Individual Oral

Oral Commentary  English A2     Don’t forget to state the Obvious!!!

In the oral commentary you are expected to show critical thinking when you discuss a passage. You have to show that you understand the subject matter and your ideas have to be relevant and focused. When presented with an extract from a text, talk about the extract and not about the whole text. Your presentation should be organised and coherent. It should not be a series of unconnected points. It is important that you use examples to prove your arguments. Your language should be accurate, fluent and varied. Your choice of register and style should be appropriate for the task (don’t use slang in a formal situation). Your language should be formal or semi-formal. You’ll be talking for approximately 10 minutes, after which you’ll have to answer questions for another 5 minutes. Your teacher will be taking notes, this doesn’t mean you’re making mistakes, they give the teacher information to base questions on. Don’t go back and forth through the text. Start at the beginning and end with the final line. Explain what you are going to do! I’m going to analyse this passage line by line, I’m going to analyse this extract with regard to…… First I’ll talk about the place in the story, the I’ll explain the literary devices used, … Don’t forget to start with name and student number!

  

In the oral commentary you can discuss the following points.

  

Stylistic features

Discuss words and phrases that seem important, create an image, indicate symbols or foreshadow events. Talk about the characters, the theme, tone, the author’s style and use of time.

Content (plot)

Start by stating the name of the story and the writer. Indicate the place of the extract in the story. Talk about what happens, when and why. What conflict is presented? Do not summarise, this will negatively influence your mark!

Identify and discuss:

·  Key words

·  Lines

·  Images (is any particular feeling created?)

·  Symbols

·  Choice of words

·  Repetitions

·  Sounds

·  Structure

Narrative voice

Who is the speaker? What effect does the narrative voice create? (understanding, closeness, insight in the problems of the narrator, etc)

Atmosphere, mood

What is the mood? What atmosphere does the writer create?  Could be mysterious, romantic, witty, etc. 

Are there any contrasts and what is the effect of these?

Does the writer use irony, humour?

Discuss the author’s strengths and weaknesses.

Discuss underlying or universal values.

It is important that you don’t just identify different literary effects, you should discuss how they are achieved and the effect of these.

When you start your commentary you should have an idea about what you are going to say. Find and organise your arguments and build your commentary around these. To be clear and coherent, you have to be organised. Structure your oral, organisation is an import factor in your final mark. Your presentation should be structured and your ideas and arguments should be in some kind of order. You have to discuss how the author creates effects through his/her use of language. Don’t talk too fast!!!