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Precis Instructions
***thanks to Katherine Arens for this model!***
A precis (pronounced “PREE-say”) is a model for understanding the internal structure of a text.
It begins with a GOAL statement, which is a one-sentence explanation of what the text under
consideration is trying to do. It next has a statement about the text’s STRATEGY for achieving that
goal, or how it tries to get us to believe what it wants us to believe. Under the strategy statement, it has
TWO COLUMN HEADINGS, which are titles for the types of information the text correlates
together to make its argument. Several (at least 3) examples follow, with the item in the 1st column
correlating to the item in the 2nd column. Finally, it has a section about the IMPLICATIONS of the
text under consideration. Up to this point, you have been trying to faithfully recreate what the text
itself is trying to do. Now is your chance to say what you think about all this – literally, what does it all
imply?

The format should be 1 full page long and look something like the following:
Precis for World Health Organization Article #2127
GOAL: To convince people not to eat old shoes.
STRATEGY: Show how specific parts of old shoes give you specific diseases.
IMPLICATIONS: [a substantial paragraph discussing the implications of this text]
Part of Old Shoe Disease
1) Laces 1) Dutch Elm Disease
2) Soles 2) Mad Cow Disease
3) Heels 3) Leprosy