Precis Writing

 

                       Precis Writing

A Precis is a short summary. It is not a paraphrase, which merely says in different and simpler words exactly what the passage being paraphrased has to say. A paraphrase may be a long as the passage itself. A précis rarely is more than one-third the length of the original selection and may be only one-fourth as long.

A Précis gives only the "heart" of a passage. It omits repetition and such details as examples, illustrations, and adjectives unless they are of unusual importance.

A Precis is written entirely in the words of the person writing it, not in the words of the original selection. Avoid the temptation to lift long phrases and whole sentences from the original.

A Precis is written from the point of view of the author whose work is being summarized. Do not begin with such expressions as "This author says" or "The paragraph means." Begin as though you were summarizing your own writing.

In writing a Precis proceed as follows:

• Read carefully, sentence by sentence, the passage to be summarized. Try to grasp the writer's main point. Spotting the topic sentence will help. Look up in the dictionary any words whose meaning is not absolutely clear. As you read, take brief notes to be used in your writing.

• When you have finally decided what the author's main point is, write it out in your own words. Do not use the wording of the original except for certain key words which you may find indispensable. If you cannot translate the idea into language of your own, you do not understand them very well. Be especially careful not to rely too much on the topic sentence. Do not add any opinions or ideas of your own                                    

• .Revise your writing until you are sure that you have given an accurate summary.

• Usually you will find your Précis is too long, if it is more than one-third the length of the original. Continue your revision until you have reduced the Précis to the proper length. In this careful revision lies the principal value of the Précis as a composition exercise.

APPROACH TO PRECIS WRITING

1. A Precis should reduce the length of the original passage by at least two-thirds.

2. Every important idea must be retained, preferably in the order in which it appears in the original.

3. Unimportant points, including details, illustrations and anecdotes, should be discarded.

4. A first draft of the Précis should be written, then checked to see that it contains the main ideas of the passage.

5. Although you should be as brief as possible. Guard against being so condensed that you obscure the point of passage.

6. Try to capture the tone or feeling of the original, particularly if it is deliberately humorous, ironic or biased.

7. Check the draft for expression errors, repetition or vague phrasing; then write a smoother final version.

Use of Precis Writing

People often want to go through the highlights of books, movies, meetings, an article, report, news, etc. This is when precis writing works to deliver the main points to the audience without making any modifications in the proportion, tone, or theme of the content. Precis writing plays an essential role in the following areas:

• Precis writing can be used to describe a chapter so that students get the gist of the basics.
• Precis writing is also used in companies for job descriptions, meeting highlights, etc.
• The use of precis writing is also seen in movies to describe the main events or plot of the film.
• Precis writing is also used in scientific reports and researches to give the gist of its content. 

Qualities of a Good precis :- 

The following are some attributes that describe a good precis:-

• Accurate and Precise
• Clear and coherent
• Well connected
• Original
• A suitable title

Example 01

We all know what we mean by a "good" man. The ideally good man does not drink or smoke, avoids bad language, converses in the presence of men only exactly as he would if there were ladies present, attends church regularly and holds the correct opinion on all subjects. He has a wholesome horror of wrong-doing and realizes that it is our painful duty to castigate sin. He has a still greater horror of wrong thinking, and considers it the business of the authorities to safeguard the young against those who question the wisdom of the views generally accepted by middle-aged successful citizens. Apart from his professional duties, at which he is assiduous, he spends much time in good works: he may encourage patriotism and military training; he may promote industry, sobriety and virtue among wage earners and their children by seeing to it that failures in these respects receive due punishment; he may be a trustee of a university and prevent an ill-judged respect for learning from allowing the employment of professors with subversive ideas. Above all, of course, his "morals" in the narrow sense must be irreproachable. 

Precis :- 

                           Characteristics of a good man

According to the author, an ideally good man is intensely religious and avoids bad habits such as smoking and drinking. He does not use obscene or indecent language and has a fear of wrong doing and wrong thinking. He is professionally dutiful and takes active interest in promoting virtues such as patriotism, industry and sobriety among workers and their children. If possible he prevents the employment of professors with subversive ideas.

Example 02:- 

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 one's 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.

Precis :- 

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 one's own sake is to lead the life of beasts. Only those who lay down their lives for others will live for ever in a world of bliss.

***exercised by Vikram Mishra