The Critical Précis

The format of the critical précis is helpful for students writing research papers and evaluating articles. The critical précis summarizes a text, evaluates the credibility of sources, and relates this information to what has been previously believed. The précis should also assess the author's method and rhetorical strategy, the purpose or hidden agenda, and the kind of audience being addressed. The précis will usually include the following information¹:

1. Name of author and his or her qualifications, title and genre of text, date and publishing information in parenthesis or note, a rhetorically accurate verb such as "assert" "argue" "explain" "suggest" "imply" "claim" etc. and a "that" clause containing the major assertion (thesis statement) of the text. The documentation format may vary based on the style manual used or specifications in an instructor's assignment.
2. An explanation of how the author develops and/or supports the thesis, usually in chronological order. See the handout How to Summarize an Article
3. A statement of the author's apparent purpose, followed by an "in order" phrase.²
4. A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.²
5. Evaluate the text. Consider the contribution it makes to its field, its appropriateness for its audience, and any other information relevant to your personal and professional opinion of its merit.

¹Adapted from Margaret K. Woodworth, "The Rhetorical Précis" Rhetoric Review 7.1 (1988)

²It is not always necessary for a reviewer to include explicit statements on items 3 and 4, especially if the information is obvious; however, the reviewer needs to have considered this information in order to determine the value of the text to its audience.