your commentary is key

Plan for a Paper 1 Commentary What kind of “reading” have you come up with? Does it highlight a particular aspect of content or style? Does it ask from where the poem gains its main strength? Does it focus on a contrast or conflict, or a significant development? What kinds of structure might you follow? One that traces the linear development of the poem, or perhaps one that breaks the poem’s features down into concepts? Once you’ve decided, create your outline