TLDR
Commentary is the part of a body paragraph where you explain how your evidence supports your claim and how that claim connects to your thesis. In AP English Language, strong commentary answers the "how" and "why" behind your evidence, not just the "what." Without it, you only have summary, and your line of reasoning falls apart.
What Is Commentary in an Essay?
Commentary is the explanation that connects evidence to your claim and thesis. It tells the reader how the evidence supports your paragraph's point, why that point matters, and how the paragraph contributes to the essay's overall line of reasoning.
In AP Lang, commentary is not a quote, summary, or personal reaction. It is the reasoning you write after evidence so the reader can see how your argument works. A strong body paragraph usually moves from claim to evidence to commentary, with the commentary doing the most analytical work.
Why This Matters for the AP English Language Exam
Every body paragraph you write should do three things: make a claim, back it with evidence, and explain that evidence with commentary. Commentary is what turns a list of quotes into an actual argument. It shows the reader how each piece of evidence builds toward your overall point.
This skill shows up directly in your free-response essays, where graders look for a clear line of reasoning. Reading skills matter here too: when you analyze someone else's argument, you need to describe their line of reasoning and judge whether it supports their thesis. Both the reading and writing sides of the exam reward you for explaining connections instead of leaving evidence to speak for itself.
Key Takeaways
- Commentary explains how and why your evidence proves your claim; evidence alone only states the "what."
- Each body paragraph should make a claim, support it with evidence, and add commentary that ties the paragraph back to your thesis.
- Strong commentary connects to the rhetorical situation: writer, audience, context, exigence, purpose, and argument.
- Commentary is interpretation and analysis, not summary or restating the quote.
- A clear line of reasoning depends on commentary that links each idea to the next and to your overall argument.
What Is Commentary?
Commentary is your explanation of why a piece of evidence matters to your argument. It is where you interpret the evidence and show its significance, not where you restate what the quote says.
Think of it this way:
- Evidence answers what (the quote, fact, or detail you bring in).
- Commentary answers how and why (how the evidence works and why it supports your claim).
Without commentary, an essay turns into a stack of quotes with no reasoning to hold them together. Commentary is what carries your line of reasoning from one idea to the next and connects each paragraph back to your thesis.
How Commentary Fits in a Body Paragraph
A reliable structure for any body paragraph is claim, evidence, commentary:
- Claim: the point this paragraph proves, usually in your topic sentence.
- Evidence: a quote, detail, or specific reference that supports the claim.
- Commentary: your explanation of how that evidence supports the claim and how the claim contributes to your thesis.
The commentary is the part that ties everything together. It should make clear why you chose that evidence and what it adds to the larger argument. End your paragraph by connecting back to your overall point so the reader sees how this paragraph fits the whole essay.
Commentary Depends on the Rhetorical Situation
Good commentary is grounded in the rhetorical situation, which includes the writer or speaker, the audience, the context, the exigence, the purpose, and the argument. These elements are what your commentary is actually about.
When you analyze a text, make your claim about the rhetorical choice the author is making, then add commentary that explains the effect of that choice on the audience or purpose. That move keeps your analysis focused on rhetoric instead of plot summary.
How to Use This on the AP English Language Exam
Free Response
When you write an analysis or argument essay, build each body paragraph with claim, evidence, and commentary. After every quote, ask yourself: how does this support my claim, and why does it matter to my thesis? Answer that in your own words. Aim for more commentary than evidence; the explanation is where the points come from.
Using Sources Effectively
When you read someone else's argument, describe their line of reasoning and decide whether it actually supports their thesis. Look at how they connect evidence to their claims. Spotting where their commentary is strong or weak sharpens your own writing.
Useful Verbs for Commentary
Strong verbs help you describe what an author is doing instead of summarizing. Try:
- implies
- portrays
- reveals
- suggests
- emphasizes
- justifies
Commentary Starters
Use these to push past summary and into analysis. Adapt them to your specific text.
Author's choices
- The author reveals / shows / presents / emphasizes / suggests...
- The author wants the reader to understand...
Effect and significance
- This passage is effective because...
- This detail reveals / demonstrates...
- Because of this choice, the audience...
- This adds to the reader's understanding of... because...
The goal of every starter is the same: explain the effect of a choice, not just name it.
Common Misconceptions
- Commentary is not summary. Restating what a quote says is not commentary. Commentary explains why the quote matters to your claim.
- Evidence does not speak for itself. A quote without explanation leaves the reader to guess your point. You have to connect it to your argument.
- More quotes is not better. Long strings of evidence with little explanation weaken your reasoning. Balance evidence with strong commentary.
- Commentary is not just personal opinion. It is interpretation tied to the text and the rhetorical situation, not random reactions or things the passage reminds you of.
- Topic sentences are claims, not facts. Your paragraph should open with a claim you can support and explain, not a plot detail or a restated quote.
Related AP English Language Guides
Vocabulary
The following words are mentioned explicitly in the College Board Course and Exam Description for this topic.Term | Definition |
|---|---|
argument | A position or claim supported by reasoning and evidence presented to persuade an audience. |
body paragraphs | The paragraphs in an essay that develop and support the thesis through claims, evidence, and analysis. |
claim | A statement or assertion that a writer makes and must support with evidence and reasoning in an argument. |
commentary | Explanatory or interpretive statements that clarify the significance of evidence and connect it to the argument's main point. |
evidence | Supporting details, examples, and information used to prove or defend a thesis. |
line of reasoning | The logical progression and connection of claims, evidence, and explanations that support an argument's main point. |
reasoning | The logical thinking and explanations used to support and defend a thesis or claim. |
thesis | The main, overarching claim a writer is seeking to defend or prove using reasoning supported by evidence. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is commentary in an essay?
Commentary is the explanation that connects your evidence to your claim and thesis. It shows how and why the evidence supports the paragraph and the overall argument.
How do you write commentary in AP Lang?
After evidence, explain what the evidence shows, why it matters, and how it supports the claim. Strong commentary develops the line of reasoning instead of restating the quote.
What is the difference between evidence and commentary?
Evidence is the quote, fact, example, or detail you use. Commentary is your reasoning about that evidence and its connection to the thesis.
How much commentary should a body paragraph have?
A strong body paragraph usually has more commentary than evidence. The exact amount depends on the prompt, but every piece of evidence needs explanation.
What are good commentary sentence starters?
Useful starters include phrases like this reveals, this suggests, this matters because, and this supports the claim by. Use them as prompts for reasoning, not as fill-in-the-blank formulas.
What is the common mistake with commentary?
The common mistake is summarizing the evidence instead of analyzing it. Commentary should explain how the evidence proves the claim and contributes to the thesis.