The Rhetorical Précis

1. The Rhetorical Précis

2. The Rhetorical Précis “The Rhetorical Précis" is a reading/writing method designed to help students at various levels. This works particularly well in their reading comprehension and preparation for using source materials in their own academic writing.

3. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence Sentence 1 includes: - Name of author - Genre and title of the work - Date in parentheses (additional publishing information in parentheses or note)

4. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence Sentence 1 includes: - a rhetorically accurate verb such as "asserts," "argues," “disputes.” "suggests," "implies," "claims," “proposes,” etc - a THAT clause containing the major assertion (thesis statement) of the work

5. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence Sentence 2 includes: - An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the thesis usually in chronological order.

6. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence Sentence 3 includes: - A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an "in order" phrase.

7. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence Sentence 4 includes: - A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.

8. The Rhetorical Précis A précis example based on the 1966 essay “Attitudes” by Sheridan Baker 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).

9. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence 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.

10. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence 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. - Name of author

11. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence 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. - Name of author - Genre and title of the work

12. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence 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. - Name of author - Genre and title of the work - Date in parentheses

13. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence 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. - a rhetorically accurate verb such as "asserts," "argues," “disputes.” "suggests," "implies," "claims," “proposes,” etc

14. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence 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. - a THAT clause containing the major assertion (thesis statement) of the work

15. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence 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). - An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the thesis usually in chronological order.

16. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence His purpose is to make his readers aware of the dangers of negative attitudes in order to help them become better writers. - A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an "in order" phrase.

17. The Rhetorical Précis Dissecting a précis sentence by sentence He establishes an informal relationship with his audience of college students who are interested in learning to write "with conviction" (55). - A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.