Suggested Format for the Rhetorical Precis
What is in a precis:
1. Bibliographic Info: Name of author, a phrase describing author (a credibility statement), genre and title of work, date in parentheses; a rhetorically accurate verb (such as "assert," "argue," "suggest," "imply," "claim," etc.); and a THAT clause containing the major assertion (thesis statement) of the work. 2. An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the thesis, usually in chronological order. 3. A statement of the author's apparent purpose, followed by an "in order" phrase. 4. A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience. An Example: A finished precis on a typical reading assignment for a college writing course reads as follows: Sheridan Baker, a professional writer, in his essay "Attitudes" (1966), asserts that writers' attitudes toward their subjects, their audiences, and themselves determine to a large extent the quality of their prose. Baker supports this assertion by showing examples of how inappropriate attitudes can make writing unclear, pompous, or boring, concluding that a good writer "will be respectful toward his audience, considerate toward his readers, and somehow amiable toward human failings" (58). His purpose is to make his readers aware of the dangers of negative attitudes in order to help them become better writers. He establishes an informal relationship with his audience of college students who are interested in learning to write "with conviction" (55). From The Complete Stylist in Elements of the Essay: A Reader for College Writers. Ed. H. Wendell Smith (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1981), 55-57. This precis was written collectively by a group. Here are some other examples of similar précis: In her article "Who Cares if Johnny Can't Read?" (1997), Larissa MacFarquhar, an educational scholar, asserts that Americans are reading more than ever despite claims to the contrary and that it is time to reconsider why we value reading so much, especially certain kinds of "high culture" reading. MacFarquhar supports her claims about American reading habits with facts and statistics that compare past and present reading practices, and she challenges common assumptions by raising questions about reading's instrisic value. Her purpose is to dispel certain myths about reading in order to raise new and more important questions about the value of reading and other media in our culture. She seems to have a young, hip, somewhat irreverent audience in mind because her tone is sarcastic, and she suggests that the ideas she opposes are old-fashioned positions. from Bean, John C., Virginia A. Chappell, and Alice M. Gillam. Reading Rhetorically, Brief Edition. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2004. p. 63. Toni Morrison, an African-American novelist, in her essay "Disturbing Nurses and the Kindness of Sharks," implies that racism in the United States has affected the craft and process of American novelists. Morrison supports her implication by describing how Ernest Hemingway writes about black characters in his novels and short stories. Her purpose is to make her readers aware of the cruel reality of racism underlying some of the greatest works of American literature in order to help them examine the far-reaching effects racism has not only on those discriminated against but also on those who discriminate. She establishes a formal and highly analytical tone with her audience of racially mixed (but probably mainly white), theoretically sophisticated readers and critical interpreters of American literature. from http://www.wam.umd.edu/~sapinoso/precis.htm Sandra M. Gilbert, professor of English at the University of California, Davis, in her essay “Plain Jane’s Progress” (1977), suggests that Charlotte Brontë intended Jane Eyre to resemble John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress in that Jane’s pilgrimage through a series of events based on the enclosure and escape motif eventually lead toward the equality that Brontë herself sought. Gilbert supports this conclusion by using the structure of the novel to highlight the places Jane has been confined, the changes she undergoes during the process of escape, and the individuals and experiences that lead to her maturation concluding that "this marriage of true minds at Ferndean – this is the way" (501). Her purpose is to help readers see the role of women in Victorian England in order to help them understand the uniqueness and daring of Brontë’s work. She establishes a formal relationship with her audience of literary scholars interested in feminist criticism who are familiar with the work of Brontë, Bunyan, Lord Byron and others and are intrigued by feminist theory as it relates to Victorian literature. from http://www.winthrop.edu/english/core/success/precis.htm Charles S. Peirce's article, "The Fixation of Belief" (1877), asserts that humans have psychological and social mechanisms designed to protect and cement (or "fix") our beliefs. Peirce backs this claim up with descriptions of four methods of fixing belief, pointing out the effectiveness and potential weaknesses of each method.Peirce's purpose is to point out the ways that people commonly establish their belief systems in order to jolt the awareness of the reader into considering how their own belief system may the product of such methods and to consider what Peirce calls "the method of science" as a progressive alternative to the other three. Given the technical language used in the article, Peirce is writing to an well-educated audience with some knowledge of philosophy and history and a willingness to other ways of thinking. from http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/rhetorical-precis/sample/peirce_sample_precis_click.html Précis Template (Author's full name) ________________________, (credibility)___________,in his/her essay(novel, poem, article, painting, short story, etc.) __________________ (year for APA attribution), asserts that ___________________________________________________________________.(Author's last name) __________________ supports this assertion by showing(offering, using, citing, challenging, etc.) examples of ______________________________________________________ . (His/Her) ___ ____________ purpose is to _______________________________________________________ . (He/She) establishes (creates, constructs, suggests, offers, presents, etc. ) a/ an _______________with/for his/her audience of college students who ________________________ . * Remember, the above template is just a "suggested" form, one that as a student writer, you will adapt to suit your writing talents. Changing the syntactical structure to a more mature form will come as you grow as a writer. Just remember the basics...be specific with the details, use strong ACTION verbs, and avoid trite, banal, and hackneyed phrases and wording. ** The NEXT step....once you can construct a four-sentence precis, turn EACH sentence into one or more paragraphs, using and citing specific pieces of evidence from the literary prompt AND adding your own thoughts and examples (from your educational background, current events, etc). This simple four sentence form can easily be turned into a two to three page analytical response, typical of a solid AP or college-level writing. *** FINAL thought...as always, remember that YOU are the writer! Manipulate and add creativity to any response. Never assume that a template or writing "recipe" is enough. A form is a place to begin as a new college writer, but it is NOT the ending point. Use the literary and rhetorical forms that we study to create your own writing style. Works Cited Oregon State University Writing Program. "Sample Rhetorical Précis." <http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/rhetorical-precis/sample/peirce_sample_precis_click.html>. Accessed: 05/08/2004. Sapinosa, Joy. "The Rhetorical Précis Form." <http://www.wam.umd.edu/~sapinoso/precis.htm>. Accessed: 05/08/2004. Winthrop College Writing Program. "The Rhetorical Précis." <http://www.winthrop.edu/english/core/success/precis.htm>. Accessed: 05/08/2004. Woodworth, Margaret K. "The Rhetorical Précis." Rhetoric Review 7 (1988): 156-164. (pdf, password) |