Rhetorical analysis The rhetorical précis Foundation for an effective introduction

1. Rhetorical analysisThe rhetorical précisFoundation for an effective introduction

2. What is a rhetorical précis? • Précis = summary, synopsis • It is a kind of summary of a rhetor’s rhetorical strategies…an abstract of someone else’s work • It is your explanation of how you understand the rhetorical strategies. • It establishes the foundation for your analysis of the piece. • It is usually a single paragraph that contains four sentences or points. • It is a good way to craft your introduction

3. Rhetorical précis part one • Name of author/speaker/rhetor • Type and title of work • Rhetorical verb (asserts, argues, claims,…) • Description of author’s argument or claim • In her essay titled “Los Angeles Notebook,” Joan Didion claims that the Santa Ana winds have a sinister and violent effect on human behavior.

4. Rhetorical précis part two • Author’s last name(s) • Purpose is to • Explain your opinion of the purpose Didion’s purpose is to convince her audience that the environment can profoundly influence people's lives.

5. Rhetorical précis part three • Describe tone of writing • Describe target audience • Template: (Author) writes in a (description) tone for (target audience). • She writes in an ominous and later factual tone to appeal both to the emotions and mind of her audience.

6. Rhetorical précis part four • He/She/They/The author(s) • Explain the rhetorical strategies the author uses to advance his argument, claim, message • Limit your explanation to those that you will analyze in the essay • She deftly utilizes ….

7. Put it all together: In her essay titled “Los Angeles Notebook,” Joan Didion claims that the Santa Ana winds have a sinister and violent effect on human behavior. Didion’s purpose is to convince her audience that the environment can profoundly influence people's lives. She writes in an ominous and later factual tone to appeal both to the emotions and mind of her audience. She deftly utilizes…