Tips for Strengthening Your Commentary and Connections 

If you feel like you have put together strong evidence, but your commentary is lacking, here are some tips:

Clarify and Expand:

• Start by ensuring that your thesis and main points are clear.

• Use commentary to expand on your ideas and provide additional context.

• Clarify any potential confusion by explaining the significance of your evidence in relation to your main argument.

Connect to Thesis:

• Always connect your commentary back to your thesis statement.

• Explain how your evidence supports and reinforces the main argument you are making.

Address Counterarguments (this step is very likely to earn you an extra point):

• Anticipate and address potential counterarguments in your commentary.

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the complexity of the issue by acknowledging opposing viewpoints.

• Refute counterarguments with strong evidence and reasoning.

Use Literary Techniques:

• Employ literary techniques in your commentary, such as similes, metaphors, or analogies, to make your points more vivid and memorable.

• Be creative in expressing your ideas to engage the reader.

Offer Insightful Interpretation:

• Provide insightful interpretations of the evidence you present.

• Explain not only what the evidence says but also what it implies and how it contributes to the overall argument.

Examine Historical or Cultural Context:

• Consider the historical or cultural context in your commentary.

• Explain how the societal backdrop influences the argument and the significance of the issue at hand.