Give detailed answers
Really good comments don't just list opinions and examples. Try to talk about the:
- writer
- characters
- style
- content
If you're being critical (saying why you don't like something) suggest what the writer could do to make the piece better.
Example
You've just heard a news report about a fire in the local area. It went on for a while and didn't answer all your questions. Ask yourself the following before commenting:
What did you think of the news report?
I didn’t like the news report.
Why not?
Because it didn’t give me all the facts.
What did you want to know?
It didn’t tell me where the fire was, and it didn’t tell me what happened to the dog after it was rescued.
How would you have improved the news report?
I think the reporter should have focussed more on what happened after the fire, for example I would like to know what happened to the dog. I also think the writer should have written less about what the people who saw the fire felt at the time. There were also some key facts missing, such as when the fire happened and where. A shorter, more focussed report would have worked much better.
Can you see how the comment has become better after asking yourself each question? The answer to the last question is a really good comment. It's clear why you didn't like the news report and how you think it could have been better.
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