a precis that distills and engages with Amiri Baraka’s article

In general, here is what I suggest:

Step 1: Read the article thoroughly and take notes. If there is material mentioned in the article, have your computer/phone handy to look up quick information about facts, people, and other things mentioned.

Step 2: Try to distill the article’s main points into one or more thesis statements

Step 3: Identify key points of evidence the author uses to explain their point and think about how to explain them in a few words/sentences.

Step 4: Think about any ways the article may speak to larger issues in the course, your research, or may resonate with other things you have read.

Here’s what  not to do in a precis:

1) Directly quote the author. There will be time for that in a research paper. These assignments are about rephrasing what the author said to help clarify your understanding.

2) Rely on personal commentary. This assignment is not really a "personal response" in the sense that you should use space to comment on your opinion. Instead, summarize/distill the points and find areas of resonance with other things you know about.

3) Write in a loose, colloquial style. Channel your best academic writer to create something clear, concise, and professional