1. Activity 12: Summarizing and Responding
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Activity 12: Summarizing and Responding
—Rhetorical Précis
-Pronunciation of précis = “pray – see”
-Definition= “a concise summary of essential points, statements, or facts” (merriam-webster.com)
Use the article with your annotations to help you write a rhetorical précis of Bittman’s article, “Bad Food? Tax It, and Subsidize Vegetables.” Be sure to paraphrase what Bittman says in your own words; do not quote.

2. Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
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Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
In chapter one of his novel The Light in the Forest (1953), Conrad Richter insinuates that children suffer the most when adults fight. Richter develops this insinuation by contrasting Cuyloga’s adoption and later rejection of True Son when the white army demands the return of all white prisoners. Richter’s purpose in chapter one is to reveal True Son’s conflicting emotions in order to expose the effect that betrayal by adults has upon children. Richter employs an angry and betrayed tone to appeal to those readers who can sympathize with True Son’s feelings of painful rejection.

3. Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
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Précis Sentence 1:
Note the name of the author, the genre and title of the work, and publication date in parentheses; a rhetorically accurate verb, and a “that” clause containing the major assertion or thesis statement of the work.
Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
In chapter one of his novel The Light in the Forest (1953), Conrad Richter insinuates that children suffer the most when adults fight. Richter develops this insinuation by contrasting Cuyloga’s adoption and later rejection of True Son when the white army demands the return of all white prisoners. Richter’s purpose in chapter one is to reveal True Son’s conflicting emotions in order to expose the effect that betrayal by adults has upon children. Richter employs an angry and betrayed tone to appeal to those readers who can sympathize with True Son’s feelings of painful rejection.

4. Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
ERWC
Précis Sentence 2: An explanation of how the author develops and supports the thesis following the order of the article.
Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
In chapter one of his novel The Light in the Forest (1953), Conrad Richter insinuates that children suffer the most when adults fight. Richter develops this insinuation by contrasting Cuyloga’s adoption and later rejection of True Son when the white army demands the return of all white prisoners. Richter’s purpose in chapter one is to reveal True Son’s conflicting emotions in order to expose the effect that betrayal by adults has upon children. Richter employs an angry and betrayed tone to appeal to those readers who can sympathize with True Son’s feelings of painful rejection.

5. Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
ERWC
Précis Sentence 3: A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an “in order to” phrase.
Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
In chapter one of his novel The Light in the Forest (1953), Conrad Richter insinuates that children suffer the most when adults fight. Richter develops this insinuation by contrasting Cuyloga’s adoption and later rejection of True Son when the white army demands the return of all white prisoners. Richter’s purpose in chapter one is to reveal True Son’s conflicting emotions in order to expose the effect that betrayal by adults has upon children. Richter employs an angry and betrayed tone to appeal to those readers who can sympathize with True Son’s feelings of painful rejection.

6. Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
ERWC
Précis Sentence 4: A description of the intended audience, the relationship the author establishes with the audience, or both.
Sample Précis (The Light in the Forest):
In chapter one of his novel The Light in the Forest (1953), Conrad Richter insinuates that children suffer the most when adults fight. Richter develops this insinuation by contrasting Cuyloga’s adoption and later rejection of True Son when the white army demands the return of all white prisoners. Richter’s purpose in chapter one is to reveal True Son’s conflicting emotions in order to expose the effect that betrayal by adults has upon children. Richter employs an angry and betrayed tone to appeal to those readers who can sympathize with True Son’s feelings of painful rejection.