English Comprehension and

Composition Lecture 21

Objectives:
Prcis Writing
Rules
Exercises
 Writing a Prcis
A prcis is a short summary.
It is a brief, original summary of the
important ideas given in a long
selection. Its aim is to give the
general
effect created by the original
selection."
RULES OF PRCIS WRITING
1) Read the given passage carefully at least three
times in order to be able to grasp what the writer
has said.

2) Underline the important points to be included

in your prcis. A point is important if it is
intimately connected with the main subject.

3) Use your own language in the prcis.

While words and phrases from the original may
be used in the prcis. Whole sentences should
never be lifted out of the original to be included
in it.
4) The prcis should be roughly one-third of the
original passage. Always prepare a rough draft
first and count the words. If you find that it is too
long, shorten it by removing what seems
unessential and by condensing, phraseology. If it
turns out to be too short, read the original to see
what more can be added to the prcis.

5) Examples, illustrations, and comparisons

should be left out of the prcis. Figures of speech
should be removed and the ideas are expressed
in clear, direct language.
6) Your own comments on the ideas of the
prcis are absolutely forbidden.

7) See that your prcis is a readable piece

of English and that its ideas can be
understood even by a person who has not
gone through original. This is very
important.

8) Your prcis should be connected whole.

As such it should not be divided into
paragraphs.
9) Don't use the direct form of
speech in prcis.

10) Think of a suitable title for the

prcis if it is required. The title
should not be a complete sentence.

11) Indicate the number of words in

your prcis at the end.
 Examples
His courage in battle might without
exaggeration be called lion-like.
He was very brave in battle. (Prcis)

There came to his recollection.

He remembered. (Prcis)

The account the witness gave of the

incident moved everyone that heard it to
laughter.
The witnesss story was absurd. (Prcis)
 Make a prcis of the following passage.
One great defect with our civilization is that it does not
know what to do with its knowledge. Science, as we have
seen, has given us great powers , yet we use them like
small children.
For example, we do not know how to manage our
machines. Machines were made to be mans servant; yet
he has grown to be so dependent on them that they are in
a fair way to become his masters. Already most men
spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon
machines. And the machines are very stern masters. They
must be fed with coal and given petrol to drink, and oil to
wash with, and must be kept at the right temperature. And
if they do not get their meals when they expect them,
they grow sulky and refuse to work. Do we have to do
what they want to keep them in good temper. Already we
find it difficult to work or play without machines and a
time may come when they will rule over us altogether.
Prcis
We do not know what to do with our
knowledge. Science has given us
superhuman powers, which we do not
use properly. For example, we are
unable to manage out machines.
Machines should be taken care of
promptly and waited upon attentively;
otherwise they stop working. We
already find it difficult to do without
machines. In the course of time, they
may rule over us altogether.
 Recap
Prcis Writing
Rules
Exercises
 References
The material has been adapted from
the following links:
http://media.wiley.com/product_ancil
lary/99/04704353/DOWNLOAD/bc11.pdf
http://www.preservearticles.com/20110
5136555/useful-resources-on-analyzing
-a-paragraph-for-precis-writing.html
http://currentaffairsbankpo.blogspot.c
om/2010/04/example-of-precis-writing.h
tml
http://www.shareyouressays.com/1256/h