Rhetorical Precis by Dr. Betty Moss

Hello Thinkers:

As promised in class here are the instructions to the rhetorical precis. This is one the tools I learned from Dr. Betty Moss at the Summer Institute. I am also including a little information as to the validity of this exerxice.

RATIONALE: A precis reveals your understanding of the arguments and points authors make in a specific piece. Composing a precis can be particularly useful when organizing sources for a research project or determining the utility of them. (a.k.a the synthesis question in your AP test)

Here are the instructions; follow them very strictly:

First sentence identifies the essay's author and title, provides the article's date in Parentheses, use some form of the verb "says" (claims, asserts, suggests, argues) followed by "that," and the essay's thesis (paraphrased or quoted).

Second sentence describes the author's support for the thesis, usually in chronological order.

Third sentence analyzes the author's purpose using an "in order to" statement.

Fourth Sentence describes the essay's intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.

Example:

In his "In Defense of Prejudice" (1995), Johnathan Rauch argues that prejudice in society should not be eliminated. Rauch supports his position by providing anecdotal and historical evidence culled from segments of society which illustrates the futility and harm associated with attempts to eliminate prejudice. He hopes to shift the paradigm away from absolutism, the idea of punitive action against racism and prejudice, in order to move society toward rejection, the idea of societal pressure when grappling with racist and prejudicial attitudes. The author uses an erudite, yet defensive tone indicating that he primarily addresses a rather liberal intellectual audience.

**I dare you to write your own Precis for the Kennedy Inaugural Address... HAVE FUN!