the vast majority of content is in Mr Brophy's commentary guide
Commentary Examples
extended-response
small commentary Qs
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if the question asks "why is xyz ablative", instead of "it's an ablative of instrument" you may just write "instrument" or "absolute"
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usually grammar questions will be one mark for identify and one mark for explain
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give each component in the order that the question asks for them.
- e.g. Identify and explain the case of insidiis (2 marks
- first identify, then explain, e.g. ablative, means
- a reason to do this is sometimes students miss the first one, and then lose marks
explain
- 'formula' for explain is 'way (use of language) + "specific reference" + effect'.
- way is a technique or not technique, e.g. imagery, word choice. "It doesn't have to be a fancy greek term" (see examples below)
- specific reference is a quote from a passage, the more specific the better. for example, the imagery in "nudus" is better than the imagery in "ut nudus ... a saxo" because it's more specific
alliteration, polysyndenton, asyndenton, don't use them by themselves, but can use them as supporting points, e.g. "listing of different ways that Clodia offends Caelius, heightened by polysyndenton"
"explain THREE ways how" vs "explain how"
if the question gives you like "explain THREE ways", then you have to be really clear with what three you give. i.e. if you say "prosopopeia and superlative adjective", then that's not clear. → "superlative adjectives in the prosopoeia"
also, for explain THREE ways, only the first three ways are marked.
cf. "explain how" questions (without the THREE), where everything you write contribute to your mark.
in the "explain THREE ways" questions, there's no need to do an introduction because they only look for the THREE ways.