Written Commentary Template
Student Name:
Introductory Paragraph - start with
hook sentence that introduces a
critical idea about the text
Who is the author/ speaker of the
text?
Time and space context of the text?
What is the message of the text?
Who is the text intended for?
Why has this text been created? What
is its value?
Thesis statement - how has the
purpose been achieved? (identify 3
key features e.g. ethos, pathos,
figurative language)
Body Paragraph 1 - topic sentence
that encompasses what this paragraph
Grade:
will deal with - key feature #1 as per
your thesis
Main point #1 - what is the first point
you want to make in relation to the
topic above
Evidence for main point #1 - direct
quote or specific mention of what is
noticed (if visual)
Impact on the audience
How does this point contribute to the
purpose of the text?
Main point #2 - what is the second
point you want to make in relation to
the topic above
Evidence for main point #2 - direct
quote or specific mention of what is
noticed (if visual)
Impact on the audience
How does this point contribute to the
purpose of the text?
Body Paragraph 2 - topic sentence
that encompasses what this paragraph
will deal with – key feature #2 as per
your thesis
Main point #1 - what is the first point
you want to make in relation to the
topic above
Evidence for main point #1 - direct
quote or specific mention of what is
noticed (if visual)
Impact on the audience
How does this point contribute to the
purpose of the text?
Main point #2 - what is the second
point you want to make in relation to
the topic above
Evidence for main point #2 - direct
quote or specific mention of what is
noticed (if visual)
Impact on the audience
How does this point contribute to the
purpose of the text?
Body Paragraph 3 - topic sentence
that encompasses what this paragraph
will deal with – key feature #3 as per
your thesis
Main point #1 - what is the first point
you want to make in relation to the
topic above
Evidence for main point #1 - direct
quote or specific mention of what is
noticed (if visual)
Impact on the audience
How does this point contribute to the
purpose of the text?
Main point #2 - what is the first point
you want to make in relation to the
topic above
Evidence for main point #2 - direct
quote or specific mention of what is
noticed (if visual)
Impact on the audience
How does this point contribute to the
purpose of the text?
Concluding paragraph - start with a
sentence that summarizes the main
point of the text and the author's
purpose
Write a sentence (or 2 or 3) that is
basically like your thesis statement from
the introductory paragraph - make sure
that you include all the elements of the
Revised Rhetorical Triangle and the
strategies used in the creation of the
text
One final sentence that introduces any
lingering questions that you have OR
that asks a final question on the topic.