Rhetorical Precis Notes

Below is the format for the precis:

1.  Name of author, [optional: a phrase describing author], genre and title of 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.

2.  An explanation of HOW the author develops and/or supports the thesis, usually in chronological order.

3.  A statement of the author's apparent purpose followed by an "in order to" phrase.

4.  A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.

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Dave Barry example:

In "The Ugly Truth About Beauty" (1998), Dave Barry argues that "...women generally do not think of their looks in the same way that men do" (4).  Barry illuminates this discrepancy by juxtaposing men's perceptions of their looks with women's, by contrasting female role models with male role models, and by comparing men's interests with women's.  He exaggerates and stereotypes these differences in order to prevent women from so eagerly accepting society's expectations of them; in fact, Barry claims that men who want women to "look like Cindy Crawford" are "idiots" (10).  Barry ostensibly addresses men in this essay because he opens and closes the essay directly addressing men and offering to give them advice in a mockingly conspiratorial fashion; however, by using humor to poke fun at both men and women's perceptions of themselves, Barry makes his essay palatable to both genders and hopes to convince women to stop obsessively "thinking they need to look like Barbie" (8).

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Your own example is due on Wednesday in class.  Show up with your work or not at all!!!!!
AND, make sure you read (and print if you can) THIS article.  You'll need it for Wednesday's class.

xoxo