WHAT IS A PRÉCIS?
From the Old French and literally meanin" rel="nofollow">ing “cut short” (dictionary.com)
A concise summary of an article or other work. The précis, then, explain" rel="nofollow">ins the main" rel="nofollow">in poin" rel="nofollow">int, logical support, and structure of the origin" rel="nofollow">inal work, but in" rel="nofollow">in greatly condensed form. The précis is objective, unlike a critical analysis, which evaluates the argument and use of evidence within" rel="nofollow">in an article. Thus, the précis does not offer evaluations about a text, nor does it in" rel="nofollow">include personal reaction to a text.
A PRÉCIS HAS THREE PARTS:
1. Bibliography – MLA Format – 7th Edition
2. Summary – 5-7 Sentences that sum up the essay. Include the basic facts, the highlights or main" rel="nofollow">in poin" rel="nofollow">ints, the author's emphasis, tone and argument, but leave out your opin" rel="nofollow">inion.
3. Critique - one (1) sentence. A one-sentence summary of the whole passage that in" rel="nofollow">includes all the main" rel="nofollow">in ideas of the text. This sentence can in" rel="nofollow">include opin" rel="nofollow">inion.
Ex. – “Author’s last name” accurately defends the position that the blood in" rel="nofollow">in Macbeth is meant to represent the sin" rel="nofollow">in of mankin" rel="nofollow">ind.
• Font -Times New Roman – 12pt
• All three parts of the précis must begin" rel="nofollow">in with the author’s last name.
• Précis are written in" rel="nofollow">in third person.(See tips below)
o Example of changin" rel="nofollow">ing second person to third person.
Second person:
When you write college papers, you should not use second-person pronouns you or your.
Correct to:
When students write college papers, they should not use second-person pronouns you or your.
o Example of how to change first person to third person pronoun:
First person:
I thin" rel="nofollow">ink Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales describe religious characters who are hypocrites.
Correct to: Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales seem to describe religious characters who are hypocrites.
• Each section of the précis is sin" rel="nofollow">ingle-spaced. (1.0)
• Each section is separated by a sin" rel="nofollow">ingle space.
Bibliography
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Summary ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Critique