Art of Precis Writing
What is a Precis?
A precis (pronounced "pray-see") is a concise summary or shortened version of a longer text, such as an article, essay, or literary work. The purpose of precis writing is to capture the main ideas, arguments, and important details of the original text while significantly reducing its length.
While writing a precis, mostly illustrations and details are omitted whereas, the main points of the sentence still remain as it is.
Similarly, in precis writing compound or complex sentences are converted into simple sentences but in paraphrased form
Precis writing skills are tested in various competitive exams. Use of summary writing (precis) is quite common in official correspondence as well.
Art of Precis Writing
Precis writing requires careful reading and the ability to distill the essence of the source material into a coherent and well-structured summary, often without the use of personal opinions or interpretations. Precises are commonly used in academic and professional settings to provide succinct overviews of complex texts.
The art of precis writing involves condensing a longer passage into a shorter, coherent summary
while retaining its main ideas and tone. Here are some steps to master it:
Read Thoroughly: Understand the original text's main message and supporting details.
Identify Key Ideas: Highlight or make notes of the most important points, arguments, and examples.
Determine Tone: Recognize the author's tone (e.g., formal, persuasive, informative) and maintain it in your precis.
Write a Thesis: Craft a clear, concise thesis statement that encapsulates the main idea of the passage.
Eliminate Redundancy: Remove unnecessary details, repetitions, and examples.
Maintain Clarity: Ensure your precis is easy to understand by using clear language and sentence structure.
Maintain Length: Aim for a precis that is about one-third to one-fourth the length of the original text.
Review and Edit: Proofread your precis for accuracy and coherence.
Avoid Personal Opinions: Stick to summarizing the author's ideas; avoid injecting your own opinions.
Title: Provide a suitable title that reflects the essence of the passage.
Remember that precis writing is a skill that improves with practice. Analyzing different types of texts and creating precise summaries will help you become more proficient in this art.
Never include the Following Things in Precis Writing
Don't include personal opinions: A precis should be an objective summary of the original text, so avoid adding your personal opinions or interpretations.
Don't add information not in the original text: Stick to the information presented in the source text. Do not include additional details or ideas that are not present in the original.
Don't change the tone or style: Maintain the tone and style of the original text in your precis. Avoid using your own voice or altering the author's writing style.
Don't omit essential information: Ensure that you include all the key points and main ideas from the original text. Omitting crucial information can result in an incomplete precis.
Don't make it too long: A precis should be concise and significantly shorter than the original text. Avoid unnecessary elaboration or repetition.
Don't use direct quotations: Avoid including verbatim quotes from the original text. Instead, paraphrase the author's ideas using your own words.
Don't introduce new ideas: Your precis should focus on summarizing the existing ideas in the source text. Avoid introducing new concepts or thoughts.
Don't include irrelevant details: Eliminate any information that is not directly related to the main theme or argument of the original text.
Don't express your own opinions or emotions: Precis writing is about presenting the author's ideas objectively. Avoid adding your emotions or personal reactions.
Don't forget to proofread: Always proofread your precis for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. A well-written precis should be free from mistakes.
Remember that precis writing requires a clear understanding of the source text and the ability to condense its main ideas effectively while maintaining clarity and objectivity.
Conclusion
In precis writing, it's essential to adhere to certain dos and avoid common don'ts to craft an effective summary.
The dos include ensuring a deep understanding of the source text, capturing the main ideas accurately, maintaining objectivity, and using your own words for paraphrasing. Additionally, maintain the original tone and style, keep it concise, and proofread for errors.
On the other hand, the don'ts involve refraining from adding personal opinions, introducing new information, altering the tone or style, using direct quotations, or omitting crucial details.
Avoiding these pitfalls will help you create a precise and informative summary that faithfully represents the original text's essence.
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