Writing a Commentary

Suggested methodology of the commentary:

1. Introduction and Context (this section should be short):
a) Restate in your own words the main issue(s) in the text (passage, quote, picture, graph, …etc.).
b) Analysis of Content (explanation of the main ideas of the statement) (in the case of a picture or
graph)
2. The student’s reaction and critique of the author’s point of view? With support.
3. A strong conclusion, either:
a) recaps: summarise or reformulate/confirm the position.
b) open up your text: suggestion for future/further action.

Samples of commentaries
1- Statement:
“Luck is better than preparation.” – Ernest Hemingway
The statement points out that luck matters more than preparation in this life. Indeed, it would be perfect to be lucky, but
it’s not something you can control or manipulate. However, when you work hard, your efforts are never to no avail and even
if they don't pay off today, they will eventually do. Also, preparation increases a person’s luck chances that when an
opportunity comes you can seize it. It is true that luck can help, but it is never enough; efforts either increase it or maintain it.

99 words.

2- Picture/ Poster/ Caricature (Visual item)

The picture illustrates the fact that media can be quite misleading to the public’s opinion. It shows an unarmed person
running away from the life-threatening attack of another. Sadly, the cameraman filming took a devious angle in which the
opposite of what is happening is broadcast. This embodies that media has the authority to present what takes place in a way
that serves their agenda and distort reality. In a nutshell, people reporting the news must be objective and professional when
reporting the news. More importantly, the audience must have a critical mind that doubts and questions.

97 words.

3- Graph/ Chart (Statistical Items)

 The chart represents the evolution of adult literacy in Morocco from 1982 to 2018. It is crystal clear that
Morocco has been very successful in fighting the disastrous rates of the 80s and 90s of last century. Still, one may inquire
how literacy is to be perceived in the third millennia and based on which information and criteria this chart is designed. In
fact, what literacy could there be for people who don’t know how to use a laptop in this digital age? And what gap is there to
be felt between a literate adult in 2004 and 2018? 99 words.