AP® English Language and Composition

Study Guide: Developing Commentary

Developing Commentary
One of the most difficult processes in the Rhetorical Analysis Essay is developing
commentary, which is the articulation of HOW the author writes, rather than WHAT
she actually wrote. To do this, you will need to identify the relationship between

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purpose of writing the piece.

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The “Commentary Checklist”

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After you have identified the author’s purpose and primary points, your next step

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is to identify what rhetorical choices the speaker makes to develop the claims.

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What is the context of the interaction,
When choosing the evidence to illustrate the choice, read closely to ensure that formal or informal, global or private, etc.?

what you’ve chosen supports one of the primary points. What the occasion is

Next, you will need to create your commentary that includes small snippets
of evidence and an analysis of how the evidence supports the primary point,
ultimately helping the writer achieve her purpose.
Use the following questions to help you evaluate your commentary:
Universal Ideas:

-Have you explained the actual meaning of the Often, a speaker will make assumptions
about the audience’s beliefs, values,
evidence? or needs. These assumptions could be
-Why did the author choose this specific evidence based on the exigence, subject, setting,
for her purpose, for the intended audience? purpose, or additional information
provided in the actual prompt. As
Meaning -How does the evidence connect to what the author an analyst, it is your job to identify
is actually saying in the strategy? and examine those assumptions and
explain the significance behind them
For example, a metaphor should be explained. Parallelism is in connection to the impact of the
often used to emphasize that two or more ideas have the rhetorical choices.
same level of importance or to highlight the similarities and
differences between two or more things. When writing a rhetorical analysis, it
is important to address how a writer’s
rhetorical choices affect the audience
-How does the evidence impact the audience? by appealing to one of these six
-How does the choice make the audience more universal topics:
amenable to the speaker’s persuasion? • Moral
• Spiritual
When discussing impact, you will likely refer to a logical, • Political
emotional, or credible appeal. However, avoid the terms • Social
ethos, logos, pathos. Instead, when discussing an appeal to • Psychological
Impact credibility, you can explain how “the author endears herself • Historical
to the audience by . . .” or explaining how a choice “elicits a
When discussing the universalities, it
sense of shame within the audience” instead of simply calling
is not necessary to specifically state
the evidence “pathos.” Psychologically, repetition can have a
that “the author addresses a moral
positive effect on an audience’s reception of and agreement universality.” Instead, you can discuss
with an argument, and create a greater familiarity with the how the speaker’s use of rhetorical
message and often leads to gradual agreement. questions serves “to prompt the
audience to question their own moral
-How does the rhetorical choice help the speaker behavior.”
achieve her purpose?
-What does it reveal about human nature or a
universal idea in order to help the speak achieve
Purpose her purpose?
Be sure to proofread your commentary. You may have
embedded this within the discussion of the meaning or
impact of the choice/evidence. If not, you may need to
discuss how “a sense of fear often spurs humans into action,
thus convincing his audience to join the war.”

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