Sometimes, you may need to write a comment. Knowledge of how to provide constructive analysis of one's work is a useful skill, whether as a teacher, editor, student, or amateur critic. However, there is no magic formula for writing comments. This means that the comments you write are largely determined by what you are reviewing, the reasons for giving feedback, and your opinion of the work being reviewed. Regardless of what you're reviewing, having a clear purpose and strong writing can help you write a good comment.
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Method 1 of 3: Writing Literature Comments
Step 1. Define the main statement
Many subjects or courses at high school and university require you to write a literature commentary. This assignment requires you to evaluate a literary work (usually a novel, poem, or play). The key to writing good comments is to present a strong and clear thesis statement.
- The thesis statement is your argument or point of view. In this statement, you indicate your position/view towards the work reviewed. Next, what you need to do is include other things to support the statement.
- Say you are assigned to write a commentary on the short story Clara by Seno Gumira Ajidarma. You could write a thesis statement such as, "This short story not only describes the tragic incident that happened to Clara, but also implies racial tension as a major conflict, not just a social class issue."
Step 2. Outline the comments
The outline you create will depend on the length of the comment. For the most concise comments (eg comments in bullet points or one paragraph), note the important information that should be included. For longer comments, you can structure the response text.
You can write the title “Important Theme in Clara” above the outline. After that, make points like “Background”, “Social Class”, “Racial Issues”, and others
Step 3. Introduce the topic you want to cover
In the outline of the text, you should also include an introductory paragraph. Having this paragraph helps you to stay focused on the main points that were previously written. For example, include an introductory paragraph that includes the context of the work, followed by an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, themes, etc. After that, end the comment with a short conclusion about the significance of the topic.
- You could say, for example, “Clara is a short story that provides a sharp picture of the impact of the May 1998 Great Riots in Jakarta. This short story, which is rich in elements of racial issues, became an important marker of social differences that occurred at that time.”
- You can list the themes you want to discuss in the body of the comments section.
Step 4. Use specific examples to support the thesis statement
Describe the problem or theme that has been identified, point out elements or sections that reflect the problem/theme in the text, and explain the impact of the issue or theme on the work. In the example of the work mentioned earlier, you might say that discrimination against ethnic Chinese is an important theme/issue in Clara's novel.
A good specific example to illustrate the theme/issue is by showing the treatment and bad thoughts of the character "Aku" (police officer) towards the character Clara who represents ethnic Chinese
Step 5. Relate the example to the theme/issue
When you use specific examples, make sure you clearly describe the link between the examples and the main theme/issue. For example, you might say that the police officer's character treatment and bad thoughts towards Clara's character is an example of discrimination against ethnic Chinese. Readers will be happier if you can clearly explain the significance of the example.
- You could write, for example, “The negative treatment and thoughts of the character “I” toward the figure of Clara is an example of discrimination against ethnic Chinese. In addition, the discrimination that occurred was also represented by vandalism and violence against Clara's family."
- Make sure you can make neat transitions from one point to the next. When you want to introduce a new example, for example, use appropriate connecting words or phrases. Some examples of words or phrases that can be used include “in addition”, “in addition”, and “similar to the previous example”.
Step 6. Write a strong conclusion
Conclusion is a text element that serves to unite all the information in the comment. Make sure you include the conclusion of the argument. You also need to explain why the text being reviewed is important.
- In the commentary on Clara's short story, make sure the conclusion is re-emphasized: "This story can serve as an example of a clear picture of racial discrimination."
- You can also compare the work with other works from the same period to illustrate why Clara's short stories are such a significant work.
Method 2 of 3: Making Data Comments
Step 1. Understand the guidelines or instructions for writing comments provided
Data comments are similar to other types of comments in that they require you to analyze existing information. However, unlike commenting on a book or movie, you must write a comment about a set of data. Data comments are also sometimes a separate text, but are usually found at the end of the report (commonly known as the “Results” or “Discussion” segment).
You may also be asked by your supervisor or teacher to write data comments. Make sure you ask about specific expectations or rules, such as the length of the comment text
Step 2. Present research conclusions
One of the important components in data commentary is the conclusion of the study. You need to write a brief summary of the research results, including the reasons why the research is important. Make sure you analyze and summarize the existing data.
For example, if the existing research discusses the high school graduation rate in Bandung, you will need to list the number of students who graduated and explain why the results are important
Step 3. Emphasize the main points
In data comments, you may need to use graphs or charts to help illustrate the results of your research. You could include a table that shows, for example, the number of students who frequently attend K-Pop concerts. After that, comment on and analyze the visual elements you added in the text.
You could say, for example, “As shown in table 1.2, the number of students who like K-Pop music has increased dramatically since 2010.”
Step 4. Give a conclusion
In this segment, make sure you don't just repeat the information previously mentioned. Use a different word choice to re-emphasize the significance of the results. You can also suggest further research to the current review.
As in other segments of the commentary text, conclusions must refer to specific data
Step 5. Include sources/references
Writing data comments requires that you include not only facts and charts, but also sources of information. You will need to cite sources based on the citation format accepted by the institution.
- You need to include a special segment for sources/references at the end of the comment text.
- Whenever you quote an amount or statement, make sure you include the reference.
Method 3 of 3: Publishing Comments
Step 1. Define a topic
You might write commentary text for publication in a newspaper or even a blog. When deciding on a subject or topic, there are several things to consider:
- Have you been assigned to write a specific article, such as a commentary on the best films of 2016? This can be a predefined topic for you.
- Did you write the comment text to emphasize something? Try to choose a topic that you are passionate about, such as freedom of speech.
- Are you interested in writing about culture? Choose a book or movie that really makes an impact on you.
Step 2. Do thorough research
No matter what topic you choose, you still need to do your research. Even if you're just writing a comment on a personal blog, it's a good idea to make sure all the information provided is accurate.
- For example, if you are writing a comment about a film, make sure the relevant names you include are accurate.
- If you want to make a comment about politics, read several sources to get a broader perspective on the issues being discussed.
Step 3. Use the right structure
Good text usually starts with a good opening paragraph. In the first paragraph, state your topic and argument. The body of the text should also contain a few paragraphs that can further elaborate ideas/arguments.
- Use the body of the text to include specific examples, elaborate opinions, and explain research.
- Give strong conclusions. Restate the thesis statement, and offer a new way to continue research or thoughts on the topic/subject being discussed. For example, if you are writing about the role of women in the filmmaking process, emphasize that this topic requires further analysis.
Step 4. Choose the right publisher
If you want to publish commentary text, it is important that you specify the correct place to post the text. For example, if your commentary article discusses the impact of declining bee populations, try submitting the article to an academic journal in the field of science.
- If you're writing cultural commentary, try submitting a text to a popular blog or website. You can also submit it for publication in the lifestyle segment of the newspaper.
- Check the text submission guide. Each publisher has guidelines for text length, writing style, and reference formats. Follow these guidelines carefully.
Tips
- If you write commentary text as a course assignment, make sure to follow the instructions from the teacher/lecturer exactly.
- Make sure you edit and correct the text with care.
