Commenting
I pulled the following tips on commenting from Barbara Ganley, because I found them very helpful. I hope you will find them useful too.
If you are the first to respond to a posting, make sure you are commenting on something the writer has written; try not to go off on your own tangent—you can always post and track back on your own weblog if you are provoked into a lengthy commentary that only tangentially covers the ground of the entry. In your comments, refer to lines or images or moments in the original posting.
If you agree with the posting, it’s okay to say that, but try to push the writer deeper and further by asking questions.
If you are the 2nd or later commenter, take into account not only the original posting, but the discussion that is unfolding within the comments section. In your response, refer to other comments as well as the original entry. Do not merely repeat what others have said—add your own viewpoint, your own thinking.
If you are the original poster, make sure to jump on again to weave in your response to the comments.
I also found the following suggestions from Rosenwaster and Stephen (2000) helpful in composing analytically in response to others’ opinions and comments:
Paraphrase and look for ambiguity.
In the summary of your paraphrase, focus on: a) the how and why rather than on the what question: How did the authors arrive at this statement? Why did they focus on this particular aspect of theory or discussion? b) the kind of and the scope of information: What is underdeveloped, not discussed, most controversial, Why?
Present counterarguments;
Ask questions about the ideas that you don’t understand.
Avoid using response such as “interesting” or “odd”, as they beg for explanation: what in particular is interesting? And why is it interesting/odd?
Build upon binaries;
Use compare/contrast to arrive at a new point.
Anne Davis has a very comprehensive and insightful discussion on commenting, particularly on the use of comments to support students’ growth as writers, thinkers, and publishers. Make sure to visit her post, Significant Comments. You will find lots of great examples, resources, and strategies to help with your own commenting on student blogs.
