How do I approach an unseen commentary?

Unseens can be very overwhelming, especially if you haven't done them before. The first crucial step is to make sure you carefully read the text. If you are provided with more than one passage to choose from, for example a poem and prose, I always advise to read both. Don't choose the poem, for example, just because you feel more comfortable with poetry. The most important thing is how well you understand the text and are able to analyse it. Once you have read through your text, decide on three (or four if you think you have the time) themes in the passage and underline the part of the text that represent those themes. Your main themes will be the bases of your main body paragraphs. When it comes to actually writing the commentary, make sure you have a clear introduction and thesis. You introduction should be short: its purpose is to lay out what you will be discussing. One to two sentences is more than enough. Another thing to keep in mind when structuring your essay and choosing your main themes is how the themes relate to one another. High quality essays usually have paragraphs that are linked in some way between one another, showing a progression of your argument. Also, try to move from your least to your most powerful theme, as that can help strengthen your argument and make it more impressive. The points you make in your main body paragraphs should answer three questions: what, how, and why? The WHAT is the point you're making. The HOW should be the evidence from the text and literary features and devices employed to achieve the point. And finally, the WHY is the explanation of why the chosen evidence explains your point and why it proves your argument. This is also known as the Point, Evidence, Explanation, or P.E.E. structure. Follow this format for every point you make. Remember, commentaries aren't just summaries of the text, they are ARGUMENTS. You should be analysing and proving your argument throughout your essay, not just reciting the passage. Following P.E.E will help you avoid being too narrative in your essays and will allow you to make a clear, coherent and concise argument. Finally, your conclusion should be a summary of you main points and should clearly show how you have proven your argument laid out in your thesis. Like introductions, conclusions should only be a few sentences long, but a strong and effective conclusion is important for a good quality essay as it helps tie your argument together and leave a lasting impact at the end of your commentary.