The Individual Oral Commentary- English A1 (Tips & Advice)

The Individual Oral Commentary or IOC must surely rank as one of the most nerve wreaking experiences for an IB Diploma student. Luck and chance, confidence at the moment, preparation, all have a big role to play in the success or disaster in the IOC. Months of preparation, mock IOC practice, alone or in groups, advice from peers, watching videos of past performances, knowing the things to comment may all come to naught when the student enters the room for his own IOC and loses his/her poise and nerve. Given below are some advice and tips to potential students preparing for their Oral Commentary to get over those nervous flutter in the stomach, anxieties, and emerge a winner:

Preparing for the IOC:

• Read the relevant assessment criteria’s carefully.
• Read the texts from Part-2 of the syllabus many times. Look up critical comments on them from the web or journals. Ask your friend to test you with sample extracts from any part of the texts. Practice annotating the extracts and speaking about the critical aspects of the extracts, the relevance of the extract to the whole, dramatic significance, use of rhetorical devices etc.

What a commentary is:

• A in depth critical examination of a poem or passage in which the student comments on the art and craft of the writer.  This is exemplified in the work that the student examines.
• A discourse about the literary effects achieved in the extract and how the writer/poet uses specific techniques to generate a particular feeling and artistic effect.
• A finale to what the student understands of the writer’s purpose in a given work.

What is not a Commentary:

• It does not mean paraphrasing or retelling of what the author really means.”
• It is not a detailed summary of the work.
• It is not simply pointing out the rhetorical/stylistic or dramatic devices used by the author.

Practical approach for a stress free IOC :

• Don’t try to go overboard annotating or jotting down points to speak on. Rather, zone in on 4-5 major issues/themes, besides noting down the poetic/dramatic/rhetorical devices used and to what effect. Remember, you have only 10-12 minutes, so don’t get rushed into cramping and pouring out many points without proper organization of thoughts and ideas.

• Organize the way you would speak about the extract, linear or in chunks, stanza/paragraph wise or central thematic focus leading on to an overall understanding of the extract. Use colored pencils to underline, mark out specific details you want to mention in you commentary. Remember, summarization is not called for, rather a deep, critical insight of the extract, what it signifies, use of various devices by which it connects, alleviates, and makes the greater work, along with suitable personal response.

• Your main focus should be to place the extract in relation to the complete poem/play/novel/essay, and to describe how it is an important part of the work. Be aware that you have to give a pre and post placement of the extract with suitable examples, quotes to strengthen your commentary. Point out and discuss key words, lines, images, symbols, motifs, repetitions, contrasts, sounds and structure. Describe how characters develop, theme unfolds, events take place, the narrative voice, the author’s style, tone, usage of time, atmosphere, irony, humor etc.

• Do not start with a vague introduction. Answering the guiding questions is always a safe route to start with. Make sure, the work is identified along with the author and give a definitive idea to your listener as to what you will be commenting on and how.

• The most important thing to be identified in the extracts are central ideas or sub themes. What control do they have in the overall build up of the work/extract? How does the writer/author build his work around the central idea is what you should be noting instead of simply pointing out that ‘x’, ‘y’ and ‘z’ are the topics in the extract.

• The analysis is your own and obviously gives you a wider possibility of interpretation within justifiable limits. If you notice conflicts/contradiction of ideas in the extract, vagueness in claims by the author, it should be pointed out along with your personal response justifying why you think so. Agree or disagree to the standpoint taken by the author, giving your reasons for doing so.

• “No man is an Island”- Using this premise, relate the extract, and to a certain extract, the work itself to the social background of its age. Point out the social/historical influences on the author that you have seen in the work, especially in the extract. This makes your commentary a convincing one.

• You have to be convincing enough that your critical interpretation of the extract is drawn from your own convictions, relating it to your own beliefs and cultural understanding. This may not necessarily be the same as the author’s own background or to the audience he/she wrote for.

• While making interpretative claims during your commentary make sure that you make adequate references to certain lines which substantiate your belief and line of thinking. Lines should be quoted correctly from the extract to help the examiner pinpoint what you are trying to claim. The literary devices and techniques used should be commented upon, but not at the cost of meaning and coherence.

• For an effective commentary, the student should stress upon the several literary features, stylistic/rhetorical devices used in the extract and to what effect, rather than simply pointing them out. Weave them into the body of your commentary, not simply as a separate thing you will discuss at the end of your commentary. There could be many. Identify and comment on their integration in the work, their effect on the work as a whole as much as possible.

• Strike a fine balance between uses of quotes from the extract. Don’t overuse or underuse it. Quotes should be used judiciously and you should be clear as to why you chose to quote those lines and what does it do to your argument.

• Use transition words carefully and with variety when moving from one point to the other.

• In your conclusion, make sure you reiterate the main points that you made in your commentary. Don’t let it be a replica of what you stated in the opening but rather, point out what you have proved, and what other questions it has opened up which, due to time limit, you could not answer or explore. This will open up the possibility of your teacher asking questions you want them to.

• Use of a formal register and precise literary vocabulary is imperative. Don’t ever use slang or informality in your commentary.

• Show confidence and faith in your commentary to give a feeling to your listener that you strongly believe in what you have commentated on. Put some emotion, opinion, your individuality and beliefs into your commentary.  In short, don’t be pedantic. By showing genuine interest in the post-commentary discussion–the exchange will be stress free and free flowing.

Detailed reading the texts from Part-2 of the English A1 syllabus several times will certainly make you feel more confident when approaching your IOC. Also, make it a point to refer to all the class notes you had jotted down. Often, they give you significant points to talk about during your IOC.

After that, it is all about PRACTICE and more IOC PRACTICE!!! Pick out Read More→