Commentary is defined by The American
Century Dictionary as "1) [a] descriptive account of an event
or performance as it happens or 2) explanatory notes". Although
when I use the word commentary, I mean written comments about
the paper by a teacher, tutor, or Writing Fellow to help create
a better writer (and hopefully better writing as well); both of
the definitions presented in the dictionary help to explain commentary.
Writing is an on-going process, usually stopped only by a deadline.
Commentary, especially from a Fellow or tutor, is a "descriptive
account" of where the reader is in the writing "as it
happens". Commentary can also be explanatory notes; commentary
explains where the reader (i.e. tutor, Fellow, or teacher) became
confused or required more proof to convince him or her.
Commentary is more that scribbled notes in red pen or a note at
the end of a paper written by a teacher to prove he or she read
the whole paper. Commentary is a dialogue with the reader on paper.
There are two types of commentary (directive
and facilitative) as well as many ways to
approach writing commentary. With time and practice your own style
will develop; however, this website will give explanations about
commentary, including: definition and example
of end comments, examples of commentary,
reflections on commentary, my
personal struggles with commentary, dos
and don'ts of commentary, and commentary
techniques. This site will also refer you to other
sources to learn more about commentary and the theory surrounding
it.
Writing Fellows are not the only peer tutors that may use and
see commentary; tutors in the Writing Center setting see commentary
as well. Often tutors must interact with a
paper which already has commentary on it. The question "Can tutors write commentary?" also
arises.