What is precis writing?

A précis is an intelligent summary of a long passage. The purpose of writing a

précis is to test your understanding of the passage. Because precise writing is a
summary, it is always shorter than the main passage.
Rules of Precis Writing
1. Read the comprehension carefully
2. Note down the important points
3. Make a rough draft of the precis
4. Make use of simple and precise language as much as possible
5. Draft the final precis once all the points have been included
Converting what has been written in the passage into your own words and
ensuring the reader understands what the paragraph says is the only job while
writing a precis.
Examples
Original Passage: Diet plays an important role in the prevention of many
chronic diseases. Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
and lean protein can help reduce the risk of conditions such as heart disease,
diabetes, and certain cancers. On the other hand, a diet high in processed and
unhealthy foods can increase the risk of these diseases. It is important to be
aware of the types of food we eat and try to include nutrient-dense options in
our diet. (124 words)

Title: The Role of Diet in Preventing Disease

Precis: Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean
protein can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, while a high-processed and
unhealthy diet can increase the risk. It is important to be aware of the types of
food we eat and include nutrient-dense options. (48 words)

Original Passage: A man in the east left all worldly thoughts and went to a
wood, where he built a hut and lived there. His only clothing was a piece of
cloth that he wore around his waist. But luckily, mice were plentiful in the
woods, so he had to keep a cat. Cats need milk, so he had to rear a cow. Cows
needed tending, so a cowboy was hired.
The boy needed room to stay. So a house was built for him. A maid had to be
employed to look after the house. A few more houses had to be built to provide
company for the maids, and people were invited to stay in them. Thus, a small
town sprung up in the lovely woods. (136 words
Title – The Birth of a Town
Precis: Answer 1: A man in the east left all worldly thoughts and went to a
wood, where he built a hut and lived there. He had to keep mice, cats, cows, and
a cowboy. A house was built for him, a maid was employed to look after him,
and a few more houses were built to provide company for the maids. Eventually,
a small town sprung up in the woods. (68 words)

Precis: Answer 2: A man in the east left all worldly thoughts and built a hut in
a wood, where he had to keep mice, cats, cows, and a cowboy. A house was
built for him, a maid was employed, and people were invited to stay. (43 Words)

Original Passage: All the great things that have been done on earth have not
been done for gold. The Lord Jesus did not come down and die on the cross for
gold. The Spartans sought no reward when they fought and died at
Thermopylae. The wise Socrates demands no salary from his countrymen but
lives all day poor and barefoot only to make them good and noble. And even in
our own time, there are heroes who do noble things but not for gold.
Our discoverers did not go out to enrich themselves when they set out on one
terrible frozen sea after another: even the women who went to labour in Oriental
hospitals did not impoverish themselves that they might become rich in great
works. (136 words)
Title – Great Deeds Done For More than Gold
Precis: Answer 1: The great things that have been done on earth have not been
done for gold, such as the Lord Jesus, the Spartans, Socrates, the wise Socrates,
the discoverers, and the women who went to labour in Oriental hospitals. (38
words)
Precis: Answer 2: The great things that have been done on earth have not been
done for gold. Jesus did not come down and die on the cross for gold, the
Spartans sought no reward when they fought and died at Thermopylae, Socrates
lived poor and barefoot to make people good and noble, and our discoverers did
not go out to enrich themselves. Even women who went to labour in Oriental
hospitals did not impoverish themselves to become rich in great works. (79
Words)
Exercise
Original Passage: Nelson, in childhood, did not have a strong body. Yet he
gave evidence of that stout heart and nobility that have so distinguished him
throughout his illustrious career. One day, he strayed from his grandmother’s
house with a cow. Dinner time passed; He was missing and could not be found.
The family’s apprehension became great, for they feared that he might be taken
away by the gipsies.
After much searching, he was found sitting huddled on the banks of a river
which he could not cross. “I wonder, child,” said the old woman, seeing her,
“that hunger and fear did not drive you home."! Grandmother,” answered the
future hero, “I was never afraid. What is it?” (137 words)

Exercise
Original Passage: One night a holy man, Abu Ben Adhem by name, suddenly
woke up from a deep dream of peace and saw in his moonlit room an angel
writing something in a book of gold. He did not feel at all frightened. The
peaceful face of the angel made Abu bold and he said to the angel, “What are
you writing?” The angel looked up and replied in a kind and sweet tone, “I am
taking down the names of those who love God.” “And is my name one among
them?” Asked Abu. But the angel replied, ” No, it is not.” “I pray thee then,”
said Abu, “To write me down as one who loves his fellowmen.”
 Hints developing
The development of words and phrases into full sentences and, thereby,
coherent paragraphs is called the process of hint development.
There are some basic rules to be followed while developing hints:
1. Read all the hints thoroughly.
2. Try to understand the tone of the passage.
3. Make sure to use all the hints; do not leave any points.
4. Arrange the points sequentially, one leading to the other.
5. Make two or three paragraphs, as required.
6. Look for the tense in the hints; follow the same in the story.
7. Make an introduction, body, and conclusion for the story - wherever
applicable.
8. Give a suitable title.
Develop a meaningful paragraph from the given hints.

Jawaharlal Nehru -14 November 1889 - first Prime Minister of India - a central
figure in Indian politics before and after independence - eminent leader of the
Indian independence movement - of Mahatma Gandhi - served India as Prime
Minister from its establishment as an independent nation in 1947 until his death
in 1964 - architect of the modern Indian nation-state: a sovereign, socialist,
secular, and democratic republic - ‘Pandit Nehru’ many Indian children --
‘Uncle Nehru’ - died - 27 May 1964.

Answer:

Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14 November 1889. He was the first Prime
Minister of India and a central figure in Indian politics before and after
independence. He emerged as an eminent leader of the Indian independence
movement under the tutelage of Mahatma Gandhi and served India as Prime
Minister from its establishment as an independent nation in 1947 until his death
in 1964. He is considered to be the architect of the modern Indian nation-state: a
sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. He was also known as
‘Pandit Nehru’ while many Indian children knew him as ‘Uncle Nehru’. He
died on 27 May 1964.
1. Develop the following hints into a readable passage and give a suitable title.
A rich farmer – lot of land – cattle and servants – two sons – happy life – After
some years younger son unhappy – asked for his share of the property –
wouldn’t listen to father’s advice – got his share – sold them all – went away to
another country – fell into bad ways – soon all money gone – poor – no one to
help him – understood his mistake.

Answer: The Disobedient Son

Once, there was a rich farmer in a village. He had a lot of land, cattle, and many
servants. He had two sons. He led a happy life with them. After some years, the
younger son became unhappy.
He asked his father for his share of the property. His father advised him not to
demand something like that. But he would not listen to his father’s advice. He
got his share and sold them. He had a huge amount with him.
With this amount, he travelled to a distant country. He had bad company there
and fell into evil ways. All the money was gone. He became poor, and no one
helped him. Then he understood his mistake and returned to his country. His
father and brother took him into their fold and supported him forever. We should
obey our parents.

Moral: We should obey our parents.

2. Devan – clever thief – robs the rich – gives all to the sick and the needy –
other thieves jealous – plan to get rid of him – challenge Devan to steal the
King’s pyjamas – Devan accepts challenge – finds king sleeping – opens a
bottle of red ants on the bed – King badly bitten – cries for help – servants rush
in pretends to look for ants – Devan removes King’s pyjamas – escapes – other
thieves dumbfounded – accept Devan their leader
Answer:
 Clever Thief
Devan was a clever thief. He robbed the rich and gave all to the sick and the
needy. The other thieves were jealous of him. They planned to get rid of him.
They challenged to steal the king’s pyjamas. Devan accepted the challenge. He
found the king sleeping. He opened a bottle of red. ants on the bed. The king
was badly bitten. He cried for help. The servants rushed in. They pretended to
look for ants. Devan removed king’s pyjamas and escaped. Other thieves were
dumb founded. They accepted Devan their leader.
Moral: When luck joins in the game cleverness scores double.
Exercise
Develop the following hints into a readable passage and give a suitable title.
Manager of a firm advertised – night watchman – applicants presented –
manager not satisfied – found something wrong with each man – there was Raju
– an applicant – sat in a comer – patiently waiting – his turn came – manager
found nothing wrong in his appearance – questioned about his health – got the
reply -1 suffering from sleeplessness – manager happy – appointed him

Develop the following hints into a readable passage and give a suitable title.
Tenali Raman – offends King – King gets angry sentences Raman to death – but
allows Raman to choose type of death – wise Raman – promptly says – want
natural death – of old age – King amazed – pardons Raman.

Develop the following hints into a readable passage and give a suitable title.
Akbar - Birbal - courtiers jealous of Birbal - ask Akbar - test Birbal wiseness -
Courtier puts a question - How many crows in Agra - Birbal asks for a week -
everyday sitting on the terrace looking at the crows- after a week - courtier asks
- Birbal says 156757 crows - asks the courtier to check- Akbar laughs.