To write a literary commentary, start by reading the text and creating an outline. Learning how to write a commentary for English coursework we should mention that a commentary on the text will be a brief analysis of it. How to write a Poetry Commentary . A commentary is one type of literary work that contains a detailed analysis of an article, story or a passage of text. Prose Commentary Plan 120 minute Exam (90 min SL) Try to write a minimum of five pages in the exam 5 minutes 1st reading 5 min 2nd reading 20 min Make detailed notes on 3rd reading Make a detailed plan like the one below. Make sure you polish the literary commentary for style, grammar, and spelling before handing it in so it is at its best. It’s the literary equivalent of a chocolate box painting. This will depend on the further direction of … 10. Highlight quotes to use. For the IB commentary, you are expected to explain a given poem or prose. Before you begin to compile it, you will determine which criteria you rate the text. You should craft a clear and specific thesis statement about the novel, poem, or play you are evaluating. Write your introductory paragraph to identify the prose work, explain your argument for or against the book, and provide a brief commentary for whether the author is successful in addressing the theme. Avoid Writing Purple Prose. Your thesis statement should explain your stance or argument about the text. Then, dive right into a detailed discussion of the text. In this article, we have discussed the steps in detail to learn and prepare for it, write it effectively and polish it to make it presentable. This final one encapsulates a lot of the prose writing rules we’ve covered, such as striking out adjectives and preferring the simple to the fancy. To write a commentary, write about your observations and analysis of the text you read. Keep your introduction clear, giving readers an understanding of the position you will take in the body of your commentary. According the the dictionary, purple prose is writing that is “too elaborate or ornate”. In order to write a IB Paper 1 commentary, the following guidelines must be followed.