Rhetorical

Prcis
Handbook

A rhetorical prcis
is a highly
structured, multisentence paragraph
that records and
describes the
essential elements
of a text.

What to expect:
Rhetorical Prcis #1completed together
Rhetorical Prcis Quiz #2:
Op-Ed
Rhetorical Prcis #3: Cause
& Effect
Rhetorical Prcis #4:
Problem & Solution
Rhetorical Prcis #5: Final
Writing Assessment

Hint: Always have

this with you in class!

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Rhetorically Active Verbs

Discusses
Defines
Notes that
Asks
Acknowledges
Analyzes
Restates
Declares

Argues
Claims
Suggests
Asserts
Explains
Illustrates
Telling
Distinguishes

Points out that

Compares
Contrasts
Shows that
Describes
Illustrates

Transitions
Addition

Comparison
Contrast

Time

Purpose
Place

Result

Example

Summary and
Emphasis

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and
and then
then
also
a similar x
another x like
but
yet
and yet
still
otherwise
then
now
soon
afterward
later
shortly
earlier
to do this
so that
there
here
beyond
so
and so
then
that is
specifically
in particular
for one thing
in sum
generally
after all
by the way
in general

too
next
another
other

or
though
but another
rather
recently
first, second, third
next
before
after
today
tomorrow

nearby
next to

naturally
at least
it seems
in brief
incidentally

in addition
additionally

similarly
comparable
however
still
nevertheless
on the other hand
even so
meanwhile
presently
at last
finally
immediately
thereafter
to this end
for this purpose
at that point
opposite to
adjacent to
therefore
accordingly
consequently
for example
for instance
an instance of this
this can be seen in
in short
in other words
in fact
clearly
of course
anyway

besides
again
first, second
finally, last
in the same way
likewise
at the same time
otherwise
instead
nonetheless
conversely
at that time
eventually
currently
in the meantime
in the past
in the future
for that reason
because of this x
on the other side
in the front
in the back
thereupon
as a result
in consequence

remarkably
definitely
without doubt
in any event
importantly
certainly

Verbs that describe what texts do

adds (e.g. adds detail)

interprets

analyzes

introduces

argues

lists

asks

narrates

cites

offers

compares

opposes

connects

predicts

continues

presents

contradicts

projects

contrasts

proposes

demonstrates

qualifies

describes

questions

details

quotes

dramatizes

reasons

elaborates

rebuts

evaluates

reflects

explains

repeats

expresses

states

extends

speculates

generalizes

suggests

illustrates

summarizes

informs

supports

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synthesizes
traces

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Santa Fay
Mrs. B
Course 1H
September 12, 2014
Prcis
__Title of Piece_
____Authors name______, _______in his/her (type of) piece entitled_________
_____Title here_____, explains that __________(THESIS or main idea of text is stated
here

. First, ______one sentence here____________________. Then,

______________one sentence here____________. Next, ___one sentence here______.

As a result, __________one sentence here_____________. Finally, _____one sentence
here_________. ______Author name______ writes this _______type of text_________ in
order to______authors purpose goes here___.
Works Cited
Authors Last name, First name. Title of article. Time Magazine 13 July 2003.

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Santa Fay
Mrs. B
Course 5H
September 12, 2014
Prcis
My Struggle to Read

Tom Cruise, in his narrative article My Struggle to Read, describes his

reading disabilities and how he overcame them, and explains how he now helps others who have
similar reading problems.

First, Cruise recounts how he gave up on his childhood dreams

because of his reading disability, called dyslexia.

Next, he explains how growing up, he

never learned how to read well because he made excuses to avoid reading.

notes that he finally put reading as a priority and received help.

could accomplish anything.

As a result, he realized he

Finally, he discusses the programs that he has set up to help

others who are going through the same thing that he did. Cruise

autobiographical narrative

writes this

in order to inform others of his reading problems and to

encourage people to put reading as a priority.

Works Cited
Cruise, Tom. My Struggle to Read. People Magazine 21 July 2010
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Then, Cruise

As we proceed through
this unit, use this chart to
help guide you as you
write a rhetorical prcis.

___________________________
_________________________________________

_________________________, in ____________ __________________________ entitled ____________________________________________________

Authors name
his/her
type of piece
Title of work/article
______________________________________ that ____________________________________________________________________________________________________.
asserts/argues/suggests/implies
Thesis using a THAT clause where you state the major assertion
First, __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The first point that the author has to develop and/or support thesis
Then, __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The next explanation of how the author develops and/or supports thesisone sentence
Next, __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The third point that the author uses to support his/her thesisone sentence
As a result, ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The final point presented by the author of the text to support thesisone sentence
Finally, ___________________________________________________________________. _____________________________________ writes this _________________
Wrap it up in one last statement
Authors full name
type of text
in order to _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Authors purpose-what does the author want the audience to do or feel as a result of reading the work?
Works Cited
_______________________, ____________________. ________________________________. ______________________________ ___________________________
Author Last Name, First Name
Title of Article
Publisher/Magazine Title Date Published
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