Download How to Write a Rhetorical Précis

How to Write a Précis:
What is a précis? A précis is a cogent reduction of a text. A précis should include all of
the important ideas in the original text, using your own words instead of the words of
the original author. Nothing of primary importance is excluded, and nothing of
secondary importance is included. A précis does not involve commentary on or analysis
of the text. In fact, the writer of a précis expresses no opinion at all about the passage.
Your ability to read exactly, to notice distinctions, to catch tone, and to state clearly
another person's ideas in your own words - these are what will count.
Do not follow closely the actual wording of the original in a reduced form. The use of a
few key words and occasionally key expressions may be unavoidable. Follow the design
of the original argument. Do not present merely the conclusions, or the general idea.
Watch for ironies. Do not use such expressions as, "This passage says …," "according to
the author," and the like. An excellent précis not only rephrases in as brief a form as
possible the argument and conclusions of an original, but also suggests, by the way in
which the précis is written, the style, tone or mood of the passage.
A précis is a summary of a reading. The purpose of this assignment is to:
a) test your comprehension a passage of literature
b) test your ability to synthesize the information
c) test your communication skills.
You do not have to argue anything; a précis is not about your opinion. It is a simple
description. It must be written in proper English, without slang.
Your précis should contain:
Describe the content of the document. You should include the basic facts, the highlights
or main points, the author's emphasis, tone and argument. You may quote a phrase of
a few words, but otherwise you should limit quotations because the purpose of the
exercise is to see if can paraphrase the argument accurately. Many documents have
more than one theme; paragraph your précis accordingly. You do not have to describe
the ideas of your document in the order in which they appear, but you do have to give a
sense of their importance in your document
The précis for a work of literature should include:
The name of the author, the title of the work, and a verb describing the purpose of the
text (in fiction, the appropriate terms usually include “recounts, describes, tells,
narrates, explains”). The main characters should be mentioned and briefly described as
well as the central conflict. Avoid adding extraneous details. Your précis is meant only
to provide the most basic ideas of a text in order to further analyze it in the bulk of your
essay. This should not exceed one paragraph.
Kortman 2008
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How to Write a Rhetorical Précis
In 1988, Margaret Woodworth reported on a reading/writing method that
demonstrated significant success with her students at various levels, particularly in
their reading comprehension and preparation for using source materials in their own
academic writing. That method, which Woodworth calls "the rhetorical précis," will be
a central part of our writing this semester as we seek to know more about topics for
our major projects. I reprint the basic outline here from Woodworth's article:
Sentence 1:
Name of author, [optional: a phrase describing the author], the genre and title of the
work, date in parentheses (additional publishing information in parentheses or note),
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.
Sentence 2:
An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the thesis usually in
chronological order.
Sentence 3:
A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an "in order" phrase.
Sentence 4:
A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes
with the audience. (54)
Woodworth included this example, as well, in her article:
Sheridan Baker, 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).
Kortman 2008
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