Four-Sentence Rhetorical Precis Worksheet
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4Teacher Reference Sheet 1.5b (1 of 3)
Four-Sentence Rhetorical Précis
T
he four-sentence rhetorical précis is a highly structured paragraph that records the essential elements
of a unit of spoken or written discourse. Each of the four sentences requires specific information (see
below). The précis might also include brief quotations (typically a few words or a phrase) to convey
an author’s sense of style, tone, and/or unique voice. Two useful websites offer additional explanations and
examples:
oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/rhetorical-precis/sample/peirce_sample_precis_click.html
Sentence #1
•
Name of the author and, if possible, a phrase describing the credentials of the author
•
The genre (essay, lecture, research paper, etc.) and title of the work
•
The date, if available (inserted in parentheses)
•
A rhetorically accurate present tense verb (asserts, argues, suggests, implies, claims, etc.) that
describes what the author is doing in the text
•
A THAT clause which states the major assertion (thesis statement) of the author’s text
Sentence #2
•
An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the thesis (such as by comparing and con-
trasting, narrating, illustrating, defining, etc.)
•
Present explanation in the same chronological order that the items of support are presented by the
author in the text
•
Use present tense verbs
Sentence #3
•
A statement of the author’s purpose
•
Followed by an IN ORDER TO clause which explains what the author wants the audience to do or
feel as a result of reading the work
•
Use present tense verbs
Sentence #4
•
A description of the tone the author uses
•
A description of the intended audience
•
Use present tense verbs
1: Writing to Learn
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