How to Structure a Rhetorical Précis (in APA format)

Sentence 1: Include genre, “Title of work”, (publication year parentheses), name of author; a

rhetorically accurate verb (such as “claims,” “argues,” “asserts,” “suggests”); and a THAT clause

containing the major assertion or thesis statement in the work.

Sentence 2: An explanation of how the author develops and supports the thesis, usually in

chronological order (Does the author use stats? summarize data? use personal experience? etc.).

Sentence 3: A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an “in order to” phrase.

(The author’s purpose is to_____, “in order to” _____).

Sentence 4: A description of the intended audience and /or the relationship the author establishes

with the audience (who is the intended audience, and what is your assessment of the intended

audience based on?