1. “My Satirical Self”
Discuss “My Satirical Self” with your table. What stood out to you? What is the author’s main point?
Discuss the article as a class

2. Rhetorical Precis

3. In order to help us quickly and effectively describe the argument an author is making in a text, we will be utilizing a method of description called the rhetorical précis
This method is designed to highlight key elements of the rhetorical situation, and help with reading comprehension and treatment of source materials in writing.
We will use it often over the course of the semester.

4. Specialized, Specific Summary
This type of summary differs from the more general summary in that emphasis is placed upon providing the rhetorical aspects of the work under consideration.
Like any other summary, the goal is to provide in clear, precise language, the main points of the piece.

5. Specialized, Specific Summary
Essential information within the rhetorical précis includes the writer’s name, the genre and name of the piece, the way in which this information is delivered, the main point, how the point is developed, and the relationship between the writer and audience.
This information is presented in four very specific sentences.

6. This précis is a highly structured four-sentence paragraph that records the essential rhetorical elements in any spoken or written discourse.
The précis includes the name of the speaker/writer(s), the context or situation in which the text is delivered, the major assertion, the mode of development for or support of the main idea, the stated and/or apparent purpose of the text, and the relationship between the speaker/writer(s) and the audience.
The following is a breakdown of the information you should include in each one of the four sentences.

7. Sentence One
Provides name of the author
Genre (essay, novel, etc.)
Title of work with the date (in parentheses)
Concise appropriate verb (claims, posits, argues) followed by
“That” phrase in which the thesis of the work is stated (either paraphrased or quoted).
In the article “End Homework Now” (2001), Etta Kralovec and John Buell claim that the practice of assigning homework is not an effective teaching method because its negative effects outweigh its benefits.

8. Sentence Two
Explanation of how author goes about supporting his/her thesis
Remember that brevity is important
You will not restate the details from the work, but explain the rhetorical method used by the writer to develop these supports.
Kralovec and Buell support their claims by providing examples of how homework disrupts families, overburdens children, and limits learning and by dispelling myths about the benefits of homework and providing alternative practices that would lead to improvement in students achievement.

9. Sentence Three
States the purpose of the piece (which may reflect the thesis, but should also include the writer’s motive – why is she/he writing this piece?)
This is accomplished with an “in order to” phrase.
The authors’ purpose is to make the reader question a practice that is a trademark of the U.S. education system in order to decide whether it is conducive to creating a “smarter” student.

10. Sentence Four
Sentence four explains the author’s intended audience and how the author positions his or herself with that audience.
The seem to be speaking to the entire educational community: administrators, teachers, students and parents.

11. Response Paragraph
For our class’ purposes, you are to follow this four-sentence paragraph with a response paragraph.
In this, discuss how successful you found this piece to be based upon the writer’s use of language, style, and rhetorical appeals.

12. MLA Bibliographic Information
You should also provide a full bibliographic citation of the piece at the top of your paper, follow MLA formatting rules.

13. Outline
1. (Author’s credentials), (author’s first and last name) in his/her (type of text), (title of text), published in (publishing info) addresses the topic of (topic of text) and argues that (argument).
2. He/she supports this claim by___________, then___________, then_____________, and finally____________.
3. (Author’s last name)’s purpose is to (author’s purpose in writing) in order to (change in reader/society the author wants to achieve).
4. He/she adopts a(n) __________ tone for his/her audience, the readers of (publication) and others interested in the topic of______________.

14. Example: British philosopher, John Stuart Mill, in his essay “On Nature” (1850), argues that using nature as a standard for ethical behavior is illogical. He supports this claim by first giving the common definitions as nature as, “all that exists or all that exists without the intervention of man” and then supplying extensive examples of the daily brutality of nature in the real world. His purpose is to call attention to the flaws in the “nature as a standard” argument in order to convince people to discard this standard and to instead use reason and logic to determine the appropriate ethical standard of action for mankind. He establishes a formal, scholarly tone for the reader of “Nature”—an audience of philosophers, educators, and other interested citizens.

15. Response Paragraph will be graded using the AP rubric

16. Class Precis
Complete a rhetorical precis for “My Satirical Self”

17. Rhetorical Precis Assignment
Every two weeks you will turn in two rhetorical precis assignments
You must find an ARGUMENTATIVE article and create a precis for the article
You will put these assignments in your AP notebook
Your first two are due on March 9th (with your notebook)

18. Precis Sample

19. Name of the author, a phrase describing the author, the type and title of the work, the date (in parenthesis), a rhetorically accurate verb (such as “assert,” “argue,” “suggest,” “imply,” “claim,” “question,” etc.) that describes what the author is doing in the text, and a THAT clause in which you state the major assertion (argument statement) of the author’s text.
An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the argument—the rhetorical structure of the text (for instance, comparing and contrasting, narrating, illustrating, defining, etc.). Your explanation is usually presented in the same chronological order that the items of support are presented in the work.
A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an IN ORDER TO phrase in which you explain what the author wants the audience to do or feel as a result of reading the work.
A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the author.