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January 31, 2006
Writing the precis papers
Categories: Classes
Greetings, everyone! This post is directed primarily at the students in EDUC 600, although you undergrads out there may find the writing tips useful as well.
I wanted to give a little more guidance on the précis papers. I realize that these précis papers are a bit different from other “reflection” pieces you may have written for other professors, so what follows is a distilled, focused version of what I was saying in class Monday.
An excellent précis paper demonstrates all of the following five qualities. Above average papers may not demonstrate some of the qualities as well as an excellent paper, but all of the qualities are still present. Average papers may fail to demonstrate one of the qualities at all, or may lack significant demonstration in several areas. Below average papers fail to demonstrate more than one of the following qualities. The qualities are listed in rough order of importance.
1. Engagement with text and/or ideas presented in class.
Your paper should deeply engage an idea or ideas the reading has presented. You should demonstrate an understanding of the idea or ideas that are the focus of the paper and why those ideas are important. While it’s fine to present more than one idea in the paper, the paper should not loose focus (see below). Remember that these papers are supposed to show your involvement with the ideas of the course. This is the part where you demonstrate your understanding of those ideas.
2. Presence of student’s views, perspective, and/or argument, with evidence for those views when appropriate.
This is the part of the paper where you demonstrate your thoughts on the presented idea or ideas in a clear manner. You interrogate the idea, smack it around a little, and see if it talks. Ask questions of it. Present your own views, but bring evidence and reasoning with those views. Connect that idea to other ideas or concepts the text discusses or we’ve talked about in class. I want to know about the ideas and concepts, but also want to know what you can do with them.
3. Focus
You only get two pages, so use them wisely. I know – there are a lot of ideas out there that are just asking for it. You’re not a super-hero, though, you’re just one lone graduate student amidst a see of ideas, so pick your battles. Better to take on one or two and finish the job than to try and take down the whole Family, wound a couple, and have them come back and get you in the end.
4. Originality
We’re talking about American education, so it’s no surprise a lot of people have been here before. That doesn’t mean you can’t contribute in a novel way. Make a connection that the text doesn’t explicitly make. Make an argument that isn’t obvious. Sin boldly, as Martin Luther exclaimed.
5. Writing skill
You are graduate students. Write like it. Complete sentences. Use appropriate punctuation! Avoid superfluous and extra adjectives. Use adverbs sparingly.
Construct quality transitions.
Remember also that style is important, but readability is essential. And, of course, don’t follow my example here. :)
Note that it’s also possible to use a précis paper to explore an idea you are still struggling to understand. You still demonstrate what you think the idea is getting at, then use the rest of the paper to interrogate the idea and your own belief/assumptions about it. You “bring the idea in for questioning,” even if you are not quite sure it’s guilty.
Posted by Nakia at January 31, 2006 06:51 PM