Original Passage (199 words)

"It is evident that those in the prime of life will be between the young and the old in character, subtracting the excess of either, and neither exceedingly condent (rashness is such) nor too fearful but having the right amount of both, neither trusting nor distrusting everybody but rather making realistic judgments and not directing their lives only to what is ne or what is advantageous but to both and neither to frugality nor to extravagance but to what is tting. Similarly in regard to impulse and desire. And they combine prudence with courage and courage with prudence, while among the young and the old these things are separated; for the young are brave and lack self-restraint, the older prudent and cowardly. To speak in general terms, whatever advantages youth and old age have separately, [those in their prime] combine, and whatever the former have to excess or in deciency, the latter have in due measure and in a tting way. The body is in its prime from the age of thirty to thirty-ve, the mind about age forty-nine. Let this much be said about the kinds of character of youth and old age and the prime of life." (Aristotle, Rhetoric, Book Two, Chapter 14. Translated by George A. Kennedy, Aristotle, On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civic Discourse. Oxford University Press, 1991) Precis (68 words) "The character of those in the prime of life lies midway between that of youth and of age. Neither rash nor timid, neither skeptical nor overtrusting, they usually make choices on a true basis. They are not given to excess in desire, nor to lack of feeling or parsimony. They live respecting both honor and expediency. In short, the most useful traits of youth and age are theirs." (James J. Murphy and Richard A. Katula, A Synoptic History of Classical Rhetoric, 3rd ed. Hermagoras Press, 2003)
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.

Charles S. Peirce's article, "The Fixation of Belief (1877), asserts that humans have psychological and social mechanisms designed to protect and cement (or "fix") our beliefs. Peirce backs this claim up with descriptions of four methods of fixing belief, pointing out the effectiveness and potential weaknesses of each method. Peirce's purpose is to point out the ways that people commonly establish their belief systems in order to jolt the awareness of the reader into considering how their own belief system may the product of such methods and to consider what Peirce calls "the method of science" as a progressive alternative to the other three. Given the technical language used in the article, Peirce is writing to an well-educated audience with some knowledge of philosophy and history and a willingness to other ways of thinking.
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Sample prcis: Trees give shade for the benefit of others, and while they themselves stand in the sun and endure the scorching heat, they produce the fruit of which others profit. The character of good men is like that of trees. What is the use of this perishable body if no use is made of it for the benefit of mankind? Sandalwood, the more it is rubbed, the more scent does it yield. Sugarcane, the more it is peeled and cut up into pieces, the more juice does it produce. The men who are noble at heart do not lose their qualities even in losing their lives. What matters whether men praise them or not? What difference does it make whether they die at this moment or whether lives are prolonged? Happen what may, those who tread in the right path will not set foot in any other. Life itself is unprofitable to a man who does not live for others. To live for the mere sake of living ones life is to live the life of dog and crows. Those who lay down their lives for the sake of others will assuredly dwell for ever in a world of bliss. Title- Good men live for others

The character of good men is like that of trees. They live for others and do not lose their qualities even in losing their lives. They always follow the right path. Praise is immaterial to them. To live for ones own sak e is to lead the life of beasts. Only those who lay down their lives for others will live forever in a world of bliss.

Original document
Because the ability to communicate effectively plays an important part in an accountant's success on the job, many employers screen prospective accountants for adequate skills in oral and written communication. In fact, one study shows communication skills to be the most important factor in decisions to hire. Employers view the ability to write and speak effectively as even more important than a prospective employee's academic results.(66 words) Prcis Employers recognise the importance of oral and written communication in accounting, and therefore prefer to hire graduates with effective communication skills. (21 words)

Sample The chief peculiarity of the modern world is the great mastery over nature, which man possess today. Man was a play-thing of nature for ages. Life was a burden for him and the world a prison. He wanted to escape to a land where there was neither scarcity not sickness neither sorrow nor suffering. Today, however this position exits no longer. Now nature is the slave instead being the Lord of man. He is today neither helpless nor feeble nor even without means. The means of production and commerce which man possesses today are so many and so effective that no one in this vast world need remain without food, clothes and shelter. If these means were properly utilized, it is certain that poverty would disappear for good from the world. Another peculiarity of the modern world is the essential unity of all nations of the world. The world is today one, and its peace and prosperity are one and individual. The third great fact of the modern world is the conquest of time which man has achieved. One year of his life is equal to ten of his ancestors in point of achievement. But what a cruel irony of fate it is that man with all his power of the gods has neither serenity of spirit nor a security of life. It appears as if this very power has become his great enemy and destroyer Prcis : One of the feature of the modem world is man's victory over nature. He is no more her slave. If the means of production and commerce which he has, are properly used there will be no poverty. The second feature is that all nations of the world are now united. The third feature is man's conquest of time. But it is strange that despite his great power he has lost peace of mind. His power has become his enemy.

Sample:

It is easy to say, Enlarge your vocabulary; first, that you may enter upon the privileges of a cultivated woman; and secondly, that you may be able to tell the truth easily and accurately. But it is another and more difficult matter to prescribe the means by which this is to be done. Every girl must, to a large degree, work out her own method. The reading of the best books and conversation with cultivated folk are both helps to the free use of words. The dictionary is the best friend for your task. Never allow a strange word to pass unchallenged. Usually, it is wise to look it up at the moment. If that is impossible, it must be written firmly on the memory and traced at the first opportunity. It is good to encourage in yourself the habit of dawdling a little over the dictionary. It is the only place where dawdling reaps a harvest. To learn two new words a daythoroughly to learn them so that their use will not have a foreign accentis to insure a large vocabulary before you reach middle age. (189 words)
Title: Enriching Your Vocabulary Prcis Every girl should endeavor to enlarge her vocabulary for successful self-expression. It is also a mark of culture. Reading and conversation are a great help in this regard. However, the best aid is the dictionary. Every new word should be looked up immediately or soon after. A rich vocabulary can be acquired by the time a person reaches middle age if two new words are learned every day.