PRECIS WRITING

A shortening of a text, in one’s own words, is known as précis writing.

The term is derived from the French word précis meaning ‘precise’.

Thus, a précis gives an accurate and concise description of the

substance (or the main idea) contained in the text without losing its
meaning.

In fact, it is an exact reproduction of the logic, organization, and

emphasis of the original text.
Some facts about précis:
• A précis is a brief statement of a piece of writing such as a
report, article or a chapter from a book.

• The précis follows the order and proportion of the material

in the original.

• The précis states only the thought of the original text.

Qualities of a Good Précis:
1. Clarity
It is essential that the ideas presented in the précis should be clear and
comprehensible. By using simple language and structures, the writer can ensure
that there is no ambiguity.

2. Objectivity
The writer must have an objective approach. He should be able to write a précis
that is unbiased and purely a summary of the original text.

3. Correctness
The writer must ensure that not just the facts, but also the grammar and sentences
are without flaws. Such errors can obscure the meaning of the message.
4. Coherence
A good précis should be coherent i.e. the ideas must be presented in a way
that shows the connections clearly.

5. Completeness
The writer should include all the important facts from the text in the précis.
No important fact can be omitted to make the summary short.

6. Conciseness
Conciseness is a desirable quality of a good précis. A piece of writing is
considered concise if it conveys the message in the fewest possible words.
But the writer should not omit essential facts to achieve conciseness.
Question Pattern:

Write a précis of the following extract and give it a suitable

title.
Or

Write a précis of the following extract.

Sample Précis 1:
Machines have, in fact, become the salves of modern life. They do more and more work that human
beings do not want to do themselves. Think for a moment of the extent to which machines do work for
you. You wake, perhaps, to the hoot of a siren by a machine in a neighboring factory. You wash in water
brought to you by the aid of machinery, heated by machinery and placed in basins for your convenience
by a machine. You eat your breakfast quickly cooked for you by machinery, go to school in machines
made for saving leg labor. And if you are lucky to be in a very modern school, you enjoy cinema where
a machine teaches you or you listen to lessons broadcast by one of the most wonderful machines. So
dependent has man become on machines that a certain writer imagines a time when machines will have
acquired a will of their own and become the master of men, doomed once more to slavery.

Ans.

Machines: Our Masters or Slaves Title

Machines become the salve of modern era. From morning till to night they do work for our
comfort. And the man is becoming dependent on it persistently and if it continues, machine
will become the master of men.
Body
Part
 Practice

One of our most difficult problems is what we call discipline and it is really very
complex. You see, society feels that it must control or discipline the citizen, shape his
mind according to certain religious, social, moral and economic patterns. Now, is
discipline necessary at all? Please listen carefully. Don’t immediately say YES or NO.
Most of us feel, especially while we are young, that there should be no discipline, that
we should be allowed to do whatever we like and we think that is freedom. But merely
to say that we should be free and so on has very little meaning without understanding
the whole problem of discipline. The keen athlete is disciplining himself the whole
time, isn’t he? His joy in playing games and the very necessity to keep fit makes him
go to bed early, refrain from smoking, eat the right food and generally observe the rules
of good health. His discipline and punctuality is not an imposition but a natural
outcome of his enjoyment of athletics.
 Amplification Writing

Amplification (pronounced am-pluh-fi-key-shuh-n) involves extending a

sentence or phrase in order to further explain, emphasize, or exaggerate certain
points of a definition, description, or argument.

Amplification can involve embellishment or technical elaboration. Either way,

more information is being added.

Amplification refers to a literary practice wherein the writer embellishes the

sentence by adding more information to it in order to increase its worth and
understandability.
The factors writing for a standard amplification include

1) Sound language

2) Arts of using words

3) Good hand writing

4) Free of spelling mistake.

5) Relevant discussion.

6) Relevant quotation mentioning the name of the author.

7) Standard worlds range should be 100 to 150.

Sample Amplification 1:
A stitch in time saves nine
Ans.
Every success depends on fulfilling the demand of time. All actions are considered to be proper when they are
done timely. Procrastination only leads to more toil. We can give any shape to a piece of iron when it is hot but
this task is not so easy when it becomes cold. Same goes for any problem in life, may it be personal, physical or
social, and if it is not solved within time then we have to suffer further in resolving that problem. Leaving
assignments for later only increases the work pressure and this often leads to poorer quality assignments. A
pressing issue in any relationship, if not addressed and resolved in time, can shatter the bond shared for so long.
Ignoring early symptoms to a disease allows the growth of the disease to terminal stage. Even problems as
minor as a torn cloth, if not stitched in time, will need more stitches to be mended afterwards. Apart from
solving the problem at the right time, this phrase also denotes that we should be punctual in doing our daily
work on time. This quality of time punctuality can bring us to the heights of success in life. Punctuality
increases productivity, hence efficiency. Athletes who made world records, scientists who made revolutionary
inventions or discoveries, world leaders who shaped the world all have one quality in common- punctuality.
Those who know how precious time is and utilizes it optimally are the ones who reach the peak of success. So,
timely action must be taken to perform any job neatly, clearly and successfully.
Sample Amplification 2:
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
Ans.
There is no limitation of learning. The more we learn, the more we realise how deep the ocean of
knowledge is and how little of that knowledge we have absorbed so far. This sort of feeling is common to
every wise and learned man. But people with little knowledge believe that they are very wise and learned.
They are very often seen to be vain, as they try to show that they know more than they do. Their attempt is
to pass for a scholar in polite society. So sometimes their steps or behavior pose a great threat to their
family or the society. A man with little learning is like a mechanic treating a patient. A doctor who has not
earned his degree through hard work and dedication can prove to be a nuisance to society. He can kill more
people than he can save. The bridges, buildings and dams built by an engineer with imperfect knowledge of
his subject will collapse sooner rather than later. A teacher who is not a master of his subject will only
misguide his students. So we can't trust people with inadequate knowledge to handle any important matters.
Having insufficient knowledge also leaves scope for manipulation. Rumors spread easily among less
educated people as they tend to believe any fact since they have no prior knowledge about the subject
matter nor do they try to verify the credibility of the rumor. This can often lead to angry mobs or frightened
citizens which disrupts social harmony and order. People who follow a leader blindly without verifying his
preaching can be easily brainwashed and turned into weapons of war. Having insufficient knowledge can
also impart harm to oneself as well. Like a man with finite idea about business may fall prey to bad
business deals and incur major losses. However, a person with no idea about business won't be confident
enough to strike a business deal at all. So in a way, superficial knowledge is worse than ignorance.
 Practice:

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep”
 Memo Writing

Definition:

Memorandum is popularly known as memo. It is used for internal

communication between executive or subordinates or officers of the same level.

It never be sent outside the organization. It is used to give instructions to staff ,

inform policy changes to the staff, give/seek suggestions, inform a decision,
conform a decision arrived at on the telephone and seek explanation on some
matter of conduct
Purposes of Memos:

• To inform about something

• To investigate a matter

• To address a problem

• To make a request

• To provide feedback
Advantages of Memos:

Memos have some characteristics which make it

very effective in practical uses. Memos are:

• Inexpensive
• Fast
• Concise
• Written evidence
• Less disruptive
• Easy to deliver
Formats of a Memo:

• Heading (Company name)

• Reference no.
• Date (UK/US format)
• Name of the recipient, with designation
• Name of the sender, with designation
• Subject of the written memo (Short, to the
point)
• Body (Detailed part of a memo)
• CC/Copies to (List of the existing copies of
the memo)
 Memo format:
No salutation, complementary close & signature slot is used as it is different from
formal letter.
Headings (as in printed from)
Ref. No.:(as in file)
Date:(UK/US format)
To:(main recipient) Name with designation
Form:(sender) Name with designation
Subject/Topic:(concise & to the point)
Body (1) …………………………………………………………
Body (2) …………………………………………………………
Body (3) …………………………………………………………
CC/Copies to:
1.
2.
1. Suppose, you are the Director of a Company. Now write a memo to all your staffs to work for
extra hours before Eid holiday.
Unilever Bangladesh Ltd.
Rajshahi Branch
Ref. No. : 15922018/B21
Date: October 20, 2019
To: All the staffs of Unilever company
From: Bishal Paul, Director
Subject: Working for extra hours before Eid holidays.
As our company continues to grow in result of extensive positive customer feedback,
I wanted to inform you that, over the few weeks we’ll have to launch couple of
products and our marketing department needs to go through some modification.
We have a huge load of work to do in product development and promotion. To
complete all the task all the staff need to work extra hours before Eid holidays.
CC/Copies to:
1. Office file
2. Employee registry
Things those shouldn’t be in Memo:
• Salutation
• Signature slot
• Complimentary close
Paragraph:

A paragraph is a unit of writing in a larger body of work. A paragraph

expresses a particular topic or theme. A paragraph is a component of
fictional prose and non-fiction writings. When writing essays, research
papers, books, etc., new paragraphs are indented to show their
beginnings. Each new paragraph begins with a new indentation. The
purpose of a paragraph is to express a speaker’s thoughts on a particular
point in a clear way that is unique and specific to that paragraph. In other
words, paragraphs shouldn’t be mixing thoughts or ideas. When a new
idea is introduced, generally, a writer will introduce a new paragraph.
Basic Paragraph Structure:
In non-fiction writing, a body paragraph is any paragraph that comes between the
introduction and the conclusion. A good body paragraph will have the following:
Topic Sentence
A topic sentence is the first sentence of the body paragraph. Simply put, the topic
sentence introduces the topic of the paragraph. A good topic sentence will be broad
enough to allow for explication but narrow enough that it does not require a paragraph
that is too long.
Supporting Sentences
The supporting sentences of a paragraph are the sentences between the topic sentence
and the concluding sentence. The supporting sentences “support” the topic sentence.
That is, they explain and elaborate the point of the paragraph.
The Transition Sentence
This is where the writer relates the ideas in the current paragraph to what is coming in
the next. Transition words like "next," "however," "first," "second," and "in addition"
are useful.
Paragraph hooks - which are finding a keyword or phrase in the current paragraph and
"hooking" or linking it to a similar word or phrase in the next - can also be useful.
 How to Write a Good Paragraph:
A Step-by-Step Guide
Writing well composed academic paragraphs can be tricky. The following is a guide on
how to draft, expand, refine, and explain your ideas so that you write clear, well-
developed paragraphs.
Step 1: Decide the Topic of Your Paragraph
Before you can begin writing, you need to know what you are writing about. First, look
at the writing prompt or assignment topic. As you look at the prompt, note any key
terms or repeated phrases because you will want to use those words in your response.
Then ask yourself:
• On what topic am I supposed to be writing?
• What do I know about this topic already?
• If I don’t know how to respond to this assignment, where can I go to find some
answers?
• What does this assignment mean to me? How do I relate to it?
After looking at the prompt and doing some additional reading and research, you should
better understand your topic and what you need to discuss.
Step 2: Develop a Topic Sentence
Before writing a paragraph, it is important to think first about the topic and then what you want to say about
the topic. Most often, the topic is easy, but the question then turns to what you want to say about the topic.
This concept is sometimes called the controlling idea.
Strong paragraphs are typically about one main idea or topic, which is often explicitly stated in a topic
sentence. Good topic sentences should always contain both (1) a topic and (2) a controlling idea.
The topic – The main subject matter or idea covered in the paragraph.
The controlling idea – This idea focuses the topic by providing direction to the composition.
Read the following topic sentences. They all contain a topic (in orange) and a controlling idea (in purple).
When your paragraphs contain a clearly stated topic sentence such as one of the following, your reader will
know what to expect and, therefore, understand your ideas better.
Examples of topic sentences:
• People can avoid plagiarizing by taking certain precautions.
• There are several advantages to online education.
• Effective leadership requires specific qualities that anyone can develop.
Step 3: Demonstrate Your Point:
After stating your topic sentence, you need to provide information to prove,
illustrate, clarify, and/or exemplify your point.
Ask yourself:
• What examples can I use to support my point?
• What information can I provide to help clarify my thoughts?
• How can I support my point with specific data, experiences, or other factual
material?
• What information does the reader need to know in order to see my point? Here
is a list of the kinds of information you can add to your paragraph:
• Facts, details, reasons, examples
• Information from the readings or class discussions
• Paraphrases or short quotations
• Statistics, polls, percentages, data from research studies
• Personal experience, stories, anecdotes, examples from your life
Sometimes, adding transitional or introductory phrases like: for example, for
instance, first, second, or last can help guide the reader. Also, make sure you are
citing your sources appropriately.
Step 4: Give Your Paragraph Meaning
After you have given the reader enough information to see and
understand your point, you need to explain why this information is
relevant, meaningful, or interesting.
Ask yourself:

• What does the provided information mean?

• How does it relate to your overall point, argument, or thesis?
• Why is this information important/significant/meaningful?
How does this information relate to the assignment or course I am
taking?
Step 5: Conclude
After illustrating your point with relevant information, add a concluding sentence.
Concluding sentences link one paragraph to the next and provide another device for
helping you ensure your paragraph is unified. While not all paragraphs include a
concluding sentence, you should always consider whether one is appropriate.
Concluding sentences have two crucial roles in paragraph writing:
First, they draw together the information you have presented to elaborate your
controlling idea by:
• Summarizing the point(s) you have made.
• Repeating words or phrases from the topic sentence.
• Using linking words that indicate that conclusions are being drawn (e.g., therefore,
thus, resulting).
Second, they often link the current paragraph to the following paragraph. They may
anticipate the topic sentence of the next paragraph by:
• Introducing a word/phrase or new concept which will then be picked up in the
topic sentence of the next paragraph.
• Using words or phrases that point ahead (e.g., the following, another, other).
Step 6: Look Over and Proofread
The last step in good paragraph writing is proofreading and revision.
Before you submit your writing, look over your work at least one
more time. Try reading your paragraph out loud to make sure it makes
sense. Also, ask yourself these questions:

• Does my paragraph answer the prompt and support my thesis?

• Does it make sense? Does it use the appropriate academic voice?
 Sample Paragraph

1. IT Education in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects

2. The Liberation War of Bangladesh
3. Child Labor in Bangladesh
 Composition
Words stand for meanings. Words combined into sentences stand for more
complex meanings. Sentences combined into paragraphs build compositions.
Compositions, therefore, are the full expression of your ideas. A composition
is the way in which a whole or a mixture is made up. It is composed of
various components. Composition writing has to do with putting down your
ideas, opinions or thoughts in writing. This is done in an organized way so
that your reader is able to understand it.
Reasons for writing compositions

• To inform.
• To persuade.
• To call readers attention to something
• To express feelings.
• To entertain.
• To give pleasure.
There are four types of composition writing

1. Narrative
A narrative composition is a kind of writing where you talk
about what happened to you or what you witnessed. It is like
telling a story. A narrative composition also talks about a main
idea or lesson learned. You may consider the following in
writing a narrative essay.

• Identify the experience that you want to write about. For

example, your experience could be on “my first day in
school”.
• Think about why the experience is important to you.
• Spend some time to remember what happened and write it
down.
1. Descriptive
This is a kind of essay where you explain the physical appearance of somebody, something
or a place. One reason for writing a descriptive essay is so that your reader can identify what
you have described once he or she sees it. For example, imagine that you want to write a
descriptive essay about your father. This means you have chosen to write about your father’s
physical appearance and the way he interacts with people. In descriptive essay, you use a lot
of adjectives. So you may describe how your father looks and does a thing that makes you
love him. When writing a descriptive essay, the best way to create a good and clear
experience for your reader is to focus on the five senses i.e. sight, sound, smell, touch and
taste.
You should consider the following points when writing a descriptive essay:

• What or who do you want to describe?

• Why do you want to describe the person or thing?
• What qualities do you want to focus on?
• What sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures are important for your description?
• What can you include to ensure that your readers gain the same thought as you?
1. Argumentative
This is the kind of essay where you have to make your reader to believe you and
support your idea or point of view, focusing on this purpose, will help you to write a
good argument. For example, should girls be expelled at school for pregnancy?
The following are important steps to consider when writing an argumentative
writing:
• Identify the main idea or point of view. Your purpose will be to make your reader
to accept this idea or point of view.
• Identify your reader. To write a good argument, try to understand your readers
mind. For e.g. would your readers like about your opinion? Or would your readers
be angry at your point of view? • Considering your readers, identify the strongest
for supporting for your argument.
• Identify the most important opposing view. Explaining and strongly disagreeing
with the opposing view will make your reader to believe you more and give you
support.
1. Expository/ informative
This is the kind of essay where you explain something with correct information that
you have, and not what you think about it. The function of the expository essay is
to explain, or inform your reader with knowledge by explaining a topic to the
reader; you are demonstrating your own knowledge. When writing an expository
essay, we use the words such as first, after, next, then and last usually show that one
idea follows the other in an orderly manner. We also use the second- person
pronoun ‘you’.
E.gs of types of expository essays includes:
• Essays that described how to do something (cooking your best food, making
amouse trap, etc).
• Essays that explain experiments, scientific discoveries etc.
• Essays that describe a process (how the engine boat works).
• Essays that explain or describe a historical event.
Parts of a Composition:
A Composition is made up of the introduction, body and conclusion.
1. Introduction:
The introduction is intended to draw the reader into the body of material to follow. It is like a door that opens and lets
people into a beautiful house. Introduction needs to be interesting to the reader, so that he/ she is able to read your
composition to the end and enjoy. It should begin with a general statement followed by a quick narrowing down to
the main theme or topic to be developed in the body. Set the stage quickly, give appropriate background, and then
move right into a transition sentence that will set up the reader for the body.
2. Body:
The body of a written piece is where you elaborate, defend, and expand the thesis introduced in the introduction. The
body should support your main contention with supporting evidence and possible objections. It is where you express
feelings thoughts and opinions on a given topic/subject. The body includes three components:
Elaboration: Spell out the details by defining, or by clarifying and adding relevant, pertinent information.
Illustration: Paint a verbal picture that helps make or clarify your point(s). Well illustrated pieces are easier to read
and follow than abstract ones.
When moving from one sub-point to another, use connecting or transitional words and phrases that enable your
reader to easily follow the flow of your thinking. The following is a partial list of logical connectors that you can use:
Exceptions - but, alas, however, etc.
Illustrations - for instance, for example, etc.
Conclusions - thus, so, therefore, consequently, etc.
Comparisons - similarly, by contrast, etc.
Qualifications - yet, still, etc.
Additions - moreover, furthermore, etc.
3. Conclusion:
Make your final appeal to the reader, a finishing, all-encompassing statement that wraps up your presentation in a
powerful or even dramatic fashion. The conclusion should make
Composit6ion Checklist :
1. Do you know enough about your topic?
2. Have you an audience clearly in mind?
3. Does your topic suit your audience?
4. Is your topic limited so that you can deal with it?
5. Have you organized the events in time and place?
6. Have you used words and phrases that appeal to the audience?
7. Have you used comparisons?
8. Have you supported general ideas with specific details?
9. Have you used linking terms clearly?
10. Does each paragraph develop an idea or an event?
11. Are your words, phrases, and sentences the most effective for
putting across your ideas?
12. Have you left any phrases or clauses separated from complete
sentences?
13. Have you checked the mechanics to the best of your ability?
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