Rhetorical Précis Handout PDF

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TheRhetoricalPrécis  Overview:Inordertoconciselydescribetheargumentandcontextanauthorpresentsinatext, academicwriterssometimesuseaformatcalledtherhetoricalprécis.Thisformisahighlystructured four‐sentenceparagraphthathighlightstheessentialrhetoricalelementsinanytext.Theprécis includesthenameofthespeaker/writer(s),thecontextorsituationinwhichthetextisdelivered,the majorassertion,themodeofdevelopmentorsupportofthemainidea,thestatedand/orapparent purposeofthetext,andtherelationshipbetweenthewriter(s)andtheaudience.Thefollowingisa breakdownoftheinformationtoincludeineachofthefoursentences.  EXAMPLE: SENTENCE1–includethefollowing: • thenameofauthor, ToniMorrison,awell‐known scholarinthehumanities,in • aphrasedescribingtheauthor’scredentials, heressay,“DisturbingNurses • thetypeandtitleofwork,thedateofwork(insertedin andtheKindnessofSharks,” parentheses), impliesTHATracisminthe • arhetoricallyaccurateverb(suchas“assert,”“argue,” UnitedStateshasaffectedthe “suggest,”“imply,”“claim,”“posit,”etc.)thatdescribeswhat craftand processofAmerican theauthorisdoinginthetext, novelists. • aTHATclauseinwhichyoustatethemajorassertion(thesis  statement/claim)oftheauthor’stext.  EXAMPLE: SENTENCE2:Anexplanationofhowtheauthordevelopsand/or supportsthethesis(forinstance,comparingandcontrasting, Morrisonsupportsher implicationbydescribinghow defining,narrating,illustrating,defining,usinghumororsarcasm, ErnestHemingwaywrites relatingpersonalexperience,dependingonfacts/statistics/opinion, aboutblackcharactersandby etc.).Considertheauthor’sorganization,useofevidence,and/or strategiesusedtoconstructhis/herargument.Yourexplanationis illustratinghisstrategiesfor plotdevelopmentseenwithin usuallypresentedinthesamechronologicalorderthattheitemsof hisnovelsandshortstories. supportarepresentedinthework.  SENTENCE3:Astatementoftheauthor’s EXAMPLE: apparentpurpose,followedbyanIN Herpurposeistomakeherreadersawareofthecruel ORDERTOphraseinwhichyouexplain realityofracismunderlyingsomeofthegreatestworksof whattheauthorwantstheaudienceto AmericanliteratureINORDERTOhelpthemexaminethe doorfeelasaresultofreadingthework. far‐reachingeffectsracismhasnotonlyonthose discriminatedagainstbutalsoonthosewhodiscriminate.   SENTENCE4:Adescriptionofthe EXAMPLE: intendedaudienceandtherelationship Sheestablishesaformalandhighlyanalyticaltonewith theauthorestablisheswiththeaudience. heraudienceofracially‐mixed,theoretically‐  sophisticatedreadersandcriticalinterpretersof Americanliterature.   

TemplatesfortheRhetoricalPrécis  Providedbelowarethreetemplatesyoucanrefertowhenusingtherhetoricalprécisform.Youshould usetheseforguidance,butuseyourbestjudgmentabouthowtoformsentencesappropriatetothe textand/orauthoryouwriteabout.Themodelisaback‐up,notarequirement.   1. (Author’scredentials),(author’sfirstandlastname),inhis/her(typeoftext),(titleoftext), publishedin(publishinginfo),addressesthetopicof(topicoftext)andarguesthat(argument).  2. S/hesupportsthisclaimby___________,then___________,andfinally____________.  3. (Author’slastname)’spurposeisto(author’spurposeinwriting)inorderto(changein reader/societytheauthorwantstoachieve).  4. He/sheadoptsa(n)__________toneforhis/heraudience,thereadersof(publication)and othersinterestedinthetopicof______________.    1. Inthe(typeoftext),(titleoftext)((year)),author(author’sfirstandlastname),(author’s credentials),assertsthat(argument)andsuggests(explanationofsub‐claimsorresolution).  2. S/hebacksupthisclaimbydoingthefollowing:first,s/he  ;next,s/he  ;last,s/he .  3. (Author’slastname)appearstowriteinhopesof(author’spurposeinwriting)inorderto (changeinreader/societytheauthorwantstoachieve.  4. Becauseoftheauthor’s  tone,itseemsasifs/hewritesfora  and   audience.    1. Inhis/her(typeoftext)(titleoftext)((year)),(author’scredentials)(author’sfirstandlastname) assertsthat(argument)byaddressing  ,  ,and  .  2. Bysupplyingthereaderwithinformationabout  and  ,(author’slastname) buildshis/herclaimsabout  .  3. (Author’sname)wishestoconveytoreaderstheimportanceof(author’spurposeinwriting)in orderto(changeinreader/societytheauthorwantstoachieve).  4. Theauthor’saudiencelikelyconsistsofthoseinterestedin   asisevident throughhis/herreferencesto  and  ;s/headdressesreaderswithatone thatis  and  . ...