What is it?
This writing technique involves a writer stepping back to explain or guide how the reader should understand their ideas.
Metacommentary
The slide uses this topic — 'Social media affects ___' — as an example of a vague claim without metacommentary.
Relationships
Metacommentary is especially helpful when introducing these kinds of ideas.
New ideas
Metacommentary does this to arguments — it makes them stronger.
Strengthens them
This two-word phrase is listed as a classic metacommentary signal that tells readers a restatement is coming.
"In other words"
Alongside 'In other words,' this phrase, starting with 'What' is listed as a common metacommentary opener.
"What I mean is"
Metacommentary is described as a 'second text' that works alongside this — the writer's actual argument.
The main text
Adding this specific detail about social media is given as an example of metacommentary in action.
It reduces face-to-face communication
Use metacommentary to do this with different points in your writing — link them together.
Connect them
Metacommentary prevents this from happening between the writer and the reader.
Misunderstanding
Even strong ideas can become unclear without this, which is why metacommentary is so useful.
Explanation
This three-word phrase — 'This ___ that' — signals to readers that the writer is connecting evidence to a point.
This shows that
According to the slides, this is what writing becomes WITHOUT metacommentary.
Vague and unclear
The class activity slide asks students to add metacommentary to this simple sentence about phones.
" Phones are bad for communication"
A metacommentary will help writing turn into a..
Conversation