What Is Metacommentary

David Muir

2 min read

·

08-12-2024

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Metacommentary, in its simplest form, is commentary about commentary. It's a reflection on the writing process itself, a step back from the main argument to explain your approach, clarify your thinking, or guide the reader through your reasoning. Think of it as a running dialogue between you (the writer) and your audience.

Why Use Metacommentary?

Metacommentary isn't just self-indulgent navel-gazing. It serves several crucial purposes:

• Improved Clarity and Understanding: Complex ideas often require explanation beyond their surface presentation. Metacommentary allows you to unpack difficult concepts, anticipate potential reader confusion, and preemptively address misunderstandings.

• Enhanced Engagement: By acknowledging your own writing process, you invite the reader into a collaborative experience. This makes the text more relatable and engaging.

• Strengthened Argument: Explicitly stating your assumptions, biases, or methodology strengthens the credibility of your argument. It demonstrates transparency and allows readers to assess the validity of your conclusions.

• Improved Flow and Organization: Metacommentary can be used to signal transitions between sections, highlight key points, and create a clear narrative arc. It acts as a roadmap for the reader, guiding them through the text.

Examples of Metacommentary

Metacommentary can take many forms, including:

• Explicit statements about your purpose: "In this section, I will argue that..." or "The goal of this chapter is to..."

• Explanations of your methodology: "To arrive at this conclusion, I employed a statistical analysis..." or "This interpretation is based on the following evidence..."

• Acknowledging limitations or biases: "It is important to note that this study has limitations..." or "My personal experience with this topic may influence my perspective."

• Signposting transitions: "Having established this point, we can now move on to..." or "The next section will explore the implications of..."

• Summarizing key findings: "In summary, the evidence suggests..." or "To recap the main points..."

When to Use Metacommentary

While metacommentary can be beneficial, it’s not always necessary. Overusing it can disrupt the flow and make the writing feel cluttered. The best approach is to employ metacommentary strategically, where it adds significant value to the reader’s understanding. Consider using metacommentary when:

• The subject matter is complex or nuanced.
• You are presenting a novel or controversial argument.
• You anticipate potential reader confusion.
• You want to emphasize key points or conclusions.

By strategically integrating metacommentary into your writing, you can transform a potentially opaque and inaccessible text into a clear, engaging, and ultimately more persuasive piece of work.