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Rhetorical Précis
Sentence 1:
B. What goes into each sentence?
The name of the author, the genre and title of the work, the date in parentheses, a rhetorically accurate verb (such as "asserts," "argues," "suggests," "implies," "claims," etc.), and a THAT clause containing the major assertion (thesis statement) of the work.
A rhetorical précis has only four sentences, each of which has specific guidelines:
A. What is a rhetorical précis?
Think of the first sentence this way:
WHO are you talking about?
WHAT is their background?
WHAT did they write?
WHEN was it published?
WHAT is their point?
A rhetorical précis analyzes both the content (the what) and the delivery (the how) of a piece of text.
It is a highly structured four-sentence paragraph blending summary and analysis. Each of the four sentences requires specific information; students are expected to use brief quotations to convey a sense of the author’s style and tone.
Sentence 2:
An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the thesis/main point.
Think of the second sentence this way:
Rhetorical Précis
HOW do they prove their thesis?
- Do they offer interviews?
- Official data?
- Expert primary sources?
- Secondary sources?
- Anecdotes/Stories?
- Careful description/ observation?
POP QUIZ!
You may use your cheat sheet!
1. What 2 things does a rhetorical précis analyze?
2. What are students expected to use in a précis?
3. How many sentences are in a précis?
4. What is 1 rhetorically accurate verb?
5. Simply put, what is each sentence?
Sentence 3:
A statement of the author’s purpose, followed by an "in order" phrase.
Simply put...
Sentence 4:
Think of the third sentence this way:
Sentence 1 is the WHAT
Sentence 2 is the HOW
Sentence 3 is the WHY
Sentence 4 is the TO WHOM
WHAT are they trying to do?
- Are they trying to entertain their audience?
- Are they trying to persuade them to feel a certain way or change their minds about an issue?
- Are they trying to inform their audience – sharing information that teaches?
A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.
Think of the fourth sentence this way:
WHO is the author trying to address?
Look for clues--who do they seem to be talking to?
- Parents?
- Consumers?
- College students?
- Registered voters?
- It can be anyone.
WHAT relationship are they trying to establish? Tone is an important clue--are they
- Formal?
- Informal?
- Friendly?
- Serious?
- Angry?
- Humorous?
Image by Tom Mooring