Rhetorical Précis Test v.I
Concept, Content, Construction, Quality
Matching, sorting, thinking…
A Rhetorical Precis is…
True
A rhetorical Précis
is a highly
specialized, specific
type of summary.
A rhetorical Précis
is an explanation
of the author’s
argument and
main support.
A rhetorical Précis
describes the
opinion of the
writer of the piece.
False
A rhetorical Précis is
four sentences long.
A rhetorical Précis
is includes long
quotations.
A rhetorical Précis
is tells a story.
A rhetorical Précis is
a brief analysis of how
an author expresses
themselves and their
point or thesis.
A rhetorical
Précis is
unlimited in
length.
A rhetorical Précis is
a summary
emphasizing the how
the author tries to
affect the reader.
A rhetorical
Précis shares the
opinion of the
student writing
the précis.
Now go on to the next task. 
A rhetorical
Précis is includes
all details of the
original
argument.
A rhetorical
Précis is a more
general summary.
A rhetorical Précis
is a summary
emphasizing the
rhetorical aspects of
the work.
Rhetorical Precis Parts: Color Code and Arrange
1
published
in
(publishing
info)
(author’s
purpose in
writing)
He/she
adopts a(n)
__________
tone
2
in order
to
(Author’s
credentials),
(author’s first
and last name)
and others
interested in
the topic
of__________.
(change in
reader/society
the author
wants to
achieve).
Go to the next task 
3?
for his/her
audience,
4
He/she
supports this
claim
by__________
_,
in his/her (type
of text), (title of
text) (date),
the readers of
(publication)
(Author’s last
name)’s
purpose is to
and argues
that
(argument).
addresses the
topic of (topic
of text)
then___________,
then_____________,
and
finally____________.
The is the poem the rhetorical precis task refers to. You may
want it for reference or laughs, but do not need to understand it
for the next task.
JABBERWOCKY
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought -So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Color Code & Arrange the Sample Rhetorical Precis
1
in order to provide a bit
of lightness to readers’
day and encourage
slowing down to think
when in the midst of a
challenge.
2
addresses the topic
of facing danger with
bravery
3?
4
for the readers of
Through the Looking
Glass and other
interested in funny
yet insightful stories.
Lewis
Carroll,
Carroll’s narrator
supports this claim by
noting how
Famed author and
scholar/instructor
at Oxford,
the boy is first advised
by an elder, then he
stops on his journey to
think and wait,
The author writes in a
wildly wordy made-up
language resulting in a
funny tone
in his poem
“Jabberwocky”
and explains that the
young man is successful in
his quest to kill the
jabberwocky because he
thought his actions
through.
DONE! For SAVING Instructions please see the notes for this slide.
and finally when he
encounters the
dangerous
jabberwocky, he
responds quick to
kill it.
The author’s
purpose is to
entertain with an
exciting but short
narrative poem
from Through
the LookingGlass and What
Alice Found
There (1872),