Rhetorical Precis
PRECIS FORMAT
1)– T. A. G., (year of publication), verb +
(THESIS)
2) – How + 3 Textual Evidence (quotes)
3) – Author’s purpose + “in order to…”
4) – Intended Audience +/ tone
MLA Citation at bottom
“that”
In the quintessential novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald
masterfully illustrates the deterioration of the American dream that
corrupts the title character. Fitzgerald conveys Jay Gatsby’s futile
attempts at “[repeating] the past” and fulfilling his dream through the
vivid imagery and symbolism of colors: from the 1“green light at the end
of Daisy’s dock” (27) signaling Gatsby to reach for his ambition, to the
gray 2“valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into
3 superficial
ridges and hills and grotesque gardens,” (27) to Daisy’s
whiteness (“white dress,” “white car” (17). Fitzgerald passionately
paints these colors in order to capture the vibrancy of an era marked for
its ostentatious materialism. He poignantly addresses the entire social
spectrum: those who have and those who dream of having by providing
a cautionary tale of a man who pursues a dream not worth chasing;
thereby leading his readers to reflect upon the cost of worldly ambition.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1925. Print.
Catcher in the Rye MLA Citation
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little
Brown and Company, 1945. Print.
Catcher in the Rye Precis
In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1945) , J. D.
Salinger
* explores the tension between innocence and
experience
* examines the growing pains of a typical 1950s
teenager…
* relates…
* illustrates…
* ponders the meaning of ….
Precis Peer Review
SENTENCE 1:
A. Does the 1st sentence have Title, Author, Genre, &
year?
B. What is the “rhetorically accurate verb” they
chose?
SENTENCE 2:
A. Does it answer “how the author” conveys the
thesis?
B. Does it have 3 quotes?
SENTENCE 3:
A. What literary device(s) are mentioned?
B. Fill in the blank “in order to ______________”
SENTENCE 4:
A. Who is the audience?
B. What is the tone?
Precis Edit:
 All tenses in the present / consistent
 No personal pronouns (I, my, you, your, us, we)
 MLA Citation (hanging indent) in correct format:
Author’s last name, First name. “Title of short work.” Title
of Long Work. Publication City: Publishing Company,
year. Print.
Cisneros, Sandra. “The Monkey Garden.” The House on
Mango Street. New York: Vintage, 1984. Print.
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Avoid passive voice (get rid of “to be” verbs)
Cut unnecessary words (be direct)
Strengthen sentence structure
Properly introduce quotes