Index: modules/comment/comment.module
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/comment/comment.module,v
retrieving revision 1.874
diff -u -p -r1.874 comment.module
--- modules/comment/comment.module	6 May 2010 05:59:31 -0000	1.874
+++ modules/comment/comment.module	6 May 2010 18:49:02 -0000
@@ -1127,6 +1127,13 @@ function comment_form_node_type_form_alt
         DRUPAL_REQUIRED => t('Required'),
       ),
     );
+
+    $form['comment']['comment_help']  = array(
+      '#type' => 'textarea', 
+      '#title' => t('Explanation or submission guidelines'), 
+      '#default_value' =>  variable_get('comment_help_' . $form['#node_type']->type, ''),
+      '#description' => t('This text will be displayed at the top of the comment submission form. It is useful for helping or instructing your users.')
+    );
   }
 }
 
@@ -1888,6 +1895,13 @@ function comment_form($form, &$form_stat
     '#access' => $is_admin,
   );
 
+  if (variable_get('comment_help_' . $form['#node']->type, '')) {
+    $form['help'] = array(
+      '#markup' => '<p>' . variable_get('comment_help_' . $form['#node']->type, '') . '</p>',
+      '#weight' => -2,
+    );
+  }
+
   $form['subject'] = array(
     '#type' => 'textfield',
     '#title' => t('Subject'),