Précis of two academic articles
Find two academic articles on your investigative topic using the appropriate library databases. 
Note:  Encyclopedias, even academic ones, are reference sources.  You need to find peer-review academic literature on your topic.  
Write a précis of each.  A précis is a short summative paragraph.  
Oregon State has a helpful webpage with an annotated “rhetorical précis.”  The webpage outlines each sentence in the précis: a) In a single coherent sentence give the following: 
          -name of the author, title of the work, date in parenthesis; 
          -a rhetorically accurate verb (such as “assert,” “argue,” “deny,” “refute,” “prove,” disprove,” “explain,” etc.); 
          -a that clause containing the major claim (thesis statement) of the work.
b) In a single coherent sentence give an explanation of how the author develops and supports the major claim (thesis statement).
c) In a single coherent sentence give a statement of the author’s purpose, followed by an “in order” phrase.
d) In a single coherent sentence give a description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.
e) full bibliographic reference in APA or MLA.
(http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/rhetorical-precis/sample/peirce_sample_precis_click.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.)
Click on the above link for the annotated example.