Rhetorical Précis Worksheet

A rhetorical précis differs from a summary in that it is a less neutral, more analytical condensation of both the content and method of the original text. If you think of a summary as primarily a brief representation of what a text says, then you might think of the rhetorical précis as a brief representation of what a text both says and does. Although less common than a summary, a rhetorical précis is a particularly useful way to sum up your understanding of how a text works rhetorically. 

The Structure of a Rhetorical Précis 

• Sentence One: Name of the author, genre, and title of work, date in parentheses; a rhetorically active verb; and a THAT clause containing the major assertion or thesis in the text. 
• Sentence Two: An explanation of how the author develops and supports the thesis. 
• Sentence Three: A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an “in order to” phrase. 
• Sentence Four: A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.