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California State University A Plea for Reading in College Rhetorical Analysis

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A Plea for Reading in College by Willard Dix in Perusall, write a Rhetorical Precis:

Here is the precise pattern to follow in writing a precis (developed by Margaret K. Woodworth):

  • Sentence 1-main idea: Genre, title of work, date in parentheses, Author’s first and last names, verb (such as “claims,” “argues,” “asserts,” “suggests”), that main idea.
  • Sentence 2-supporting evidence: A summary of the type of evidence and major supporting details (best to provide approximately 3) the author uses to support their main idea.
  • Sentence 3-purpose: A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an “in order to” phrase.
  • Sentence 4-tone & audience: An indication of the author’s tone and intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.

—Adapted from Bean et al. in Reading Rhetorically 3rd ed. 65

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